What's going on in the capital? Panic in the government and disorder in the streets. The Casares Quiroga cabinet gave way to that of Martinez Barrio, which is attempting a policy of conciliation between the parties. But the Popular Front does not want to hear about moderation. Azana then entrusted power to José Giral Pereira, a left-wing republican, who, not without concern, decided, as Companys had done in Catalonia, to arm the people. Twelve classes are mobilized.
Necessary decision no doubt, but which will lead to excesses and will accentuate the shift towards the extreme left and the substitution of the regular powers of the revolutionary organisms. This
will, in fact, be the U.G.T. who will take over the administration of the city. As for the army:its democratization, conceived with enthusiasm, will harm its effectiveness.
The Toledo episode will be one of the most dramatic of the civil war. When Yagüe arrives in front of the city, at the hands of the Republicans, he encounters serious resistance. But the drama will mainly be played out at the Alcazar where the cadets of Colonel José Moscardô Itua are entrenched, few in number, but whose garrison includes half a thousand civil guards, a hundred officers and troops. I civilians too:engineers, doctors, old women and children. Despite violent assaults by Republican infantry and artillery, the Alcazar refuses to surrender. Ex. pissed off by this resistance, the Republicans resort to sentimental blackmail. L Moscardô, son of the colonel, is a prisoner. Which brings him to the Hôtel des Postes, opposite the Al. zar, where the republican command resides. The telephone communication established between the militia leader and Colonel Moscardô. After a final and urgent summons to have to return the fortress, a militiaman passes the camera to Luis Moscardô Pathétique, the dialogue begins:“Dad, is it you, my son? “They say they will shoot me if the Alcazar does not surrender; but do not worry. — In case, commend your soul to God and to me as a true hero. Farewell, my son! kiss you very hard. - I kiss you too. Farewell, dad! And the colonel, before hanging up, shouted to the militia leader, who had given a ten-minute deadline:“delay has expired”. The Alcazar will never surrender! A few days later, L will be shot. When Mi Cardé has been freed by General Vare, he will stand at attention and utter:these words, which had been the password of the nationalists in the first days of the insurrection:"Sin novedad, mi general (rien to report, General).