Chaco War remembered by major powers

Just read an article in MHQ bout the Chaco War in 1932-35, which stated that, despite being the 1st modern war in Latin America in the 20th C- incl the utilisation of tanks & strategic bombers (by the better-equipped but ineptly-led Bolivians) & fullscale WWI-style trench warfare involving futile Bolivian frontal assaults on Paraguayan fortifications bristling with machineguns & mortars- the conflict was virtually totally ignored by the US, Britain & other major powers. WI the Chaco War however had been taken more notice of by both future allied & Axis powers ? What impact for the wars into the 1930s then WWII itself ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_war
 
I'd say probably little IMHO for a variety of reasons :

- tanks were used in small numbers, and in an infantry support role (as most nations expected them to),

- neither opponent had a large enough/modern enough/specialized enough air force (IIRC they had to buy civilian liners and convert them into bombers) to actually produce unexpected results or to prove/disprove air combat and bombardment theories,

- geography (with control of source of drinkable water in the quite hostile Chaco) played a big role in the war IIRC, and that couldn't be "translated" into anything usable in Europe,
 
- geography (with control of source of drinkable water in the quite hostile Chaco) played a big role in the war IIRC, and that couldn't be "translated" into anything usable in Europe,


Melvin,

This. What Atlantic Friend wrote.

I haven't read the MHQ but it surely must have gone into the unique character of the region in which the war was fought. Among other things, the Chaco is called the world's wettest desert and driest jungle.

Aside from the incredible geographic issues, the frankly incompetent use of tanks and airplanes by Bolivia didn't gain that nation a damn thing so there are no "lessons" to be learned.

Finally, the powers of the day were very much aware of the war. Both parties were subject to an arms embargo by the League of Nations. Bolivia's attempt to purchase warplanes from the US failed when FDR blocked the sale of the machineguns the planes needed.


Bill
 
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