To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Civil War, José Ángel Mañas recreates in Zenda, day by day in this section, what happened in 1936, perhaps the most momentous year in all recent Spanish history.
Saturday, August 29, 2026: The Soviet Union’s Ambassador Arrives
At noon, people gathered in the Plaza de Oriente. While the procession entered the palace, the Republican guard, in full dress uniform, with a military cap and white gloves, played the Himno de Riego and the Internacional. Cipriano Rivas Cherif wrote afterwards that it was a melancholy solemnity. The two anthems were heard by the crowd as the ambassador stepped from the official car, just as a horse ridden by one of the guards of his escort was startled, nearly knocking him to the ground and trampling on onlookers.
—“Long live Russia!” cried the communists among the crowd, fist raised, to the satisfaction of Marcelo Rosenberg.
Shortly before, the introducer of ambassadors, López Lago, accompanied by the presidential guard, had picked up the Russian diplomat at the Hotel Alfonso, where he was staying, and where a huge Soviet flag hung from the main balcony. Militia stood guard at his door, and a growing crowd followed him with applause and cheers along his route through Gran Vía, Plaza de España, Bailén.
No sooner had he entered the palace, in the Hall of Columns two secretaries of the diplomatic cabinet awaited Rosenberg. Both accompanied him to the Gasparini Hall, where the President of the Republic and his retinue, all in formal attire, waited. It was the first time the USSR had official representation in Spain and the ceremony was considerably more cordial than the usual diplomatic protocol for presenting credentials. Azaña, after greeting the ambassador, personally conducted the introductions of the members of his retinue.
—Ambassador, I present to you the Minister of State Don Alejandro Barcia, the head of my Military Office, General Masquelet, and my press chief. Allow me also to introduce my brother-in-law, Mr. Rivas Cherif, a playwright and the future representative of the Spanish Republic in Geneva…
Rosenberg—American, with a gray hat, striped tie—introduced his people. With them was the Pravda journalist, Mijaíl Koltsov. The conversations took place in French, a language that Azaña mastered perfectly.
—Monsieur Koltsov, I have the pleasure of meeting you. You interviewed me five years ago, and you have done so again recently. Pleased to meet you again…
Koltsov smiled, flattered. His reputation as a trusted aide to Stalin preceded him. Little by little everyone had settled into the positions foreseen for the ceremony. Finally, the Soviet ambassador read his speech:
—Monsieur le president. I have the honor to present you with the credentials by which the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics appoints me as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador. By accrediting me to your excellency, who embodies the freely expressed will of the Spanish people to live within the dignity of their democratic institutions, the Government of the Soviet Union wishes that a perfect cordiality be established between our two countries. We must work to strengthen peace among nations and to consolidate the foundations of a peaceful cooperation between our peoples. I fully understand that the Government of the Republic does not impose its own political and social conception on others, an attitude that corresponds to that of my Government, and I earnestly hope that, for the exercise of my mission, I will be granted the confidence of your excellency…
All the entries of 1936 day by day
Interview with José Ángel Mañas about 1936 Day by Day