Chaco War

Quick Facts: Who was Chaco War?

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Chaco War

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A devastating 1932–1935 conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay over the resource-rich Gran Chaco.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Chaco War (Spanish: Guerra del Chaco, Guarani: Cháko Ñorairõ) was fought from 1932 to 1935. It was between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region (known in Spanish as the Chaco Boreal), which was thought to be rich in petroleum. The war is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed (Spanish for "The War of Thirst"), since it was fought in the semi-arid Chaco. It was the first that took place in South America in which modern weapons (such as machine guns, armoured fighting vehicles and airplanes) were used, and also the bloodiest South America war of the 20th century — around 2% of the Bolivian population and 3% of Paraguayans were killed during the conflict. During the war, both landlocked countries faced difficulties moving arms and supplies through neighbouring countries.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Despite its income from mining and a larger and better-equipped army, problems with international trade and poor internal communications ultimately turned the tide against Bolivia. The war concluded at the Chaco Peace Conference in Buenos Aires in July 1938, at which both countries signed a peace treaty awarding three-quarters of the Gran Chaco to Paraguay. The origins of the war are attributed to a long-standing territorial dispute and to the discovery of oil deposits on the eastern Andes range. After losing territory to neighboring countries in the late 19th century, both Bolivia and Paraguay had become landlocked countries. The 600,000 square kilometres (230,000 square miles) Chaco was sparsely populated, but control of the Paraguay River running through it would provide access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Paraguay had lost almost half of its claimed territory to Brazil and Argentina as a consequence of the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870), and its economic viability depended on retaining control of the Paraguay River. In 1879, Bolivia lost its Pacific coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific. The 1929 Treaty of Lima ended the hopes of the Bolivian government of recovering a land corridor to the Pacific Ocean, so Bolivia viewed access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraguay River as imperative to international trade and further economic development. In international arbitration, Bolivia argued that the region had been part of the original Spanish colonial province of Moxos and Chiquitos to which Bolivia was heir. Meanwhile, Paraguay based its case on the occupation of the land.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1864: 1864 Milestone — Paraguay had lost almost half of its claimed territory to Brazil and Argentina as a consequence of the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870), and its economic viability depended on retaining control of the Paraguay River.
2. 1879: 1879 Milestone — In 1879, Bolivia lost its Pacific coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific.
3. 1929: 1929 Milestone — The 1929 Treaty of Lima ended the hopes of the Bolivian government of recovering a land corridor to the Pacific Ocean, so Bolivia viewed access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraguay River as imperative to international trade and further economic development.
4. 1932: 1932 Milestone — The Chaco War (Spanish: Guerra del Chaco, Guarani: Cháko Ñorairõ) was fought from 1932 to 1935.
5. 1938: 1938 Milestone — The war concluded at the Chaco Peace Conference in Buenos Aires in July 1938, at which both countries signed a peace treaty awarding three-quarters of the Gran Chaco to Paraguay.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Chaco War

True or False: “The primary cause of the Chaco War was solely the discovery of vast, easily accessible oil reserves by international corporations.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While oil speculation fueled tensions, the war stemmed from a long-standing territorial dispute over access to navigable rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 14th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• Abdou Diouf — Historical peer (Born in 1935) (1935): Senegalese politician who served as President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000.
• Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Somaliland politician, served as President from 2010 to 2017.
• Ahn Chang Ho — Historical peer (Died in 1938) (1938): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Adelaide Anne Procter — Historical peer (Died in 1864) (1864): English poet and philanthropist known for her work on poverty and faith.
• Adolf Wölfli — Historical peer (Born in 1864) (1864): Swiss outsider artist known for meticulous, symbolic, and autobiographical works.
• Adam Lindsay Gordon — Historical peer (Died in 1870) (1870): Pioneering British-Australian poet, horseman, and politician of the Victorian era.
• Adolf Loos — Historical peer (Born in 1870) (1870): Pioneering architect and theorist of modernism, known for his critique of ornamentation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chaco War