Chaco War 1932-1935
The Chaco War (1932–1935) was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which could provide access to the Pacific and was thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles, for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco. It was the bloodiest military conflict fought in South America during the 20th century, between two of its poorest countries, both having previously lost territory to neighbors in 19th-century wars.
Chaco War Campaign Medal and Cross for the Defenders of Chaco Variants
Chaco War Campaign Medal 1935
The 45mm X 46.5mm, bronze medal is formed by an open-ended laurel wreath with overlaying condor, wings spread, in the center and inscribed in the exergue, CAMPANA DE CHACO. The base design/symbol is based on ancient Pre-Colombian stepped symbols, often incorrectly referred to as an Andean Cross, Inca Cross, Stepped Cross, or Chakana (Inca for bridge), from the ancient archeological complex at Kalasasaya in the Andes of western Bolivia. The medal's correct ribbon is solid blue.
Cross for the Defenders of Chaco
This is a uniface, 50mm Maltese cross with red, blue, green and black enameled arms with an elaborate condor suspension issued by the national congress. The central gilt and multi-colored enamel medallion bearing the arms of Bolivia encircled by a red enamel ring inscribed, EL HONORABLE CONGRESO NACIONAL - A LOS DEFENSORES DEL CHACO on original tri-colored ribbon. The reverse is blank. The medal pictured is with large arms in the center. A variant of the same design has smaller arms on the obverse.
Chaco War Merit Medal
This medal is for the Chaco War 1932. The ornate gold-plated medal depicts the rays of the sun, four Fraile monolith heads from the Tiahuanaco culture at Kalasasaya Temple joined by a laurel wreath suspended from a condor, wings spread, (symbol of the air force). The white enamel center inscribed, E de B (Ejercito de Bolivia) and AL MERITO on two lines. It was awarded to members of the Air Force who participated in the Chaco War.
Chaco War Merit Badge
In addition, there is a 40mm, bronze badge awarded by the Governor of Bolivia. It is based on the design of the Chaco Merit Medal without the white enamel. It features four Fraile monolith heads from the Tiahuanaco culture at Kalasasaya Temple. It is circumscribed EJERCITO DE BOLIVIA and in the red center, AL MERITO. The reverse is blank.
The monolith Fraile is a beautiful 3-meter tall sculpture carved in sandstone. It depicts a character's bulging belly with hand on the chest. The head is crowned by a headband, the shape of the face is rectangular, with square eyes. It is located in the southwest corner of Tiwanaku.
Chaco Merit Medal, Chaco War Merit Badge and Order of Military Merit 6th Cl
Military Order of Merit
Instituted in 1927 modified 1935 for the Chaco War, it is suspended in an identical manner as the Chaco Merit Medal and on the identical ribbon. It is a red enamel, four-armed cross outlined in gilt with the curved inscription in the central rondel, EJERCITO DE BOLIVIA, surrounding the inscription, AL MERITO on a central gilt plate on two straight lines.
During the war, both landlocked countries faced difficulties shipping arms and supplies through neighboring countries. Bolivia faced particular external trade problems, coupled with poor internal communications. Although Bolivia had A lucrative mining income and a larger, better-equipped army, a series of factors turned the tide against it, and Paraguay came to control most of the disputed zone by war's end. The ultimate peace treaties granted two-thirds of the disputed territories to Paraguay. Whilst Bolivia had three times the population of Paraguay, the morale of its army was low and the terrain better suited the Paraguayans. After many months of heavy fighting and the loss of 100,000 men in total, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on 21 July 1938. Paraguay was confirmed in most of the disputed area but Bolivia was given a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port at Puerto Casado.
The Chaco War of 1932 to 1935 was a bloody and costly conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay for access to the Río de la Plata and thus the Atlantic coast and the assumed but non-existent oil reserves of the Gran Chaco. Whilst Bolivia had three times the population of Paraguay, the morale of its army was low and the terrain better suited the Paraguayans. After many months of heavy fighting and the loss of 100,000 men in total, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on 21 July 1938. Paraguay was confirmed in most of the disputed area but Bolivia was given a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port at Puerto Casado.
Medal of the Association for Prisoners of War 1934
Medal of the Association for Prisoners of War 1934
This unofficial award is a rare silver oval medal (22mm X 29mm) with the Bolivian arms in the center issued by the Bolivian Association for Prisoners of War on March 18, 1934. The medal was issued in support of Bolivian POWs captured during the Chaco War. The die-struck medal does have a couple of minor defects. The medal is suspended by the original red/yellow/ green bow ribbon. It is inscribed around the outside edge, BOLIVIA ASCION. PRO-PRISIONEROS DE GUERRA. The otherwise plain reverse appears to be stamped with the place and date of capture. One example shows, LA PAZ MARZO 18, on two straight lines and below 1934 curved.
During the war, some 18,000 Bolivian prisoners were dispersed throughout Paraguay, where they were employed in public works and agriculture.
The Chaco War (1932–1935) was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which could provide access to the Pacific and was thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles, for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco. It was the bloodiest military conflict fought in South America during the 20th century, between two of its poorest countries, both having previously lost territory to neighbors in 19th-century wars.
Chaco War Campaign Medal and Cross for the Defenders of Chaco Variants
Chaco War Campaign Medal 1935
The 45mm X 46.5mm, bronze medal is formed by an open-ended laurel wreath with overlaying condor, wings spread, in the center and inscribed in the exergue, CAMPANA DE CHACO. The base design/symbol is based on ancient Pre-Colombian stepped symbols, often incorrectly referred to as an Andean Cross, Inca Cross, Stepped Cross, or Chakana (Inca for bridge), from the ancient archeological complex at Kalasasaya in the Andes of western Bolivia. The medal's correct ribbon is solid blue.
Cross for the Defenders of Chaco
This is a uniface, 50mm Maltese cross with red, blue, green and black enameled arms with an elaborate condor suspension issued by the national congress. The central gilt and multi-colored enamel medallion bearing the arms of Bolivia encircled by a red enamel ring inscribed, EL HONORABLE CONGRESO NACIONAL - A LOS DEFENSORES DEL CHACO on original tri-colored ribbon. The reverse is blank. The medal pictured is with large arms in the center. A variant of the same design has smaller arms on the obverse.
Chaco War Merit Medal
This medal is for the Chaco War 1932. The ornate gold-plated medal depicts the rays of the sun, four Fraile monolith heads from the Tiahuanaco culture at Kalasasaya Temple joined by a laurel wreath suspended from a condor, wings spread, (symbol of the air force). The white enamel center inscribed, E de B (Ejercito de Bolivia) and AL MERITO on two lines. It was awarded to members of the Air Force who participated in the Chaco War.
Chaco War Merit Badge
In addition, there is a 40mm, bronze badge awarded by the Governor of Bolivia. It is based on the design of the Chaco Merit Medal without the white enamel. It features four Fraile monolith heads from the Tiahuanaco culture at Kalasasaya Temple. It is circumscribed EJERCITO DE BOLIVIA and in the red center, AL MERITO. The reverse is blank.
The monolith Fraile is a beautiful 3-meter tall sculpture carved in sandstone. It depicts a character's bulging belly with hand on the chest. The head is crowned by a headband, the shape of the face is rectangular, with square eyes. It is located in the southwest corner of Tiwanaku.
Chaco Merit Medal, Chaco War Merit Badge and Order of Military Merit 6th Cl
Military Order of Merit
Instituted in 1927 modified 1935 for the Chaco War, it is suspended in an identical manner as the Chaco Merit Medal and on the identical ribbon. It is a red enamel, four-armed cross outlined in gilt with the curved inscription in the central rondel, EJERCITO DE BOLIVIA, surrounding the inscription, AL MERITO on a central gilt plate on two straight lines.
During the war, both landlocked countries faced difficulties shipping arms and supplies through neighboring countries. Bolivia faced particular external trade problems, coupled with poor internal communications. Although Bolivia had A lucrative mining income and a larger, better-equipped army, a series of factors turned the tide against it, and Paraguay came to control most of the disputed zone by war's end. The ultimate peace treaties granted two-thirds of the disputed territories to Paraguay. Whilst Bolivia had three times the population of Paraguay, the morale of its army was low and the terrain better suited the Paraguayans. After many months of heavy fighting and the loss of 100,000 men in total, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on 21 July 1938. Paraguay was confirmed in most of the disputed area but Bolivia was given a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port at Puerto Casado.
The Chaco War of 1932 to 1935 was a bloody and costly conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay for access to the Río de la Plata and thus the Atlantic coast and the assumed but non-existent oil reserves of the Gran Chaco. Whilst Bolivia had three times the population of Paraguay, the morale of its army was low and the terrain better suited the Paraguayans. After many months of heavy fighting and the loss of 100,000 men in total, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on 21 July 1938. Paraguay was confirmed in most of the disputed area but Bolivia was given a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port at Puerto Casado.
Medal of the Association for Prisoners of War 1934
Medal of the Association for Prisoners of War 1934
This unofficial award is a rare silver oval medal (22mm X 29mm) with the Bolivian arms in the center issued by the Bolivian Association for Prisoners of War on March 18, 1934. The medal was issued in support of Bolivian POWs captured during the Chaco War. The die-struck medal does have a couple of minor defects. The medal is suspended by the original red/yellow/ green bow ribbon. It is inscribed around the outside edge, BOLIVIA ASCION. PRO-PRISIONEROS DE GUERRA. The otherwise plain reverse appears to be stamped with the place and date of capture. One example shows, LA PAZ MARZO 18, on two straight lines and below 1934 curved.
During the war, some 18,000 Bolivian prisoners were dispersed throughout Paraguay, where they were employed in public works and agriculture.
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