Definition of Chaco War

It is considered the most important warlike conflagration of the entire 20th century on the continent South American, and lasted for almost three years, ending with a redefinition of the borders between two countries.

The Chaco War was an armed conflict fought by Bolivia and Paraguay between September 9, 1932, and on June 12, 1935, for control of the region called Chaco Boreal (hence the name of the war).

The Boreal Chaco had been one of the last territories claimed by both countries, which had not just agreement to fix its territorial limits in it, and of which Paraguay had the largest part, which was of interest to Bolivia.

It is basically a plain with very smooth mountains (not much more than a thousand meters) and vegetation dense, which hinders the movements of large forces and is more prone to the use of small units size.

Despite the theoretical superiority in the conflict corresponded to Bolivia, with a population which surpassed the Paraguayan by a factor of 3 or 4 to 1 and, therefore, a larger army as well.

In addition to being smaller, the Republic of Paraguay was also poorer economically speaking than its contender.

Bolivian doctrine had stalled in the massive frontal attacks, typical of the First War World, in front of a Paraguayan doctrine that was based more on going beyond the enemy flanks to surround them.

Ultimately, the Paraguayan tactic would work better, allowing its army, smaller in strength and with fewer resources, effectively combat Bolivian fixed defenses.

Difficult terrain and scarce resources made supply lines and logistics difficult for both sides throughout the conflict, and the poor planning, unhealthy conditions, lack of food and medicine (in reference to logistical difficulties) were the main enemy to be beaten by the troops, even more than the enemy at certain times.

Another decisive factor in favor of Paraguay was a more direct treatment between troops and officers, and a more cohesive army. than that of his enemy, which in the end made him more effective and allowed him to reduce the differences in material and personnel.

The casus belli used was the recovery, by Paraguayan troops, of the territory controlled by the fort Carlos Antonio López on the edge of the Pitiantuta lagoon, which had been taken from them by the Bolivian army a few months before.

Under the direct orders of Bolivian President Daniel Salamanca, the Bolivian high command responded to this incident with the occupation of other forts Paraguayans, while his delegation withdrew from the conference that was being held in Washington to clarify the territorial limits of both nations in area.

The Bolivian government pressured a military response, and Paraguay was forced to confront its neighbor with weapons.

The first major battle of the war was the siege of Boquerón, caused by the impossibility of taking it by the Paraguayan forces, who chose to isolate the population and prevent the arrival of reinforcements Bolivians.

The type of war that was fought was more in keeping with the tactics and strategies employed during the First World War than with the ideas that would prevail in the Second, although there were few options, since there was not enough material to practice a motorized war (As soon as trucks arrived, let alone other types of vehicles), neither the commanders of one or the other army had been trained conveniently.

Paraguay overturned its entire army in the offensive against Boquerón, an eventuality that the Bolivian commanders had not foreseen, who had only decreed a partial mobilization.

This evened things out between both sides and, finally, allowed the Paraguayan army to seize Boquerón. The Paraguayan offensive did not end here.

Determined to exploit the advantage obtained by depriving the Bolivian army of rest and reorganization, the Paraguayan generals decided to continue the offensive advancing towards the Arce fort.

This and the other fortifications that protected it, fell easily between October 8 and 22, 32, becoming the Paraguayans with numerous prisoners and, interestingly, several Bolivian officers captured.

The Paraguayan offensive was stopped a few kilometers from the Saavedra fort and, then, the command of the Bolivian army it was handed over to Hans Kundt, a German officer who had attained the rank of general in the army Bolivian.

Kundt had arrived in Bolivia in the early 1920s as part of a delegation German military sent to train the Bolivian army, and had stayed in the country, doing fortune.

She had also been involved in the politics Bolivian, to the point of having to leave the country, being called due to the military disaster that Bolivia was suffering in the war. To get an idea of ​​his involvement with Bolivia, he received Bolivian nationality, but died in exile in Switzerland.

In January 1933, the Bolivian army went on the offensive, attacking various forts in Paraguayan power.

The goal was to recover territory, but General Kundt, faced with a good part of the military establishment, and the personal interests of the various Bolivian commanders, fractured the army and impeded joint action, hindering and ultimately preventing the proper performance of weapons Bolivian.

The attack on the Nanawa fort by the Bolivians failed, and as the Paraguayans could not go out on the counteroffensive, the front stabilized in that area.

Bolivian territorial gains were meager on the offensive, forcing the Paraguayans to give up some ground, but it was enough to persuade Kundt that it was necessary to maintain the initiative in the field of battle.

Despite having superiority in material and men (for example, two tank sections and air support), the Bolivian troops failed in the coordination of the attacks, slamming into the Paraguayan defenses.

While Kundt concentrated his efforts (and troops) in Nanawa, the Paraguayan high command decided to take advantage of to attack from another flank, and that is how a Paraguayan division appeared in the Bolivian rear in Gondra.

Although the Bolivian forces were able to avoid being encircled, they remained in a delicate position and exposed, although the Paraguayans could not exploit the moment of superiority for lack of mens.

With some speed, the Bolivian initiative evaporated, and it again passed to the Paraguayan countryside.

The Paraguayan counterattack took place in the Alihuatá fort in September 33, and allowed the destruction of a couple of Bolivian regiments.

A rethinking was necessary on the Bolivian side, and with a tired, decimated and difficult provisioning army, Kundt decided to go on the defensive. The credit for the Paraguayan advance fell, for his part, on Colonel Estigarribia, who would be promoted to general.

The end of 1933 saw a new offensive by the Paraguayan forces that already had the measure taken against their enemies: to fix their opponents on the ground, and overwhelm them on the flanks.

The surrender, in Campo Vía, of two Bolivian divisions was not only a severe setback for the arms of that country (Kundt would be dismissed), but they gave Paraguay a large quantity of material and a moral battle that persuaded them to obtain the final victory.

Paraguayan President Eusebio Ayala proposed an armistice that came into effect at the end of December 33, as an exhausted Bolivia immediately accepted it.

However, the Bolivian bet was to buy time to assemble a new army, since it had suffered 90% of casualties since the beginning of the war. However, it was a desperate move: inexperienced and unmotivated troops, which had already led to massive desertions (the number of deserters from the army accounted for about 10% of Bolivian casualties to date), poorly equipped, and with logistics and support on the ground that could not cover even a part of the needs of the troops, both military and materials.

At the end of 1934, the Paraguayan army launched itself on the Bolivian positions, sure of victory, even though it would not be easy.

The first clashes between the two armies gave the same result: Paraguayan advances, and humiliating Bolivian defeats.

Although the battle of the Cañada Strongest changed the fortunes of the weapons, bringing a Bolivian victory that temporarily raised spirits. In Bolivia, the political situation was critical for President Salamanca, and the result of this battle did not pass the initiative to the Bolivian side, although it gave him a momentary respite.

The battle of El Carmen, which took place in November 1934, was another encirclement maneuver of the Bolivian troops by the Paraguayan women, masterfully executed by Estigarribia, which led to the surrender of numerous totally demoralized Bolivian units, and the capture of an important park of material and ammunition.

However, always short of means and men, the Paraguayan army could not finish off the Bolivian.

At the beginning of the 35, Bolivia had raised a third army in lev, still more numerous than the previous one. But it was useless: the defeat was announced in advance, and the Bolivian offensive actions were answered by the Paraguayan army with great efficiency.

Finally, the Bolivian government accepted the extended hand of peace that the Paraguayan government had been offering it, which Thus ended a conflict that he had not wanted, and that despite the victory, it was paying its economic price for a country poor.

The Chaco War is a perfect example of how a troop inferior in number and resources, but motivated, uniform, well directed and, above all, aware of his limitations on the ground and employing a tactic that allows him to overcome them, he is capable of defeating a force theoretically superior.

Combat morale, greater involvement of the officers with their troops, greater training in war tactics modern, and effective command, allowed the Paraguayan army to overcome its weaknesses and inflict a heavy defeat on Bolivia.

In the peace treaty, Paraguay finally renounced some of the conquered lands, a policy that today is known as "peace in exchange for territories" (what has been tried to implement between Israel and Palestine, with little success).

The definitive boundary-setting agreement in El Chaco was signed only in 2009, 74 years after the end of the war.

Photos: Fotolia - Laufer / Philippe Leridon

Themes in Chaco War