1921 Melilla Postcard Reignites Debate on Franco-Era Economy

A 1921 Melilla postcard reignites the debate: Were we richer under Franco?

The image is stark: a Spanish soldier, wearing a colonial helmet and holding a rifle, confronts a dark-skinned man hiding a knife behind his back. It is a postal card dated 1921, the year of the Disaster of Annual, where thousands of Spanish soldiers were killed by Rif tribesmen. But what appears to be a historical document has become a torpedo aimed at the official economic narrative.

Franco’s GDP: The best in history?

A recurring data point enters the discussion: according to some, Spain reached its historical record for GDP per capita under Franco – specifically in 1975 – and has never recovered it in relative terms since. One comment highlights that “the relative GDP compared to the then-EEC was highest in 1975.” They add that the €24,999 GDP recorded in 2017 is an illusion inflated by debt and a model lacking industry.

More or less purchasing power?

The central argument is not just GDP, but real purchasing power. It is claimed that “a worker in the 60s could buy a second home with savings by age 30-40,” whereas “today a 30-year-old worker lives with their parents earning €1,000.” The wage-to-housing ratio has deteriorated, and nominal GDP growth does not translate into well-being. Others point out that in 1975 Spain was on the brink of bankruptcy, with inflation soaring due to the oil crisis, and that Franco inherited a dictatorship without freedoms.

The shadow of Annual and immigration

The postcard is no coincidence: 1921 is the year of Annual, where indigenous troops defected to the enemy. That episode marks the collective memory of Melilla and fuels distrust toward certain groups. Today, this translates into debates about immigration, crime, and the perception that “Moors are untrustworthy,” as stated in the thread. Alleged official data on Segarro incivil – without specific sources – are cited, alongside criticism of asylum policies.

The mirage of pogre

The bittersweet conclusion of the thread is that “100 years later, nothing changes.” The postcard could be from yesterday, and the perception of threat remains, only now it is socially unacceptable. Economically, nostalgia for a more prosperous past clashes with INE (Spain’s National Statistics Institute) data: nominal GDP per capita is higher than ever, but public debt and inflation erode the sense of well-being. The debate between “we were richer under Franco” and “it’s a myth” remains open, with no consensus.

For readers seeking a detailed breakdown of purchasing power calculations in the 60s versus today, with specific housing and salary figures, the original source offers an analysis that cannot fit within this summary.