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I would have to vote for Spain's Francisco Franco. He managed to have his cake and eat it too by garnerning the support of Germany and Italy during the Spanish Civil War, yet kept out of WW II, if only technically, considering the units he sent to the Russian Front. (I don't know if it is true, but I've heard there is still a unit in the Spanish army nicknamed 'the Bunker', as it was present in Berlin during the last days of WW II defending Hitler's command bunker.)

He emerged from WW II as the only facist leader to survive the war as the leader of his country. (He even managed to make a few bucks on the deal when Spain rented Spanish produced versions of Lufwaffe aircraft to the makers of 'The Battle of Britain'.)

Eric Maietta

I just remembered that Emperor Hirohito also survived as Japan's 'leader'. However, how much control he had over his country during the war is open to debate. Duhhhh!

I don't think there is any question that Franco was more in control of Spain during WW II than the largely titular Emperor of Japan.

Eric Maietta

mmm...very good question! I do agree with u:Franco was probably the most Macchiavellian Leader surviving from WWII.....
but i'll try to think about it better:)

Before he was forced to jump in with both feet, many of Stalin's diplomatic maneuvers could have easily made him a character from 'The Prince'.

I am not sure we can compare Franco, Hitler and Mussolini.

Mussolini was a tribun : big voice, little brain.

Hitler is may be the most accurate incarnation of evil in the history of mankind.

Franco cared to Spain before everything else, his country had already been a battlefield during the civil war, so he was not interested at all by another war. During 40-41 he did not want to take Gibraltar, even with the weakened state of UK. He was convinced that it was only a matter of time before USA would declare war, so he managed the best as he could to please both Axe and Allied, by sending some volonteers to the eastern front, and by sending back UK (later all allied) pilots who reached spain to UK. Franco did not care about jews or races notions, just communists. Technically he was not fascist (as Mussoliny), just a hard and harsh dictator.

Could any spanish complete ?

Didn't Franco once say, "In Russia I am pro-Axis. In Europe I am neutral, and in Africa I am pro-Allied?" He got rid of Hitler by falling asleep in his face.

Also, some Spaniard may correct me, but I read that Franco believed he had Jewish ancestry, that in Spain Franco and Bahamonde are considered Jewish names.

troopie