50 years without Franco: that was the dictator's last five weeks

Fifty years ago, on 20 November 1975, Francisco Franco, the dictator who ruled Spain for almost four decades, died as a result of medical problems that became apparent in the last weeks of his life, and Spain was also in the midst of a deep political and social crisis.

In fact, five weeks before the famous "Spaniards, Franco has died," the regime was not in good health: there were strikes and protests at universities, Franco was internationally isolated and Morocco was on the verge of a war that could be triggered by pressure from the Sahara...

This is what we know about his last five weeks before the dictator 's death.

* October 12: beginning of the end

Franco will preside over Hispanic Day, although his participation will be limited to closing the event. When he returns to El Pardo Palace he is not well.

* 15 October: first medical tests

Doctors will see that Franco has had several heart attacks in the last few weeks.

* 17 October: its last Council of Ministers

Franco, contrary to medical opinion, will insist on chairing the Council of Ministers, where cardiologists will inject heparin and keep it monitored from an adjoining room.

* 20 October: flu and heart attack

It will be known that several hearings have been suspended, and the Cifra agency will release a brief note: "Franco, suffering from the flu. "The note says he is almost recovered, but that day Vicente Pozuelo, Franco's personal doctor, will secretly ask the coroner Antonio Piga to organize with his father, Professor of Forensic Medicine Bonifacio Piga, a team of specialists who must be willing to embalm the dictator.

That night the patient will have a very serious heart attack , and the doctors will take the President of the Government, Carlos Arias Navarro, out of bed, warning him that theHead of State may be killed at any time.

* 21 October: first public information

Arias Navarro, bound by doctors, decides to report Franco's illness, although he will not reveal the true dimension of it. The Head of State's Civil House will publish a note :  "During a flu process, the head of state has suffered from acute coronary deficiency and is evolving properly,  and has begun rehabilitation and started part of his usual activities."

* October 24: The world reports on Franco

International media will report that Franco is dying. The government will deny the information and start reporting on the general's health every day.

* October 30: Juan Carlos, Spanish Head of State

Prince Juan Carlos will take the Head of State as an interim.

* 3 November: new complications

Franco suffers from massive dysgestive bleeding. He will be operated on without time to be taken to the hospital. The doctors who were in El Pardo that night will later tell how the operation has been carried out. The guard kit will be enabled as a chirofano, with dubious hygienic conditions. Franco will be taken to the hospital bleeding, and in the middle of the operation, the light will go.

* November 7: Another digestive bleeding

Franco will be taken to La Paz Hospital, where a large part of his stomach will be removed. He will survive again.

* 14 November: "very serious" prognosis

On that day, it will be announced that the Head of State suffers from peritonitis, which has led to a new surgical intervention. At 23:30, the "endotoxic shock" will be considered overcome, but the prognosis is "very serious."

* November 18: irreversible

As the "regular medical team" will report, Franco has assisted breathing, sedation, and it has been decided to keep the body at a temperature of 33 degrees.

* November 20: "Franco is dead"

Last information: "His Excellency the Head of State, Francisco Franco Bahamonde, died at the La Paz Health Residence of Social Security in Madrid on 20 November at 5:25 p.m. as the latest episode of a toxic shock caused by cardiac arrest due to peritonitis," says the medical statement that will put an end to rumors about the leader's health.