Emilio Mola y Vidal, 1st Duke of Mola

Emilio Mola y Vidal, posthumously created 1st Duke of Mola, (June 9, 1887 – June 3, 1937) was a Spanish Nationalist commander during the Spanish Civil War. Mola was actually the primary planner and leader of officers who initiated coup that launched the war, whereas the official leader, José Sanjurjo, acted as a figurehead. When Sanjurjo was killed in a plane crash in the early days of the coup, Mola rose as the commander in the north. In October, 1936, Mola launched a drive on Madrid with four columns of soldiers. He publically announced that a "fifth column" of Nationalists inside Madrid would help him take the city. The attack ultimately failed (but the phrase "fifth column" has entered into the vernacular).

Mola was killed in a plane crash himself in June, 1937. Mola was succeeded as overall commander of nationalist forces by Francisco Franco. Naturally, the death of two leaders in plane crashes has cast suspicion on Franco, but there is absolutely no evidence that Franco had a hand in either man's death.

Emilio Mola in The War That Came Early
Emilio Mola's drive on Madrid in 1936 failed, despite the presence of a "fifth column" of Nationalists within the city. Thus, in 1939, after the Spanish Civil War had become part of a larger European war, José Sanjurjo led another drive on the city. . This drive also failed in the end.

Literary Comment
Turtledove does not reference Mola again after Hitler's War. Thus, his ultimate fate is unclear.