Gran Chaco.
This is coolbert:
It has often been suggested that the Spanish Civil War [1930's] was a dress rehearsal for World War Two [WW2].
Equipment, tactics, etc., to be used during WW2, all were tried out to some degree by the warring parties [it is said that the bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion was a warm-up to the saturation bombing of WW2].
Both sides in the Spanish Civil War WERE aided and abetted by competing foreign powers, to include fascist Germany and Italy, and the communist Soviet Union.
There is, however, another war fought during the same period that perhaps was even a more apt and realistic rehearsal for WW2. A war that is neither appreciated or even known to military "experts".
This is the Gran Chaco War.
Fought in South America between the countries of Paraguay and Bolivia.
There is, however, another war fought during the same period that perhaps was even a more apt and realistic rehearsal for WW2. A war that is neither appreciated or even known to military "experts".
This is the Gran Chaco War.
Fought in South America between the countries of Paraguay and Bolivia.
Fought for possession and control of a barren land [the Gran Chaco] that would best be described as wasteland.
A land that was thought to contain vast deposits of oil just waiting to be taken out of the ground. A fortune that would drastically change the status of two countries that are generally accepted as being among the poorest of the poor in south America.
Paraguay in more recent times has always been thought of as a land ruled by dictators of German descent.
Paraguay in more recent times has always been thought of as a land ruled by dictators of German descent.
A land that provided haven for German war criminals fleeing justice at the end of WW2.
A land poverty stricken for the most part.
A land where the major industry is smuggling.
A land with a populace consisting mainly of Guarani [ghwar-a-nee] Indians. A populace that is said to have an outstanding reputation as "fighters".
Bolivia is of course another poverty stricken country in South America. A largely American Indian populace ruled by a small upper crust of "white" rulers descended from the original conquistadores.
During the 1930's, a time of world-wide depression, rumors and speculation that oil existed in abundance in the Gran Chaco was enough to cause a crisis to develop between the two nations of Paraguay and Bolivia. A crisis that developed into full scale war that neither country wanted or could afford.
A war that for both countries proved to be costly, and almost apocalyptic in nature.
The crisis that developed into war followed a path similar in nature to the path followed by other nations of the world when they go to war.
Bolivia is of course another poverty stricken country in South America. A largely American Indian populace ruled by a small upper crust of "white" rulers descended from the original conquistadores.
During the 1930's, a time of world-wide depression, rumors and speculation that oil existed in abundance in the Gran Chaco was enough to cause a crisis to develop between the two nations of Paraguay and Bolivia. A crisis that developed into full scale war that neither country wanted or could afford.
A war that for both countries proved to be costly, and almost apocalyptic in nature.
The crisis that developed into war followed a path similar in nature to the path followed by other nations of the world when they go to war.
* Title to land is disputed.
* Both sides feel they have some justice to their cause.
* Tensions develop. Diplomacy attempts to find a solution.
* Then further findings or tensions result in the crisis escalating.
* Both sides will not back down.
* War begins!!
And immediately, as war began and fighting became widespread, some interesting trends developed.
Bolivian forces were commanded by "Europeans" who still commanded and thought in the way of World War One [WW1] combat.
Paraguayan forces were commanded by more flexible, astute, adept, and just better, all-around commanders.
Bolivian forces were equipped in a manner superior [at least on paper] to the Paraguayan forces. This however, having superior equipment, was to proven to not to an advantage, rather, a hindrance.
Paraguayan forces had adopted and were adept at the infiltration type of warfare as practiced by the Germans at the end of World War One [WW1].
And immediately, as war began and fighting became widespread, some interesting trends developed.
Bolivian forces were commanded by "Europeans" who still commanded and thought in the way of World War One [WW1] combat.
Paraguayan forces were commanded by more flexible, astute, adept, and just better, all-around commanders.
Bolivian forces were equipped in a manner superior [at least on paper] to the Paraguayan forces. This however, having superior equipment, was to proven to not to an advantage, rather, a hindrance.
Paraguayan forces had adopted and were adept at the infiltration type of warfare as practiced by the Germans at the end of World War One [WW1].
The Bolivians continued to follow the attrition style attacks of WW1, employing tactics not suited for the terrain and climate [there was a movie made some years ago now called "Aguirre, Or the Madness of God". Was about an expedition of Spanish conquistadores who descended from the Incan highlands to the jungle lowlands in search of the El Dorado, the city of gold. This party consisted of about one hundred and fifty persons, half of whom were Peruvian Incan slaves. Within two weeks, the Peruvian Incas, without exception, had all died. Could not withstand the change in climate, altitude, rugged conditions they were unaccustomed to. I would bet the Bolivian troops found themselves in similar circumstances!!].
Whether on the offensive or defensive, the Paraguayans always seemed to possess the upper hand.
As has been previously mentioned, all the components of warfare as it was practiced during WW2 was used to some extent in the Gran Chaco war.
As has been previously mentioned, all the components of warfare as it was practiced during WW2 was used to some extent in the Gran Chaco war.
Air power and armor was employed by the Bolivians, who possessed an advantage over the Paraguayans in these areas.
But it all went for nought as the Paraguayans found that resourceful and determined troops, with leadership, could defeat the machines of modern war using skillful tactics and the previously mentioned fighting capacity of the Guarani.
"Paraguay won almost all the battles of the Chaco War, often by encircling numerical and materially superior Bolivian units. Superior leadership and better familiarity with the country proved decisive. Paraguay's army was, in fact, limited only by her relative poverty and consequent lack of materiel. After 1932, almost all her trucks, artillery, machineguns, and small arms were obtained from captured Bolivian stocks. Paraguay's armies finished up outside the Bolivian fortress of Villa Montes, astride Bolivia's oil fields. By 1935, she had conquered all of the disputed territory in the Gran Chaco."
A negotiated settlement was finally reached after Paraguay had established obvious military dominance and victory. This only after much death on both side. It is reputed that three quarters [3/4] of the military age men in Paraguay became casualties in one way or another! This is a frightening statistic. And this from the winner!!
And as to all the oil in the Gran Chaco. Well, I bet some of you may have guessed what happened to all that oil!!
"And the oil? In a final irony, the petroleum wealth that had inflamed the imaginations of prewar nationalist agitators turned out to be a will-o'-the-wisp. There was no oil in the Chaco itself, and Bolivia's modest output was exported, not by river, but by pipeline through Brazil. The oil speculators pronounced themselves mistaken, and left the Gran Chaco to the cow, the quebracho, and the dead."
Such is the vicissitudes of warfare!!
[personal note: At the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, say around 1972, some American oil companies began to make exploratory drillings in the area of the South China Sea. And at the time, it was said that the oil company geologists expected to find an abundance of oil under this shallow sea. Similar to what has been found in a number of contiguous nations [Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia]. Upon hearing of the commencement of the drillings, many critics of the war hit upon this as being evidence of some sort of true indication as to why the U.S. had fought in Vietnam in the first place. To make the place secure for the oil companies. It became a version of "I gotcha". Well, it has been over thirty years now, and to my knowledge, there are no viable oil wells that came out of this exploration. It was another mirage that never happened. You still hear, from time to time, that a number of countries, China, Vietnam, Philippines, etc., engage in brinksmanship over the Spratley Islands in the same area. But once again, nothing ever seems to come of it].
coolbert.
"Paraguay won almost all the battles of the Chaco War, often by encircling numerical and materially superior Bolivian units. Superior leadership and better familiarity with the country proved decisive. Paraguay's army was, in fact, limited only by her relative poverty and consequent lack of materiel. After 1932, almost all her trucks, artillery, machineguns, and small arms were obtained from captured Bolivian stocks. Paraguay's armies finished up outside the Bolivian fortress of Villa Montes, astride Bolivia's oil fields. By 1935, she had conquered all of the disputed territory in the Gran Chaco."
A negotiated settlement was finally reached after Paraguay had established obvious military dominance and victory. This only after much death on both side. It is reputed that three quarters [3/4] of the military age men in Paraguay became casualties in one way or another! This is a frightening statistic. And this from the winner!!
And as to all the oil in the Gran Chaco. Well, I bet some of you may have guessed what happened to all that oil!!
"And the oil? In a final irony, the petroleum wealth that had inflamed the imaginations of prewar nationalist agitators turned out to be a will-o'-the-wisp. There was no oil in the Chaco itself, and Bolivia's modest output was exported, not by river, but by pipeline through Brazil. The oil speculators pronounced themselves mistaken, and left the Gran Chaco to the cow, the quebracho, and the dead."
Such is the vicissitudes of warfare!!
[personal note: At the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, say around 1972, some American oil companies began to make exploratory drillings in the area of the South China Sea. And at the time, it was said that the oil company geologists expected to find an abundance of oil under this shallow sea. Similar to what has been found in a number of contiguous nations [Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia]. Upon hearing of the commencement of the drillings, many critics of the war hit upon this as being evidence of some sort of true indication as to why the U.S. had fought in Vietnam in the first place. To make the place secure for the oil companies. It became a version of "I gotcha". Well, it has been over thirty years now, and to my knowledge, there are no viable oil wells that came out of this exploration. It was another mirage that never happened. You still hear, from time to time, that a number of countries, China, Vietnam, Philippines, etc., engage in brinksmanship over the Spratley Islands in the same area. But once again, nothing ever seems to come of it].
coolbert.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home