This is about the failed Coupe D´Etat on 23 February of 1981, the day the newly set up democracy (barely) survived in Spain:

It is a shame nothing of this so important day exists in English adaption (at least could not find any material with subtitles or synched), it seems the rest of the world ignored it... At least Wikipedia has a (factually correct but politically and historically wrong - the background is not painted correctly or rather poorly nor the role of SM Don Juan Carlos - ) summary in English:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23-F (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23-F)

MODS: Feel free to move to the soon upcoming "Memorial" section:

(ATTN: Satire! "The Real Truth About 23F" by the - present in his daily show like Larry King - television presenter Wyoming impersonating the - very real - Cpt. Rufo Marti of the Spanish Secret Service who defended himself in court stating that "his weapon went to continous fire without his consent" in parliament...; sometimes shows as "Not availiable", in this case click manually on:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEzaFL3iPHE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEzaFL3iPHE)

 --- that is the way it is seen today, a mix of ridicule and true fright...

this is the real thing (from the outside, there is a loooong story behind it and the consequences are not even today understood fully with regard to democracy and the role of the king, because actually there were 2 (!) intended coupes this day, one of Tejero and one of Gen. Armada, a king supporter) when Lt. Colonel Antonio Tejero ordered everybody "on the floor!" ("...al suelo!") in parliament. One of the myths is who complied and who did not...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDLTNqi-Emk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDLTNqi-Emk)

This is what the Spanish people actually saw from the King, a begin of true democracy despite being a monarchy (and not nly theoretically - as CINC - responsible for the naval coupe but also openly invited by the attackers to side with them, thy assumed - falsley - he would...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRVl9O3fMBU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRVl9O3fMBU)

A fairly competent summary set up on interviews with the main players 25 yrs later, *with the full message of the King* and with an evaluation of what todays Army is set up like by a (1981) Captain (now Brigadier General) who paritcipated in the coup (in Spanish):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFGQ1aqRN68 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFGQ1aqRN68)

Rattler

I remember being in Spain when that happened.  My brother in law was pooping his pants because he was serving his obligatory 2 years of military service and he thought a civil war was starting.  Much credit to Juan Carlos for helping to squelch this.