Military History of Argentina - 20th Century

20th Century

• 1907: The South American dreadnought race between Argentina, Brazil and Chile started. It ends in 1914.
• 1912: The Argentine Army Aviation created the Army Aviation School at El Palomar, Buenos Aires.
• 1914–1918: Argentina remained neutral during World War I by decision of President Victorino de la Plaza. Hipólito Yrigoyen kept a similar policy. It is considered that staying neutral boosted the Argentine economy. Yrigoyen also pointed out that he wouldn't send the country to war because of the fact that a diplomat insulted him, nor that Argentina's foreign policy was decided by the United States.
• 1919: The Argentine Naval Aviation was established.
• 1921: The Argentine Army was used to eliminate strikers in Santa Cruz. Lt. Col. Varela commanded the operation. Between 1,500 and 3,000 workers were executed.
• 1930: General José Félix Uriburu made a coup d'état and became the first de facto President of Argentina. The military continues overthrowing civilian governments until 1983.
• 1933: The Argentine Submarine Force was established.
• 1939–1945: World War II. The civilian government considered joining the allies, but many officers in the armed forces and ordinary citizens objected due to fears over the spread of communism. This was a factor contributing to the military coup of 1943. Pedro Pablo Ramírez, who had been attached to the Kaiser's army and later Mussolini's in the twenties, became dictator. In 1944 he was replaced by Edelmiro Julián Farrell, who had spent two years attached to Mussolini's army. The government maintained a neutral policy but towards the end of the war, Farrell bowed to intense pressure from the United States. Like several Latin American states, Argentina made a late declaration of war against Germany.
• 1959: The ARA Independencia (V-1) became the first aircraft carrier of the Argentine Navy.
• 1974–1983: The Dirty War, a period of state-sponsored violence, occurred.
• 1978: After Argentine repudiation of an obligatory arbitration to settle a territorial dispute with Chile concerning the Beagle Channel, General Jorge Rafael Videla moved troops to the Andes mountains. The Argentine Operation Soberanía to invade the islands was stopped with mediation from the Holy See. The crisis lasts up to 1984, over the Falklands War.
• 1982: Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas). The Argentine Armed Forces invaded the Falkland Islands. In a ten-week war 255 British and 649 Argentines were killed. The war ended with Britain reclaiming the islands. Argentina's defeat caused the collapse of the military junta.
• 1990s: Argentina became greatly involved in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
• 1991: Argentine Navy ships and Air Force transport aircraft participated in the 1991 Gulf War. Argentina was the only Latin American country in the coalition.
• 1993: Argentina joined the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus replacing the Canadian Forces. As of 2010, ground troops and helicopters continue serving and since 1999 have other Latin American troops within their ranks.
• 1995: The murder of young conscript Carrasco caused the end of compulsory conscription. Decree 1537 of 29 August, signed by then President Carlos Menem, established a Regime for Personnel of Professional Soldiers. Ever since people of 18 to 24 years of age can, after signing a compromise, voluntarily enter the Armed Forces and receive a course. Law 24429 of Voluntary Military Service was passed by Congress on December 14, 1994.
• 1998: In recognition for her peacekeeping efforts, US President Bill Clinton named Argentina a major non-NATO ally.
• 2006: The National Defense Law was passed, making a breaking point in jointness and civilian rule on defense matters.
• 2008: Cruz del Sur, a combined force with Chile for UN operations, was created.
• Current: Participation in UN peacekeeping missions continues (particularly in Cyprus and Haiti), as well as regional integration efforts with Brazil and Chile.