The Legion of Veterans (Spanish: Legión de Ex-Combatientes, LEC) was a Bolivian Chaco Warveterans' organization.[1] It was organized on 13 September 1935 by Lieutenant Colonel Germán Busch from various local veterans groups which had established themselves across the country following the end of the Chaco War.[2] Despite its apolitical stance and fairly consistent commitment to non-party affiliation, the LEC, as a result of its sheer size and ideological commitment to the reformist ideals of the so-called generación del Chaco, soon came to act as the principal source of organized civil-military support for the military regimes of Colonel David Toro and later Lieutenant Colonel Germán Busch.
Soon after the end of the Chaco War in June 1935, local veterans' organizations began to be formed across the country, spanning the entire political and ideological spectrum. From the left-wing came organizations such as the National Association of Socialist Veterans (Asociación Nacional de Ex-Combatientes Socialistas, ANDES) and the far-left Association of Ex-Prisoners (Asociación de Ex-Prisioneros , AEP), formed by Bolivian prisoners of war in Paraguay. Another group founded by Bolivian POWs in 1934 was the Reason for the Fatherland (Razón de Patria, RADEPA) military lodge which advocated internal reform within the army. However, groups like RADEPA would remain largely hidden until the 1940s.[3]
The meteoric rise to prominence of these veterans' organizations ultimately resulted in the formation of the Legion of Veterans as a national organization on 13 September 1935.[2] While similar to other groups in its veterans' mutualist aims, the LEC was notably different to other veterans' groups due to its official apolitical slogan and fairly consistent commitment to non-party affiliation.[3] However, apoliticalism in this sense was interpreted less as "anti-party" and more to mean that the LEC would support any political party willing to pay off the veterans. It even held certain ideological stances, claiming itself to be "a great trade union institution with a socialist ideology".[4]
The LEC quickly rose to become the most important of the veterans' organizations,[3] being granted official government recognition soon after its formation.[4] By early 1936, its moderate reformist positions had made it an ally of the labor movements and the United Socialist Party (PSU). In May 1936, these three groups participated in the overthrow of the ruling conservative elite and the establishment of a new Government Junta regime under the leadership of Colonel David Toro.
Military socialist eraedit
The LEC granted its support to Toro's military socialist agenda for a little over a year from 22 May 1936 to July 1937. By that point, opposition to Toro had slowly increased amongst the young officers who believed that his pragmatic approach was not achieving meaningful political reforms they had hoped for. In La Paz on 10 July 1937, the LEC elected Army Chief of the General Staff Germán Busch as the Supreme Leader (Jefe Supremo) of the organization. The move was a deliberate rejection of Toro as the leader of the veterans' movements. Three days later, Toro had been forced to resign and Busch assumed the presidency of the junta.[3]
The power of the LEC would not last for much long after. On 23 August 1939, Germán Busch committed suicide while still holding the presidency of the state. Soon after Busch's death, on 4 September, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Bernardino Bilbao Rioja was elected as the new Supreme Leader of the LEC. Bilbao Rioja was a popular leader of the young officers and the natural successor to Busch. However, his campaign for president in the 1940 general election proved too big a threat to traditional conservative interests, leading the interim government of Carlos Quintanilla to have him forcefully deported to Chile before being exiled as a military attaché in London. Bilbao Rioja won just 2.69% of the vote in that election and the LEC faded out of relevance soon after.[6]
^ abStoria contemporanea (in Italian). Vol. 4–6. Società editrice il Mulino. 1973. p. 837.
^ abcdKlein, Herbert S. (1 February 1965). "David Toro and the Establishment of "Military Socialism" in Bolivia1". Hispanic American Historical Review. 45 (1): 25–52. doi:10.1215/00182168-45.1.25. ISSN 0018-2168.
^"Héroe de la Guerra del Chaco - Bernardino Bilbao Rioja". www.santarosabolivia.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
Bibliographyedit
Álvarez España, Waldo (1986). Memorias del primer ministro obrero: historia del movimiento sindical y político boliviano, 1916-1952 (in Spanish). Imprenta y librería Renovación.
Gallego, Ferran (26 November 2015). "La posguerra del Chaco en Bolivia. Excombatientes, «socialismo militar» y nacionalización de masas". Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar. 4 (7). ISSN 2254-6111.
Malloy, James (15 October 1970). Bolivia: The Uncompleted Revolution. University of Pittsburgh Pre. ISBN978-0-8229-7585-4.
January 01, 1970
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The Legion of Veterans Spanish Legion de Ex Combatientes LEC was a Bolivian Chaco War veterans organization 1 It was organized on 13 September 1935 by Lieutenant Colonel German Busch from various local veterans groups which had established themselves across the country following the end of the Chaco War 2 Despite its apolitical stance and fairly consistent commitment to non party affiliation the LEC as a result of its sheer size and ideological commitment to the reformist ideals of the so called generacion del Chaco soon came to act as the principal source of organized civil military support for the military regimes of Colonel David Toro and later Lieutenant Colonel German Busch Legion of VeteransLegion de Ex CombatientesAbbreviationLECFormation13 September 1935 1935 09 13 FounderGerman BuschDissolvedc 1939TypeChaco War veterans organizationHeadquartersLa Paz BoliviaSupreme LeaderGerman Busch 1937 1939 Bernardino Bilbao Rioja 1939 AffiliationsSocialist Single Front Contents 1 History 1 1 Background 1 2 Military socialist era 1 3 Dissolution 2 References 3 BibliographyHistory editBackground edit Soon after the end of the Chaco War in June 1935 local veterans organizations began to be formed across the country spanning the entire political and ideological spectrum From the left wing came organizations such as the National Association of Socialist Veterans Asociacion Nacional de Ex Combatientes Socialistas ANDES and the far left Association of Ex Prisoners Asociacion de Ex Prisioneros AEP formed by Bolivian prisoners of war in Paraguay Another group founded by Bolivian POWs in 1934 was the Reason for the Fatherland Razon de Patria RADEPA military lodge which advocated internal reform within the army However groups like RADEPA would remain largely hidden until the 1940s 3 The meteoric rise to prominence of these veterans organizations ultimately resulted in the formation of the Legion of Veterans as a national organization on 13 September 1935 2 While similar to other groups in its veterans mutualist aims the LEC was notably different to other veterans groups due to its official apolitical slogan and fairly consistent commitment to non party affiliation 3 However apoliticalism in this sense was interpreted less as anti party and more to mean that the LEC would support any political party willing to pay off the veterans It even held certain ideological stances claiming itself to be a great trade union institution with a socialist ideology 4 The LEC quickly rose to become the most important of the veterans organizations 3 being granted official government recognition soon after its formation 4 By early 1936 its moderate reformist positions had made it an ally of the labor movements and the United Socialist Party PSU In May 1936 these three groups participated in the overthrow of the ruling conservative elite and the establishment of a new Government Junta regime under the leadership of Colonel David Toro Military socialist era edit The LEC granted its support to Toro s military socialist agenda for a little over a year from 22 May 1936 to July 1937 By that point opposition to Toro had slowly increased amongst the young officers who believed that his pragmatic approach was not achieving meaningful political reforms they had hoped for In La Paz on 10 July 1937 the LEC elected Army Chief of the General Staff German Busch as the Supreme Leader Jefe Supremo of the organization The move was a deliberate rejection of Toro as the leader of the veterans movements Three days later Toro had been forced to resign and Busch assumed the presidency of the junta 3 When Busch called for the establishment of a National Convention the LEC was a component of the Socialist Single Front in the 1938 legislative election 5 Dissolution edit The power of the LEC would not last for much long after On 23 August 1939 German Busch committed suicide while still holding the presidency of the state Soon after Busch s death on 4 September Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Bernardino Bilbao Rioja was elected as the new Supreme Leader of the LEC Bilbao Rioja was a popular leader of the young officers and the natural successor to Busch However his campaign for president in the 1940 general election proved too big a threat to traditional conservative interests leading the interim government of Carlos Quintanilla to have him forcefully deported to Chile before being exiled as a military attache in London Bilbao Rioja won just 2 69 of the vote in that election and the LEC faded out of relevance soon after 6 References edit Malloy 1970 pp 389 a b Storia contemporanea in Italian Vol 4 6 Societa editrice il Mulino 1973 p 837 a b c d Klein Herbert S 1 February 1965 David Toro and the Establishment of Military Socialism in Bolivia1 Hispanic American Historical Review 45 1 25 52 doi 10 1215 00182168 45 1 25 ISSN 0018 2168 a b Gallego 2015 pp 33 Alvarez Espana 1986 pp 150 Heroe de la Guerra del Chaco Bernardino Bilbao Rioja www santarosabolivia com Retrieved 30 May 2021 Bibliography editAlvarez Espana Waldo 1986 Memorias del primer ministro obrero historia del movimiento sindical y politico boliviano 1916 1952 in Spanish Imprenta y libreria Renovacion Gallego Ferran 26 November 2015 La posguerra del Chaco en Bolivia Excombatientes socialismo militar y nacionalizacion de masas Revista Universitaria de Historia Militar 4 7 ISSN 2254 6111 Malloy James 15 October 1970 Bolivia The Uncompleted Revolution University of Pittsburgh Pre ISBN 978 0 8229 7585 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Legion of Veterans amp oldid 1059807685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
