The Last Crusade

At the center of the battle for Catholic Spain during the Spanish Civil War is the story of the fortress of Alcázar, controlled by the Catholic Colonel José Moscardó. When the communist forces captured the Colonel’s son, Luis Moscardó, they called the Colonel by telephone and warned that if he did not surrender the fortress within ten minutes, they would shoot his son. To prove that they had the boy, they placed him on the telephone with his father. “What is happening, my son?” asked the Colonel. “Nothing,” answered Luis, “They say they will shoot me if the Alcázar does not surrender.” “If this is true,” replied Moscardó, “then commend your soul to God, shout 'Viva España,' and die like a hero. Goodbye, my son.” “That I can do,” answered Luis, “Goodbye, my father.” The communist general who had captured Luis returned to the telephone, and Moscardó told him, “The Alcázar will never surrender!”