The First Battle of Nanawa was a battle fought from 20 to 26 January 1933 between the Bolivian and Paraguayan armies during the Chaco War. Nanawa (Enxet for "carob tree forest"), established by the Paraguayans in 1928, was considered the strongest Paraguayan outpost after it was heavily fortified by the end of 1932 under directives of Ivan Belaieff and Nicolas Ern, two White Russian former officers who joined the Paraguayan army in the 1920s. Zig-zag trenches, barbed wire and machine gun nests were built by the garrison around a horseshoe-shaped defence. Nanawa's commander, Col. Luis Irrazábal, summoned under his command four regiments and several minor units which made up the Paraguayan fifth division. The commander-in-chief of the Bolivian army, German World War I veteran Hans Kundt, commanded the Bolivian assault personally in place. The Bolivian army launched three attacks that stalled after seizing some parts of the stronghold. After this failure, the Bolivian troops attempted to dig a trench around the Nanawa complex to isolate it but were met by Paraguayan reinforcements. Heavy rains forced the Bolivians to abandon what they had captured of the complex and the Paraguayans soon recovered these positions.
The Bolivian troops did not leave the area after the costly attempt but fortified themselves in a semicircle around the Paraguayan trenches. In July during the dry season the Bolivian army attempted again to capture Nanawa in the Second Battle of Nanawa.
Together with the second battle of Nanawa, fought seven month later, it was one of the bloodiest battles fought in South America in the 20th century, coming to be labeled as the "South American Verdun" by comparison with the Battle of Verdun of World War I.
A Paraguayan polka, Regimiento 13 Tuyutí, composed by Ramón Vargas Colman and written in Guaraní by Emiliano R. Fernández, was inspired by the battle. Fernández, a celebrated poet, was at the time a soldier of the Paraguayan fifth division, and was wounded during the Bolivian assault.
first, battle, nanawa, battle, fought, from, january, 1933, between, bolivian, paraguayan, armies, during, chaco, nanawa, enxet, carob, tree, forest, established, paraguayans, 1928, considered, strongest, paraguayan, outpost, after, heavily, fortified, 1932, u. The First Battle of Nanawa was a battle fought from 20 to 26 January 1933 between the Bolivian and Paraguayan armies during the Chaco War Nanawa Enxet for carob tree forest established by the Paraguayans in 1928 was considered the strongest Paraguayan outpost after it was heavily fortified by the end of 1932 under directives of Ivan Belaieff and Nicolas Ern two White Russian former officers who joined the Paraguayan army in the 1920s Zig zag trenches barbed wire and machine gun nests were built by the garrison around a horseshoe shaped defence Nanawa s commander Col Luis Irrazabal summoned under his command four regiments and several minor units which made up the Paraguayan fifth division The commander in chief of the Bolivian army German World War I veteran Hans Kundt commanded the Bolivian assault personally in place The Bolivian army launched three attacks that stalled after seizing some parts of the stronghold After this failure the Bolivian troops attempted to dig a trench around the Nanawa complex to isolate it but were met by Paraguayan reinforcements Heavy rains forced the Bolivians to abandon what they had captured of the complex and the Paraguayans soon recovered these positions First Battle of NanawaPart of the Chaco WarSketch of the first battle of NanawaDate20 26 January 1933LocationGran Chaco23 29 15 S 59 46 09 W 23 48750 S 59 76917 W 23 48750 59 76917ResultParaguayan victoryBelligerents Bolivia ParaguayCommanders and leadersHans KundtLuis IrrazabalUnits involved4th Division 9th Division5th DivisionStrength9 0009 000Casualties and losses2 000248class notpageimage Location within ParaguayShow map of ParaguayFirst Battle of Nanawa South America Show map of South AmericaFirst Battle of Nanawa America Show map of America The Bolivian troops did not leave the area after the costly attempt but fortified themselves in a semicircle around the Paraguayan trenches In July during the dry season the Bolivian army attempted again to capture Nanawa in the Second Battle of Nanawa Together with the second battle of Nanawa fought seven month later it was one of the bloodiest battles fought in South America in the 20th century coming to be labeled as the South American Verdun by comparison with the Battle of Verdun of World War I A Paraguayan polka Regimiento 13 Tuyuti composed by Ramon Vargas Colman and written in Guarani by Emiliano R Fernandez was inspired by the battle Fernandez a celebrated poet was at the time a soldier of the Paraguayan fifth division and was wounded during the Bolivian assault Sources EditThis article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Latin America s Wars The age of the professional soldier 1900 2001 Robert L Scheina Page 97 23 29 15 S 59 46 09 W 23 48750 S 59 76917 W 23 48750 59 76917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Battle of Nanawa amp oldid 1148349734, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
