Búnker facts for kids

The Búnker was a group of people in Spain who strongly opposed any changes to the way the country was run during the end of the Franco dictatorship and the start of Spain's move to democracy. These people were very conservative and wanted things to stay exactly as they were under General Franco. After Franco died, they completely rejected any reforms. Instead, they wanted the old system, called the Movimiento Nacional, to continue.

Three important leaders of the Búnker were José Antonio Girón de Velasco, Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta, and Blas Piñar. Their main newspaper was called El Alcázar. This name comes from the Siege of the Alcázar, a famous event during the Spanish Civil War. In that siege, a smaller group of nationalist soldiers bravely defended the Alcázar of Toledo against a much larger Spanish Republican Army. The term "Búnker" itself comes from the Führerbunker, where Hitler made his last stand, showing their extreme resistance.

Historian José Luis Rodríguez Jiménez explained that the "Búnker" was a group of powerful people. They held important positions in the government, economy, and even the Church during Franco's time. They were found in places like the National Council, the Spanish Parliament (Cortes), and the army. So, "Búnker" wasn't just about one idea. It was more about protecting their political and economic interests. It also showed a way of thinking that followed the values set by those who won the Civil War.

Who Was in the Búnker?

The Búnker group included many influential people from different parts of society. The former Minister of Labour, Girón de Velasco, who was a Falangist, was a key leader.

Other members came from:

• The Army: Important military figures like Carlos Iniesta Cano, Milans del Bosch, Fernando de Santiago, and Alfonso Pérez-Viñeta were part of the group.
• The Church: Some religious leaders, such as the Spanish Priestly Brotherhood and names like Fernando Quiroga Palacios and José Guerra Campos, supported the Búnker.
• Politics: Members of the FET y de las JONS party, like José Luis Arrese, Fernández-Cuesta, Tomás García Rebull, Juan García Carrés, and Luis Valero Bermejo, were involved. The New Force party, led by Piñar, was also a strong part of the Búnker.

History of the Búnker

How the Term Started

The word "Búnker" was first used in 1968. It appeared in an article in the newspaper ABC, written by its director, Torcuato Luca de Tena. He used it to describe those who didn't want the Franco regime to change or to open up to Europe.

However, the term became very popular thanks to Santiago Carrillo. He was a political leader who used it in an article titled "Either freedom or the Búnker." He meant that if the dictatorship's supporters refused democracy, they would end up like Hitler, whose "Führerbunker" became his tomb. The Búnker group really started to form around 1974. This was the year before Francisco Franco died. Some historians say it began earlier, around 1970. This was when the Franco regime started showing signs of weakness. People began asking for reforms. Some even connect the movement to Luis Carrero Blanco, who was Prime Minister for a few months in 1973.

What the Búnker Did

The Búnker group wanted to keep things exactly as they were. They strongly opposed every step taken to move Spain from a dictatorship to a democracy. For example, they were against the "Spirit of February 12." This was an idea to bring more freedom. They also opposed the "Law of Political Associations," which would allow new political parties.

They showed their opposition in newspaper articles. A very famous one was written by Girón de Velasco. It appeared in the newspaper Arriba on April 28, 1974. This article was so impactful it was called the "Gironazo." It stopped any attempts at reform. It also led to the dismissal of Pío Cabanillas, a minister who supported reforms.

Before Franco's death, the Búnker also tried to influence who would become the next leader. They wanted the crown to go to Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz, Franco's grandson-in-law. They did not want Juan Carlos, who was Franco's chosen heir. Alfonso was married to Franco's granddaughter, María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú. So, Alfonso's father, Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, and his grandmother, Carmen Polo, supported this plan.

After Franco died, the Búnker tried to stop every change towards democracy. Historians have linked the Búnker to several attempts to stop the new democratic system in Spain during the 1970s and early 1980s. This includes events in 1978, 1979, 1980, and the 1981 Spanish coup d'état attempt. These actions show their strong desire to prevent Spain from becoming a democracy.

See also

In Spanish: Búnker (política) para niños

• Cafetería Rolando bombing
• Political Reform Act