The Chaco War - by Bruce Farcau (Hardcover)

About the Book

Nearly 100,000 men died during the course of the tragic three-year war between two of the world's poorest nations, Bolivia and Paraguay, in the 1930s. The Chaco War was fought over a worthless stretch of desert scrubland for the pride of political leaders and the ambition of a few military officers. While thousands of illiterate, barefoot, undernourished peasant soldiers fought and died with incredible bravery, their commanders and national leaders fussed and fumed over imagined slights and avoided the peace which was so easily within their reach. The Bolivian military, in particular, performed abysmally. Few wars have been as unnecessary or as costly as the Chaco War.

Book Synopsis

Nearly 100,000 men died during the course of the tragic three-year war between two of the world's poorest nations, Bolivia and Paraguay, in the 1930s. The Chaco War was fought over a worthless stretch of desert scrubland for the pride of political leaders and the ambition of a few military officers. While thousands of illiterate, barefoot, undernourished peasant soldiers fought and died with incredible bravery, their commanders and national leaders fussed and fumed over imagined slights and avoided the peace which was so easily within their reach. The Bolivian military, in particular, performed abysmally. Few wars have been as unnecessary or as costly as the Chaco War.

Review Quotes

?Farcau describes the military struggles between Bolivia and Paraguay over the desert region of the Chaco.... This study will be appreciated by military specialists....?-Choice

?Farcau provides a balanced perspective, often weighing the interpretations of the classic works on the war and concluding with confirmingor disconfirming evidence and logic....Personal interviews with Chaco War veterans contributed valuable eye-witness accounts and varied perspectives to his research and effectively translated cold military strategy into painful human experience.?-South Eastern Latin Americanist

?This is an interesting tale of conflict informatively related.?-The British Bulletin of Publications

"Farcau describes the military struggles between Bolivia and Paraguay over the desert region of the Chaco.... This study will be appreciated by military specialists...."-Choice

"This is an interesting tale of conflict informatively related."-The British Bulletin of Publications

"Farcau provides a balanced perspective, often weighing the interpretations of the classic works on the war and concluding with confirmingor disconfirming evidence and logic....Personal interviews with Chaco War veterans contributed valuable eye-witness accounts and varied perspectives to his research and effectively translated cold military strategy into painful human experience."-South Eastern Latin Americanist

About the Author

BRUCE FARCAU has been an officer in the U.S. Foreign Service for nearly 20 years and has served at posts throughout Latin America and Western Europe.