José Moscardó Ituarte

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General José Moscardó Ituarte (October 26, 1878, Madrid - April 12, 1956, Madrid) was a Nationalist officer fighting against the Republican government during the Spanish Civil War. In his most notable action he held the Alcázar of Toledo against Republican forces.

He held the Alcázar in Toledo for Francisco Franco's Nationalist rebellion for 70 days from 22 July to 27 September 1936. Day after day, the Colonel sent out his daily radio report: Sin novedad en el Alcázar ("Nothing new at the Alcázar," or "All quiet at the Alcázar", an ironic understatement). His defiance heartened Franco's supporters everywhere and maddened the Republicans, who committed vast forces in vain assaults on the Alcázar.

During this period Republican forces kidnapped Moscardó's 24-year-old son, Luis. Luis' captors called Moscardó on the telephone to inform him that unless he surrendered the Alcazar, Luis would be shot. Moscardó asked to speak to his son. He then told Luis, "Commend your soul to God and die like a patriot, shouting 'Long live Christ King' and 'Long live Spain.'"

"That," answered his son, "I can do." Although a legend has grown up that Luis was immediately shot, he was not in fact executed until a month later. A similar sacrifice in Spanish history is Guzmán el Bueno, who preferred the death of his son to surrendering the Tarifa fortress.

The defence of the Alcazar was a symbol of heroism in Francoist Spain. Moscardó was promoted to general after the relief of the Alcázar, and put in command of the Soria Division. In 1938 he was given command of the Aragon Army Corps, but displayed no special military talent.

Franco, however, knew the value of propaganda and authorized Moscardo to wear a special black cloak of mourning for his son over his army uniform. This he did to his dying day, so that every soldier who saw him would know instantly that this was the great Moscardo.

His singular passion remained football, and, to his pleasure, he coached the Spanish football team at the 1948 London Olympic Games and the 1952 Games in Helsinki.