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Dirty War (Argentina, 1976-83) (view source)
Revision as of 23:59, July 13, 2019
, 23:59, July 13, 2019→Urban guerilla warfare
==Urban guerilla warfare==
==Urban guerilla warfare==
The Montonero insurgent leadership made a conscious decision to “militarize” the struggle and attack directly the Argentinian police and military forces in the main cities. The political objectives that originally motivated the escalation were sacrificed in favour of military considerations. The groups that were supposedly to bring national and social liberation to the country developed into mirror images of the Argentinian armed forces, and legitimizing political-psychological efforts were considered unproductive niceties.
The Montonero insurgent leadership made a conscious decision to “militarize” the struggle and attack directly the Argentinian police and military forces in the main cities. The political objectives that originally motivated the gradual escalation of left-wing activism were sacrificed in favour of military action. The groups that were supposedly to bring national and social liberation to the country developed into mirror images of the Argentinian armed forces, and legitimizing political-psychological efforts were considered unproductive niceties.
The urban guerrillas operating in Buenos Aires made healines on April 5th 1969 when armed members of the Armed Forces of Liberation (''Fuerzas Argentinas de Liberación'' or FAL) attacked the Campo de Mayo Barracks and seized 100 automatic rifles from the 1st 'Patricios' Regiment.<ref>[http://jorgenegre.com.ar/web/index.php/2016/01/30/fal-copamiento-regimiento-patricios/FAL: copamiento Regimiento Patricios]</ref>
The urban guerrillas operating in Buenos Aires made major headlines on April 5th 1969 when armed members of the Armed Forces of Liberation (''Fuerzas Argentinas de Liberación'' or FAL) attacked the Campo de Mayo Army Barracks and seized 100 automatic rifles from the 1st 'Patricios' Regiment.<ref>[http://jorgenegre.com.ar/web/index.php/2016/01/30/fal-copamiento-regimiento-patricios/FAL: copamiento Regimiento Patricios]</ref>
The leftist militants bombed and destroyed numerous buildings in the 1970s in its campaign against the civilian and military authorities; these belonged chiefly to police and military hierarchies. But a number of civilian and non-governmental buildings were targeted as well, such as the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, which was bombed in 1972 (killing a Canadian woman, Lois Crozier and injuring her husband Gerry Crozier)<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z94QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7258,1915009&dq=&hl=en Peronists blamed in Hotel bombing]</ref>and the bombing of a crowded theatre in downtown Buenos Aires in 1975<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wuQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0EYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828,4751834&dq=&hl=en Isabel Peron cleared of charge]</ref>. In November 1971, in solidarity with striking workers, Montoneros guerrillas seized a car plant in Caseros and set alight and destroyed with gasoline several Fiat 38 vehicles.<ref>The Argentina Reader: History, Culture, Politics, Gabriela Nouzeilles, Graciela Montaldo, p. 382, Duke University Press, 2002 </ref>. In 1971, the leftist guerrillas killed 57 policemen, and in 1972, despite a heightened alert, the guerrilleros managed to kill another 38 policemen.<ref>Guerrillas and Generals: The Dirty War in Argentina, Paul H. Lewis, p. 53, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002</ref>
The leftist militants bombed and destroyed numerous buildings in the 1970s in its campaign against the civilian and military authorities; these belonged chiefly to police and military hierarchies. But a number of civilian and non-governmental buildings were targeted as well, such as the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, which was bombed in 1972 (killing a Canadian woman, Lois Crozier and injuring her husband Gerry Crozier)<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z94QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7258,1915009&dq=&hl=en Peronists blamed in Hotel bombing]</ref>and the bombing of a crowded theatre in downtown Buenos Aires in 1975<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wuQeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0EYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828,4751834&dq=&hl=en Isabel Peron cleared of charge]</ref>. In November 1971, in solidarity with striking workers, Montoneros guerrillas seized a car plant in Caseros and set alight and destroyed with gasoline several Fiat 38 vehicles.<ref>The Argentina Reader: History, Culture, Politics, Gabriela Nouzeilles, Graciela Montaldo, p. 382, Duke University Press, 2002 </ref>. In 1971, the leftist guerrillas killed 57 policemen, and in 1972, despite a heightened alert, the guerrilleros managed to kill another 38 policemen.<ref>Guerrillas and Generals: The Dirty War in Argentina, Paul H. Lewis, p. 53, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002</ref>
On February 4th 1972, police corporal Conrado Likay Faldi was shot dead in the Bernal suburb of Buenos Aires.<ref>[https://adtomator.com/2014/07/07/los-terroristas-desaparecidos-no-merecen-ser-simbolo-patrio-por-nicolas-marquez/ Los terroristas “desaparecidos” no merecen ser símbolo patrio – Por Nicolás Márquez]</ref>On February 14th 1972, FAL guerrillas supporting urban operations in the Barrio Norte suburb of Buenos Aires, delivered a bomb concealed in a flower bouquet to the house of the ex-Justice Minister Jaime Perriaux, killing three policemen (Roque Russo, Rómulo Salvatierra and Néstor Godoy) and mortally wounding another (Oscar Raúl Pereda) of an anti-explosives unit, and wounding eleven others, including neighbors.<ref>Alétheia, Zacharkow de Marquart, Emilce E., Martinez & Maria Angelica, p. 79, Editorial Dunken, 2014</ref>In July 1972 a bomb planted by Montoneros activists in Plaza de San Isidro in Buenos Aires, wounded three policemen and blinded a fireman (Carlos Adrián Ayala) who died of his injuries in hospital.<ref>In Memoriam, Volume 2, p. 398, El Círculo, 1998</ref>On December 28th 1972, Marine Private Julio César Provenzano, operating on behalf of the ERP guerrillas, is killed while plating a bomb in the men's room of the Argentinian Navy Headquarters.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19730331&id=MGo0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4256,7005410 Argentine Navy headquarters hit]</ref>
On February 4th 1972, police corporal Conrado Likay Faldi was shot dead in the Bernal suburb of Buenos Aires.<ref>[https://adtomator.com/2014/07/07/los-terroristas-desaparecidos-no-merecen-ser-simbolo-patrio-por-nicolas-marquez/ Los terroristas “desaparecidos” no merecen ser símbolo patrio – Por Nicolás Márquez]</ref>On February 14th 1972, FAL guerrillas supporting urban operations in the Barrio Norte suburb of Buenos Aires, delivered a bomb concealed in a flower bouquet to the house of the ex-Justice Minister Jaime Perriaux, killing three policemen (Roque Russo, Rómulo Salvatierra and Néstor Godoy) and mortally wounding another (Oscar Raúl Pereda) of an anti-explosives unit, and wounding eleven others, including neighbors.<ref>Alétheia, Zacharkow de Marquart, Emilce E., Martinez & Maria Angelica, p. 79, Editorial Dunken, 2014</ref>In July 1972 a bomb planted by Montoneros activists in Plaza de San Isidro in Buenos Aires, wounded three policemen and blinded a fireman (Carlos Adrián Ayala) who died of his injuries in hospital.<ref>In Memoriam, Volume 2, p. 398, El Círculo, 1998</ref>On December 28th 1972, Marine Private Julio César Provenzano, operating on behalf of the ERP guerrillas, is killed while plating a bomb in the men's room of the Argentinian Navy Headquarters.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19730331&id=MGo0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=8QkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4256,7005410 Argentine Navy headquarters hit]</ref>
On February 1st 1973, First Lieutenant José Maria Naccarato was killed while driving in the city of Resistencia in Chaco Province when a bomb planted in his car detonated.<ref>[http://www.elojodigital.com/contenido/8379-denuncia-por-privacion-ilegitima-de-la-libertad-contra-miembros-de-la-administracion- Denuncia por privación ilegítima de la libertad contra miembros de la Administración Kirchner, acusados de haber pertenecido al grupo terrorista Montoneros]</ref>On March 6th 1973, urban guerrillas shot dead three policemen (1st Corporal Máximo Maydana and Corporals José Sergio Contreras and Luis María Benítez) at a dance hall in the José C. Paz suburb of Buenos Aires.<ref>[http://www.mendozatransparente.com.ar/decada-del-70/el631973fueronasesinadoslospoliciasjosesergiocontrerasmaximomaidanayluismariabenitezdejandountotalde16huerfanos El 6/3/1973 fueron asesinados los policías José Sergio Contreras, Máximo Maidana y Luis María Benítez, dejando un total de 16 huérfanos]</ref>Between September 16th and 17th 1974, about 100 Montoneros bombs exploded throughout Argentina against ceremonies commemorating the military revolt which ended Juan Perón's first term as president and foreign companies.
On February 1st 1973, First Lieutenant José Maria Naccarato was killed while driving in the city of Resistencia in Chaco Province when a bomb planted in his car detonated.<ref>[http://www.elojodigital.com/contenido/8379-denuncia-por-privacion-ilegitima-de-la-libertad-contra-miembros-de-la-administracion- Denuncia por privación ilegítima de la libertad contra miembros de la Administración Kirchner, acusados de haber pertenecido al grupo terrorista Montoneros]</ref>On March 6th 1973, urban guerrillas shot dead three policemen (1st Corporal Máximo Maydana and Corporals José Sergio Contreras and Luis María Benítez) at a dance hall in the José C. Paz suburb of Buenos Aires.<ref>[http://www.mendozatransparente.com.ar/decada-del-70/el631973fueronasesinadoslospoliciasjosesergiocontrerasmaximomaidanayluismariabenitezdejandountotalde16huerfanos El 6/3/1973 fueron asesinados los policías José Sergio Contreras, Máximo Maidana y Luis María Benítez, dejando un total de 16 huérfanos]</ref>Between September 16th and 17th 1974, about 100 Montoneros bombs exploded throughout Argentina against ceremonies commemorating the military revolt which ended Juan Perón's first term as president and foreign companies.
During the month of August 1975, the Argentine city of Córdoba witnessed a number of armed actions on the part of the left-wing activists and guerrillas that resulted in the death of at least five policemen (Sergeant Juan Carlos Román, Corporal Rosario del Carmen Moyano and Agents Luis Rodolfo López, Jorge Natividad Luna and Juan Antonio Diaz) and units of the elite 4th Airborne Infantry Brigade were obliged to be called in to stand guard at strategic points around the city after the bombing of police headquarters and the police radio communications centre.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vdJGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6XsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3887,3282259&dq= 5 Policemen Dead In Argentina Violence]</ref>
During the month of August 1975, the Argentine city of Córdoba witnessed a number of armed actions on the part of the left-wing guerrillas and militants that resulted in the death of at least five policemen (Sergeant Juan Carlos Román, Corporal Rosario del Carmen Moyano and Agents Luis Rodolfo López, Jorge Natividad Luna and Juan Antonio Diaz) and units from the elite 4th Airborne Infantry Brigade were obliged to be called in to stand guard at strategic points around the city after the bombing of police headquarters and the police radio communications centre.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vdJGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6XsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3887,3282259&dq= 5 Policemen Dead In Argentina Violence]</ref>
Targets in the bombings included three Ford showrooms; Peugeot and IKA-Renault showrooms; Goodyear and Firestone tire distributors, Riker and Eli pharmaceutical laboratories, Union carbide Battery Company, Bank of Boston and Chase Manhattan Bank branches, Xerox Corporation; and Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottling companies. In all, 83 servicemen and policemen were killed in left-wing terror incidents between 1973 and 1974.<ref> State Terrorism in Latin America: Chile, Argentina, and International Human Rights, Thomas C. Wright, pg 102, Rowman & Littlefield, 2007</ref>
Targets in the bombings included three Ford showrooms; Peugeot and IKA-Renault showrooms; Goodyear and Firestone tire distributors, Riker and Eli pharmaceutical laboratories, Union carbide Battery Company, Bank of Boston and Chase Manhattan Bank branches, Xerox Corporation; and Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottling companies. In all, 83 members of the armed forces and policemen were killed in left-wing terror attacks between 1973 and 1974.<ref>State Terrorism in Latin America: Chile, Argentina, and International Human Rights, Thomas C. Wright, pg 102, Rowman & Littlefield, 2007</ref>
On 13 January 1976, leftists set fire to a Buenos Aires commuter train after forcing passengers to descend at gunpoint.<ref>Peronist Guerrillas Burn Train Near Buenos Aires, ''The New York Times'', 14 January 1976</ref> On 2 February 1976 about fifty Montoneros attacked the Juan Vucetich Police Academy in Buenos Aires in an attempt to capture the helicopter-gunships stationed there,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qLsSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6809,70028&dq= "Guerrilla Raid Foiled"]. page 8, ''Spokane Daily Chronicle'' (2 February 1976).</ref>but were repelled in heavy fighting involving police reinforcements. In the week preceding the military coup, the Montoneros killed 13 policemen as part of its renewed offensive aptly named ''Third National Military Campaign''.<ref>Lewis, Paul. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?id=NtZ3EvNYxjYC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125 Guerrillas and Generals: the Dirty War in Argentina], p. 125, Greenwood Publishing Group.</ref> On 15 March, a powerful guerrilla bomb exploded next to the Argentine Army Headquarters, smashing windows in the nearby Casa Rosada and wounding 15 military personnel and 6 civilians as well as killing a civilian passerby.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e_tQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Jr8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,2038489&dq= Argentine army quarters blasted, The Telegraph Herald, 6 March 1976]</ref> During 1976, Videla himself narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in which a time bomb planted in the reviewing stand at the vast Campo de Mayo barracks blew out a meter-wide hole at the exact spot where he had been standing.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946715,00.html "A Monopoly of Force"]. ''Time''. (18 October 1976).</ref>
On January 13th 1976, leftists set fire to a Buenos Aires commuter train after forcing passengers to descend at gunpoint.<ref>Peronist Guerrillas Burn Train Near Buenos Aires, ''The New York Times'', 14 January 1976</ref>On February 2nd 1976 about fifty Montoneros attacked the Juan Vucetich Police Academy in Buenos Aires in an attempt to capture the helicopter-gunships stationed there,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qLsSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6809,70028&dq= "Guerrilla Raid Foiled"]. page 8, ''Spokane Daily Chronicle'' (2 February 1976).</ref>but were repelled in heavy fighting involving police reinforcements. In the week preceding the military coup, the Montoneros killed 13 policemen as part of its renewed offensive aptly named ''Third National Military Campaign''.<ref>Lewis, Paul. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?id=NtZ3EvNYxjYC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125 Guerrillas and Generals: the Dirty War in Argentina], p. 125, Greenwood Publishing Group.</ref>On March 15th, a powerful guerrilla bomb exploded next to the Argentine Army Headquarters, smashing windows in the nearby Casa Rosada and wounding 15 military personnel and 6 civilians as well as killing a civilian passerby.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e_tQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Jr8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,2038489&dq= Argentine army quarters blasted, The Telegraph Herald, 6 March 1976]</ref>During 1976, Videla himself narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in which a time bomb planted in the reviewing stand at the vast Campo de Mayo barracks blew out a meter-wide hole at the exact spot where he had been standing.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946715,00.html "A Monopoly of Force"]. ''Time''. (18 October 1976).</ref>
On September 29th 1976 fierce fighting took place in the Floresta suburb of Buenos Aires, where one-hundred soldiers and policemen were forced to use bazookas and armored cars against heavily armed guerrillas.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7k40AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OWcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1952,5810098&dq= "Troops Clash With Guerrillas"]. ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' (29 September 1976).</ref> On October 2nd, Lieutenant-General Jorge Videla narrowly escaped death when a bomb packed in metal tubing supporting a reviewing stand at the Campo de Mayo army barracks exploded only moments after he left.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KeVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6997,382239&dq= Argentina's chief escapes blasts, Eugene Resister-Guard, 3 October 1976]. Google News.</ref> On October 17th a bomb blast in an Army Club Cinema in downtown Buenos Aires killed 11 and wounded about 50 officers and family members. On December 15th, another bomb planted in a Defense Ministry movie hall killed at least 14 and injured 30 officers and family members<ref name="encyclopedia202"/> officers and their families. By the first anniversary of the coup that ousted President [[Isabel Martínez de Perón|Isabel Perón]], 124 soldiers and police had been killed in incidents involving left-wing guerrillas and militants<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918823,00.html?iid=chix-sphere|title=Hope from a Clockwork Coup|work=Time|date=11 April 1977}}</ref> in what the military referred to as, "the Dirty War".
On September 29th 1976 fierce fighting took place in the Floresta suburb of Buenos Aires, where one-hundred soldiers and policemen were forced to use bazookas and armored cars against heavily armed guerrillas.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7k40AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OWcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1952,5810098&dq= "Troops Clash With Guerrillas"]. ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' (29 September 1976).</ref> On October 2nd, Lieutenant-General Jorge Videla narrowly escaped death when a bomb packed in metal tubing supporting a reviewing stand at the Campo de Mayo army barracks exploded only moments after he left.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KeVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6997,382239&dq= Argentina's chief escapes blasts, Eugene Resister-Guard, 3 October 1976]. Google News.</ref> On October 17th a bomb blast in an Army Club Cinema in downtown Buenos Aires killed 11 and wounded about 50 officers and family members. On December 15th, another bomb planted in a Defense Ministry movie hall killed at least 14 and injured 30 officers and family members<ref name="encyclopedia202"/> officers and their families. By the first anniversary of the coup that ousted President [[Isabel Martínez de Perón|Isabel Perón]], 124 soldiers and police had been killed in incidents involving left-wing guerrillas and militants<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918823,00.html?iid=chix-sphere|title=Hope from a Clockwork Coup|work=Time|date=11 April 1977}}</ref> in what the military referred to as, "the Dirty War".