Monumento a Mota y Marín, caidos por Dios y por España War memorial

In the quiet countryside near Madrid, just off the road to Boadilla del Monte, stands the Monumento a Mota y Marín, caidos por Dios y por España. This stone memorial, often overlooked and marred by graffiti, commemorates two Romanian soldiers, Ion Mota and Vasile Marin. Their names are etched into the stone, along with the inscription “caidos por Dios, España y Rumanía 13-1-1937” – fallen for God, Spain, and Romania, January 13, 1937. The Monumento a Mota y Marín marks the spot where these two members of the Romanian Iron Guard met their end during the Spanish Civil War. They were part of an eight-man delegation that came to Spain to support Franco’s Nationalist forces. After visiting Salamanca and meeting General Moscardó in Soria, they joined the fight on the front lines near Madrid. Mota and Marin were stationed at Cerro de la Radio, the site of a powerful radio transmitter in Majadahonda. On January 13, 1937, during the Battle of the Corunna Road, a Republican offensive aimed to recapture the strategically important Cerro de la Radio. A Soviet fighter plane, attacking at low altitude, struck the Nationalist position. The attack killed Mota and Marin instantly. The Republican offensive ultimately failed, but the two Romanians became martyrs for the Nationalist cause. Their bodies were transported to Toledo, where they received full military and religious honors. The leader of the Iron Guard, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, ordered the remaining delegation to return to Romania with the bodies. The Monumento a Mota y Marín stands as a reminder of their sacrifice, though its location has become a site of controversy. The annual homage paid to them by far-right groups draws criticism. The ongoing debate reflects the complexities of Spain’s historical memory. The Monumento a Mota y Marín, a silent sentinel in the Spanish countryside, continues to spark questions about the legacy of the Spanish Civil War and the role of international volunteers in the conflict.