Spain plans to declassify Franco-era government archives
Spain plans to declassify large volume of documents (photo: Getty Images)
Spain is planning to declassify documents from the era of leader Francisco Franco, who ruled the country from 1938 to 1975. According to Reuters, all government records older than 45 years that do not pose a threat to national security will be made public.
It is noted that if the proposed legislation is approved, a number of documents related to some of the darkest chapters of modern Spanish history will be declassified. For example, more information could emerge about Franco's ties to Nazi Germany's leader Adolf Hitler.
General Francisco Franco (photo: Wikipedia)
The declassified documents may also reveal the locations of mass graves of victims of the Falangist regime, which ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975. Another subject likely to attract significant interest from historians is the 1966 nuclear accident near Palomares, when two US military aircraft collided in mid-air while carrying nuclear weapons. As a result of the incident, more than 10 nuclear bombs were lost — most of which were eventually recovered.
"With this law we will overcome an obstacle in our legislation to put us in line with European standards. Citizens have the right to know. Administrations have the obligation to provide documentation that is important for history," Spanish Justice Minister Félix Bolaños told reporters.
The current official secrets law in Spain was enacted during Franco's rule. It contains no provisions for the automatic declassification of documents based on the passage of time. Under the proposed reform, the following declassification timelines would apply:
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"Highly classified" – declassified after 60 years
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"Classified" – declassified after 45 years
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"Confidential" – declassified after 9 years
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"Restricted" – declassified after 5 years
It is believed that some documents may have been destroyed or edited. Activists have already called for the immediate digitization of the archives. Bolaños assured that declassification will take place, but noted it will be a gradual process due to the vast volume of material.
Who was Francisco Franco
General Francisco Franco was the leader and head of government of Spain from 1936 to 1975. He formally took full control in 1939 after the end of the Spanish Civil War, during which the Falangists — Spain's version of fascists — fought against the Republican forces, which included communists, anarchists, and other left-wing groups.
Although Franco won the war with support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, he maintained a position of so-called neutrality during World War II. However, he did send Spanish volunteers, known as the Blue Division, to fight against the Soviet Union alongside Nazi Germany. Officially, though, neither Franco nor Spain formally joined the Axis powers.
Franco and his government are credited with creating the so-called Spanish economic miracle, which saw Spain transform from one of the poorest countries in Europe into the world's second-fastest growing economy during the postwar decades. After 1945, Franco began to scale back the influence of the Falange, turning it from the country's dominant party into more of a symbolic national movement.
Franco also decreed that after his death, the Spanish monarchy would be restored and the crown passed to a royal heir. He died in 1975, and Juan Carlos became king, leading the country through its transition from authoritarian rule to democracy.
Other declassifications
On January 23, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an order to declassify documents related to the assassination of the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, which took place in the 1960s.
The documents were released in several batches, with the most recent set made public on March 18, 2025.
