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Campaña del Chaco – Batalla de Villamontes
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Campaña del Chaco – Batalla de Villamontes

Crónica Pasajes de Nuestra Historia: La Guerra del Chaco

Overview of the War Phases

  • The Chaco War can be divided into four distinct phases:
  • Phase One: June to December 1932, marking the beginning of the conflict.
  • Phase Two: The period of Bolivian offensives.
  • Phase Three: From December 1933 to January 1935, characterized by a full Paraguayan offensive.
  • Phase Four: February to July 1935, noted for successful defenses.

Internal Struggles and Military Mobilization

  • During this time, Bolivia faced internal strife with several peasant uprisings in the Altiplano between 1932 and 1934.
  • These uprisings necessitated military repression actions from November '34 to January '35 as Bolivia prepared to mobilize thousands of soldiers for the front lines.

Key Military Events

  • On January 14, General Estigarribia captured a section of the river, achieving Paraguay's goal of reaching its northern territorial aspirations in Chaco.
  • Colonel Bernardino Bilbao Rioja was tasked with organizing Bolivia's defense; nearly 30,000 men defended key positions using heavy artillery and new military supplies.

Consequences and Casualties

  • By February 23, after significant losses on both sides, Estigarribia recognized that his offensive had failed at Villamontes.
  • The war resulted in devastating consequences for Bolivia:
  • Mobilization of three armies totaling approximately 200,000 men.
  • Estimated casualties included 50,000 dead and around 200,000 prisoners.

Financial Impact

  • The financial toll on Bolivia was substantial:
Video description

La guerra del Chaco se libró desde 1932 hasta 1935 entre Bolivia y Paraguay por el control de la región del Chaco Boreal; pese a su aridez y escasa población, el control de la misma motivó la contienda por el valor estratégico del río Paraguay, que la surca. El dominio del río abriría la puerta al océano Atlántico al país que dispusiese de él, una ventaja crucial para los únicos dos países no costeros de Sudamérica y una cuestión nacional para Bolivia, que había perdido el acceso al océano Pacífico en la llamada guerra del Pacífico de 1879. El descubrimiento de yacimientos petrolíferos en la precordillera andina alimentaba además la hipótesis del que el Chaco albergaría también reservas explotables. La guerra del Chaco fue la primera guerra moderna en la historia de Latinoamérica.