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This unexpected Argentinian military defeat during the Falklands/Malvinas War in 1982 hastened the fall of the unpopular military junta that had lost the propaganda war, turning Argentina into a pariah state, and in mid-1982 Lieutenant-General Reynaldo Bignone (head of the interim government) restored basic civil liberties and retracted its ban on left-wing political parties. The Argentinian military dictatorship ended when [[Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín]]'s UCR (Unión Cívica Radical or Radical Civic Union) civilian government took control of the country on December 10, 1983.

This unexpected Argentinian military defeat during the Falklands/Malvinas War in 1982 hastened the fall of the unpopular military junta that had lost the propaganda war, turning Argentina into a pariah state, and in mid-1982 Lieutenant-General Reynaldo Bignone (head of the interim government) restored basic civil liberties and retracted its ban on left-wing political parties. The Argentinian military dictatorship ended when [[Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín]]'s UCR (Unión Cívica Radical or Radical Civic Union) civilian government took control of the country on December 10, 1983.

Many people, 7,158<ref>"The justification for the Dirty War was the armed actions of the Montoneros and the ERP. From 1969 to 1979, there were 239 kidnappings and 1,020 murders by the guerrillas. During the same period, however, the military kidnapped 7,844 and murdered 7,850." The Psychology of Genocide and Violent Oppression: A Study of Mass Cruelty from Nazi Germany to Rwanda, Richard Morrock, William Marchak, p. 184, McFarland, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1621505-hablan-de-30000-desaparecidos-y-saben-que-es-falso Hablan de 30.000 desaparecidos y saben que es falso]</ref><ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1464650-videla-admitio-que-la-dictadura-mato-a-7-u-8-mil-personas Videla admitió la muerte y desaparición de "7 u 8 mil personas"]</ref>-13,000<ref>[http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2003/10/06/p-00801.htm Una duda histórica: no se sabe cuántos son los desaparecidos]</ref>, both Peronist and Marxist guerrillas as well as civilian opponents of the Argentinian military regime were "disappeared". By the end of 1978, 22,000 thousand Argentinians (according to an often-quoted Chilean military intelligence report) had been taken to secret government detention centers where they were killed or eventually freed under international diplomatic pressure.  

Many people, 7,158<ref>"The justification for the Dirty War was the armed actions of the Montoneros and the ERP. From 1969 to 1979, there were 239 kidnappings and 1,020 murders by the guerrillas. During the same period, however, the military kidnapped 7,844 and murdered 7,850." The Psychology of Genocide and Violent Oppression: A Study of Mass Cruelty from Nazi Germany to Rwanda, Richard Morrock, William Marchak, p. 184, McFarland, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1621505-hablan-de-30000-desaparecidos-y-saben-que-es-falso Hablan de 30.000 desaparecidos y saben que es falso]</ref><ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1464650-videla-admitio-que-la-dictadura-mato-a-7-u-8-mil-personas Videla admitió la muerte y desaparición de "7 u 8 mil personas"]</ref>-13,000,<ref>[http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2003/10/06/p-00801.htm Una duda histórica: no se sabe cuántos son los desaparecidos]</ref> both Peronist and Marxist guerrillas as well as civilian opponents of the Argentinian military regime were "disappeared". By the end of 1978, 22,000 thousand Argentinians (according to an often-quoted Chilean military intelligence report) had been taken to secret government detention centers where they were killed or eventually freed under international diplomatic pressure.  

The leftist guerrillas caused at least 5,000 casualties among the military and police forces, according to a recent article by Spanish journalist Carmen Muñoz from ''Periódico ABC'' in 2011.<ref>"El 70% de las 18.331 víctimas eran civiles apolíticos, por eso no reclamaron sus derechos al Gobierno. No se conocían, eran sindicalistas, jueces, judíos, católicos, extranjeros... El 30% eran uniformados agredidos en situación de descanso, por lo que son civiles según el derecho internacional." [http://www.abc.es/20111228/internacional/abci-victoria-villarruel-entrevista-201112280343.html "Las víctimas del terror montonero no cuentan en Argentina",  Periódico ABC,  Carmen Muñoz, 28/12/2011]</ref>

The leftist guerrillas caused at least 5,000 casualties among the military and police forces, according to a recent article by Spanish journalist Carmen Muñoz from ''Periódico ABC'' in 2011.<ref>"El 70% de las 18.331 víctimas eran civiles apolíticos, por eso no reclamaron sus derechos al Gobierno. No se conocían, eran sindicalistas, jueces, judíos, católicos, extranjeros... El 30% eran uniformados agredidos en situación de descanso, por lo que son civiles según el derecho internacional." [http://www.abc.es/20111228/internacional/abci-victoria-villarruel-entrevista-201112280343.html "Las víctimas del terror montonero no cuentan en Argentina",  Periódico ABC,  Carmen Muñoz, 28/12/2011]</ref>

==Origins==

==Origins==

The origins of the Dirty War have long been debated, with Professor  Patricia Marchak in ''God's Assassins: State Terrorism in Argentina in the 1970s'' and Professor Carlos Marcelo Shäferstein in ''Cien años de subversión en Argentina''<ref>[http://www.lahistoriaparalela.com.ar/2009/06/19/cien-anos-de-subversion-en-argentina/ Cien años de subversión en Argentina]</ref>and historians Alejandro García<ref>La Crisis Argentina, 1966–1976: Notas y Documentos Sobre una época de Violencia Política, Alejandro García, p. 32, EDITUM, 1994</ref>and Antonius C. G. M. Robben arguing the political violence started with the anarchist bombing campaigns and armed uprisings in Buenos Aires and the Patagonia in the 1910s and 1920s. During the Patagonia uprisings in the Santa Cruz province in 1921 and 1922, some 300 anarchist were killed in action or executed by the Argentinian Army.<ref>"Los medios anarquistas hablan de 1500 muertos, la prensa oficial de 300." La Causa Argentina, Juan Archibaldo Lanús (p. 393). Emecé Editores, 1988</ref>During the Buenos Aires uprisings in 1919, some 140 anarchists were killed and several buildings in the capital were burnt down.

The origins of the Dirty War have long been debated, with Professor  Patricia Marchak in ''God's Assassins: State Terrorism in Argentina in the 1970s'' and Professor Carlos Marcelo Shäferstein in ''Cien años de subversión en Argentina''<ref>[http://www.lahistoriaparalela.com.ar/2009/06/19/cien-anos-de-subversion-en-argentina/ Cien años de subversión en Argentina]</ref> and historians Alejandro García<ref>La Crisis Argentina, 1966–1976: Notas y Documentos Sobre una época de Violencia Política, Alejandro García, p. 32, EDITUM, 1994</ref> and Antonius C. G. M. Robben arguing the political violence started with the anarchist bombing campaigns and armed uprisings in Buenos Aires and the Patagonia in the 1910s and 1920s. During the Patagonia uprisings in the Santa Cruz province in 1921 and 1922, some 300 anarchist were killed in action or executed by the Argentinian Army.<ref>"Los medios anarquistas hablan de 1500 muertos, la prensa oficial de 300." La Causa Argentina, Juan Archibaldo Lanús (p. 393). Emecé Editores, 1988</ref> During the Buenos Aires uprisings in 1919, some 140 anarchists were killed and several buildings in the capital were burnt down.

Prior to the armed uprisings, several efforts were made to interrupt the celebrations marking 100 years of Argentinian independence on 25 May 1910, with an anarchists handing over a hand-held bomb to a child to take inside a cathedral in Buenos Aires, but the bomb exploded prematurely killing the minor and mutilating another boy.<ref>[BOMBS IN ARGENTINA. BOY BLOWN TO AMOMS]</ref>

Prior to the armed uprisings, several efforts were made to interrupt the celebrations marking 100 years of Argentinian independence on 25 May 1910, with an anarchists handing over a hand-held bomb to a child to take inside a cathedral in Buenos Aires, but the bomb exploded prematurely killing the minor and mutilating another boy.<ref>[BOMBS IN ARGENTINA. BOY BLOWN TO AMOMS]</ref>

On 9 July 1916, an anarchist armed with a hand-gun tried to kill the Argentinian president, Victorino de la Plaza. The attempted assassination took place while the president attended a military parade in Buenos Aires, during the centennial celebrations marking Argentinian independence from Spain.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v6dRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LmgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4473,3490772&dq=&hl=en EFFORT MADE TO KILL PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINE]</ref>

On 9 July 1916, an anarchist armed with a hand-gun tried to kill the Argentinian president, Victorino de la Plaza. The attempted assassination took place while the president attended a military parade in Buenos Aires, during the centennial celebrations marking Argentinian independence from Spain.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v6dRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LmgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4473,3490772&dq=&hl=en EFFORT MADE TO KILL PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINE]</ref>

On 9 February 1918, violent strikes took place in the main Argentinian cities and army units were rushed to the affected areas after anarchists sabotaged train lines and burnt carriages transporting wheat to Buenos Aires for exportation.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yQteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7l8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3282,3532019&dq=&hl=en Anarchy Reigns in Argentina When General Rail Strike Brings Riots]</ref>Argentinian left-wing activists at the time printed and widely distributed, even among conscripts, a newspaper promoting a Communist Revolution in Argentina.<ref>"Los anarquistas simpatizantes de la Revolución Rusa editaban un periódico para los soldados y hacían un activo trabajo en los cuarteles." El Marxismo y la Revolución Argentina, Tomo II, Otto Vargas, p. 152, Editorial Agora, 1999</ref>

On 9 February 1918, violent strikes took place in the main Argentinian cities and army units were rushed to the affected areas after anarchists sabotaged train lines and burnt carriages transporting wheat to Buenos Aires for exportation.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yQteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7l8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3282,3532019&dq=&hl=en Anarchy Reigns in Argentina When General Rail Strike Brings Riots]</ref> Argentinian left-wing activists at the time printed and widely distributed, even among conscripts, a newspaper promoting a Communist Revolution in Argentina.<ref>"Los anarquistas simpatizantes de la Revolución Rusa editaban un periódico para los soldados y hacían un activo trabajo en los cuarteles." El Marxismo y la Revolución Argentina, Tomo II, Otto Vargas, p. 152, Editorial Agora, 1999</ref>

The left-wing violence continued throughout the 1920s. On 24 December 1927 two powerful anarchist bombs went off in two US-owned banks in downtown Buenos Aires, killing two employees.<ref>"El 24 de diciembre de 1927 vuelan las casas centrales del Citibank y el Banco de Boston, con el lamentable saldo de dos muertos. Los Mitos de la Historia Argentina: De la ley Sáenz Peña a los Albores del Peronismo ", Tomo III, Felipe Pigna, p. 111, Grupo Editorial Norma, 2006</ref>On 23 May 1923, the anarchists detonate another bomb inside the Italian consulate in the Argentinian capital, killing 9 and wounding 41, the majority of them innocent civilians.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19280523&id=h4EpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0mYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3534,4255127&hl=en Nine Killed, 41 Injured By Bomb In Buenos Aires]</ref>On 24 December, Argentinian president Hipólito Yrigoyen narrowly survived an attempt on his life. The would-be murderer, 44 year-old Italian anarchist Gualterio Marinelli is killed by return fire from the protecting police detachment.

The left-wing violence continued throughout the 1920s. On 24 December 1927 two powerful anarchist bombs went off in two US-owned banks in downtown Buenos Aires, killing two employees.<ref>"El 24 de diciembre de 1927 vuelan las casas centrales del Citibank y el Banco de Boston, con el lamentable saldo de dos muertos. Los Mitos de la Historia Argentina: De la ley Sáenz Peña a los Albores del Peronismo ", Tomo III, Felipe Pigna, p. 111, Grupo Editorial Norma, 2006</ref> On 23 May 1923, the anarchists detonate another bomb inside the Italian consulate in the Argentinian capital, killing 9 and wounding 41, the majority of them innocent civilians.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19280523&id=h4EpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0mYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3534,4255127&hl=en Nine Killed, 41 Injured By Bomb In Buenos Aires]</ref> On 24 December, Argentinian president Hipólito Yrigoyen narrowly survived an attempt on his life. The would-be murderer, 44 year-old Italian anarchist Gualterio Marinelli is killed by return fire from the protecting police detachment.

==President Juan Perón==  

==President Juan Perón==  

With the return of democracy, human rights groups in Argentina started searching for the grandchildren stolen from detained female guerrillas and civilians and adopted in military circle. At the time, the ''Asociación Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo'' (Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo or ''Abuelas''), had records of 172 children who disappeared together with their parents or were born at the numerous detention camps and had not been returned to their families.

With the return of democracy, human rights groups in Argentina started searching for the grandchildren stolen from detained female guerrillas and civilians and adopted in military circle. At the time, the ''Asociación Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo'' (Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo or ''Abuelas''), had records of 172 children who disappeared together with their parents or were born at the numerous detention camps and had not been returned to their families.

The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo now claim up to 500 grandchildren were adopted by military families. 121 were admittedly located and reunited with their biological families by late 2016 with the announcement that Gustavo Menna, son of Domingo ''Mingo'' Menna, and Ana María ''La Aní'' Lanzillotto (both ERP militants) had been discovered.<ref>[http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/222555/the-story-behind-the-121st-grandchild%E2%80%99s-kidnapping  The story behind the 121st grandchild’s kidnapping]</ref>On 13 April 2000, the grandmothers received a tip off that the birth certificate of Rosa Roisinblit's infant grandson, born in detention, had been falsified and the child given to an Air Force civil employee and his wife. Following the anonymous phone call, he was located and agreed to a DNA blood test, confirming his true identity. Rodolfo Fernando, grandson of Roisinblit, is the first known newborn of missing children returned to his family through the work of the grandmothers. Roisinblit's daughter, 25-year-old Patricia Julia Roisinblit de Perez, who was a  Montoneros member, was kidnapped along with her husband, 24-year-old José Martínas Pérez Rojo, on 6 October 1978.

The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo now claim up to 500 grandchildren were adopted by military families. 121 were admittedly located and reunited with their biological families by late 2016 with the announcement that Gustavo Menna, son of Domingo ''Mingo'' Menna, and Ana María ''La Aní'' Lanzillotto (both ERP militants) had been discovered.<ref>[http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/222555/the-story-behind-the-121st-grandchild%E2%80%99s-kidnapping  The story behind the 121st grandchild’s kidnapping]</ref> On 13 April 2000, the grandmothers received a tip off that the birth certificate of Rosa Roisinblit's infant grandson, born in detention, had been falsified and the child given to an Air Force civil employee and his wife. Following the anonymous phone call, he was located and agreed to a DNA blood test, confirming his true identity. Rodolfo Fernando, grandson of Roisinblit, is the first known newborn of missing children returned to his family through the work of the grandmothers. Roisinblit's daughter, 25-year-old Patricia Julia Roisinblit de Perez, who was a  Montoneros member, was kidnapped along with her husband, 24-year-old José Martínas Pérez Rojo, on 6 October 1978.

The case of Maria Eugenia Sampallo (born some time in 1978) also received considerable attention. Sampallo sued the couple who adopted her illegally as a baby after her parents disappeared, both admittedly Montoneros. Her grandmother spent 24 years looking for her. The case was filed in 2001, after DNA tests indicated that Osvaldo Rivas and Maria Cristina Gomez were not her biological parents. They, along with Army Captain Enrique Berthier, who furnished the couple with the baby, were sentenced respectively to 8, 7 and 10 years in prison for kidnapping during the Kirchner government.

The case of Maria Eugenia Sampallo (born some time in 1978) also received considerable attention. Sampallo sued the couple who adopted her illegally as a baby after her parents disappeared, both admittedly Montoneros. Her grandmother spent 24 years looking for her. The case was filed in 2001, after DNA tests indicated that Osvaldo Rivas and Maria Cristina Gomez were not her biological parents. They, along with Army Captain Enrique Berthier, who furnished the couple with the baby, were sentenced respectively to 8, 7 and 10 years in prison for kidnapping during the Kirchner government.