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La Paz del Chaco: End of War 1935

On June 12, Paraguay and Bolivia signed a peace treaty in Buenos Aires, Argentina to end the Chaco War, which had been fought over territory in the Chaco region for three years. The treaty was signed by representatives of Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. Guarani, the indigenous language of Paraguay, had been strategically adopted by the Paraguayan army as its main means of communication during the war, making intercepted messages difficult for Bolivian forces to interpret. The war led to the development of new Guarani words to describe modern weapons and technology introduced during the conflict.

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40 views1 page

La Paz del Chaco: End of War 1935

On June 12, Paraguay and Bolivia signed a peace treaty in Buenos Aires, Argentina to end the Chaco War, which had been fought over territory in the Chaco region for three years. The treaty was signed by representatives of Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. Guarani, the indigenous language of Paraguay, had been strategically adopted by the Paraguayan army as its main means of communication during the war, making intercepted messages difficult for Bolivian forces to interpret. The war led to the development of new Guarani words to describe modern weapons and technology introduced during the conflict.

Uploaded by

Yenifer
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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On June 12, we remember an important event: La Paz del Chaco.

The day Paraguay and Bolivia


reached an agreement to end the war.

The peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 12, 1935, a little after noon.
Agustin P. Justo, President of the Argentine Republic, and with him were Dr. Luis Riart,
representing Paraguay; Senor Tomas Manuel Elio, representing Bolivia; also Mr. Jose Carlos de
Macedo Soares, representing Brazil and Carlos Saavedra Lamas, representing Argentina. In
addition to other persons who cooperated for the armistice.

As we know, there were three years of war claiming possession over the Chaco territory. Many
compatriots died in defense of the homeland.

This is how we can remember those who died in Boqueron, Nanawa, Yrendague, El Carmen,
Pikuiva, Ballivian and Toledo. These places will always remind us of those brave men and
women who went to the Chaco to fight for an autonomous homeland that can progress freely.

When the war ended, Jose Felix Estigarribia (Paraguay) and Enrique Penaranda (Bolivia) sealed
the peace with a strong handshake.

From 1932 to 1935 the war with Bolivia was extended. And then, as always, the Guarani
language took first place. In effect, Guarani became Paraguay's strategic weapon. Jose Felix
Estigarribia, commander of the Paraguayan army, promulgated Order No. 51, by which the
Paraguayan army adopted Guarani as its means of communication.

Already during the war, the Bolivian troops were capturing messages in Guarani and when
translating them they encountered the difficulty of interpretation. As an example, we note the
following: "After a long dance, the boys begin to withdraw one by one. My soldiers are already
sweeping the front of the house". Concretely the meaning was "After a great battle, the
Bolivians are retreating". Another message read: "I have a broad forehead, a small hat and I
feel the heat of the sun". Specifically, the translation is: "The battlefield is very wide, the
Paraguayans are not numerous and the Bolivians are firing wildly".

We can also point out that the Chaco War allowed for the generation of new Guarani words.
Everything was named in Guarani, like this: the airplane was called guyrapepo'ata, the vehicle
was called muamua; the heavy machine gun was designated with the name of kururu guasu.
Also in Guarani the leaders were designated: Aka Guasu was Jose Felix Estigarribia in Asuncion
on September 15, 1949.

At this moment, the National Parliament of Paraguay is in the midst of studying a bill to
recognize Emiliano R. Fernandez, and other outstanding civilians, as heroes of the country and
in such a character that their remains are deposited in the National Pantheon of Heroes.

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