Revolution of '43
Encyclopedia
The 1943 Argentine coup d'état was a Coup d'état
on June 4, 1943 which ended the government of Ramón Castillo
, who had been fraudulently elected to office, as part of the period known as the Infamous Decade
. The military was opposed to Governor Robustiano Patrón Costas
, Castillo's hand-picked successor, the principal landowner in Salta Province
, as well as a main stockholder in its sugar industry.
The heads of state of Argentina during this time period were Arturo Rawson
, Pedro Pablo Ramírez
and Edelmiro Farrell. During this period, the internal disputes in Argentina about the stance towards World War II
, where society and politicians where torn between staying neutral
and safely providing foodstuffs to the Allies
, or joining the allied side. Ramírez suspended relations with the Axis Powers
on January 1944, and Farrel entered the War on March 1945, at a time when the war was mostly decided.
The government also saw the rise of Colonel
Juan Domingo Perón, a member of the United Officers' Group (GOU)
, would become one of the most influential politicians in Argentine history. Perón worked as an assistant to Secretary of War General Edelmiro Farrel during Ramírez' tenure, and then as the head of a mostly insignificant Department of Labor. From that position, he endorsed and enforced a set of labor laws that gained him high popular prestige, specially among the working classes, and the alliance of the socialist and syndicalist labor unions, thus levering his position inside the military government. When Farrel succeeded Ramírez, Perón was designated Vice-President and Secretary of War, and retained the labor portfolio, which was promoted to Ministry. As Minister of Labor, Perón settled industrial disputes in favour of labor unions and introduced a wide range of social welfare benefits for unionized workers. Leveraging his authority on behalf of striking abattoir workers and the right to unionize, he became increasingly thought of as presidential timber.
As he faced a growing opposition within the armed forces
, Perón was forced to resign on October 9, 1945, and arrested four days later, but mass demonstration
s organized by the General Confederation of Labour
forced his release on October 17, a day later remembered as Loyalty Day
by the peronist movement. On his release, Farrel pledged to step down and call for elections. Juan Perón became President
after winning a landslide on the February 1946 elections
.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
on June 4, 1943 which ended the government of Ramón Castillo
Ramón Castillo
Ramón S. Castillo Barrionuevo was a conservative Argentine politician who served as President of Argentina from June 27, 1942 to June 4, 1943...
, who had been fraudulently elected to office, as part of the period known as the Infamous Decade
Infamous Decade
The Infamous Decade in Argentina is the name given to the period of time that started in 1930 with the coup d'état against President Hipólito Yrigoyen by José Félix Uriburu...
. The military was opposed to Governor Robustiano Patrón Costas
Robustiano Patrón Costas
Robustiano Patrón Costas was a conservative Argentine politician and businessman who served as interim President of the nation and governor of his native province. He led the National Democratic Party....
, Castillo's hand-picked successor, the principal landowner in Salta Province
Salta Province
Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy...
, as well as a main stockholder in its sugar industry.
The heads of state of Argentina during this time period were Arturo Rawson
Arturo Rawson
Arturo Rawson was the President of Argentina from June 4, 1943 to June 7, 1943.-Biography:Born in Santiago del Estero, Rawson attended Argentina’s Military College, which he graduated from in 1907 and subsequently taught at for a time. Rawson rose through the ranks of the Argentine Army and was...
, Pedro Pablo Ramírez
Pedro Pablo Ramírez
General Pedro Pablo Ramírez was de facto President of Argentina from June 7, 1943 to February 24, 1944. He was the founder and leader of the Guardia Nacional, Argentina's Fascist militia....
and Edelmiro Farrell. During this period, the internal disputes in Argentina about the stance towards World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where society and politicians where torn between staying neutral
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
and safely providing foodstuffs to the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, or joining the allied side. Ramírez suspended relations with the Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
on January 1944, and Farrel entered the War on March 1945, at a time when the war was mostly decided.
The government also saw the rise of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Juan Domingo Perón, a member of the United Officers' Group (GOU)
United Officers' Group
The United Officers' Group or GOU was a secret society within the Argentine Army which staged a coup d'état in 1943 to overthrow President Ramón Castillo, thus ending the Infamous Decade and forming a military junta which lasted until 1945...
, would become one of the most influential politicians in Argentine history. Perón worked as an assistant to Secretary of War General Edelmiro Farrel during Ramírez' tenure, and then as the head of a mostly insignificant Department of Labor. From that position, he endorsed and enforced a set of labor laws that gained him high popular prestige, specially among the working classes, and the alliance of the socialist and syndicalist labor unions, thus levering his position inside the military government. When Farrel succeeded Ramírez, Perón was designated Vice-President and Secretary of War, and retained the labor portfolio, which was promoted to Ministry. As Minister of Labor, Perón settled industrial disputes in favour of labor unions and introduced a wide range of social welfare benefits for unionized workers. Leveraging his authority on behalf of striking abattoir workers and the right to unionize, he became increasingly thought of as presidential timber.
As he faced a growing opposition within the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
, Perón was forced to resign on October 9, 1945, and arrested four days later, but mass demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s organized by the General Confederation of Labour
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
forced his release on October 17, a day later remembered as Loyalty Day
Loyalty Day (Argentina)
The Loyalty Day is a commemoration day in Argentina. It remembers October 17, 1945, when a massive labour demonstration at the Plaza de Mayo demanded the liberation of Juan Perón, who was jailed in Martín García island...
by the peronist movement. On his release, Farrel pledged to step down and call for elections. Juan Perón became President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
after winning a landslide on the February 1946 elections
Argentine general election, 1946
The Argentine general election of 1946, the last for which only men were enfranchised, was held on 24 February. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 83.4%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions....
.