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German Military Influence in Argentina, 1921–1940

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

George Pope Atkins  and
Larry V. Thompson
Larry V. Thompson
Affiliation:
The authors acknowledge with appreciation the financial support received for this project from the Naval Academy Research Council during the summers of 1970 and 1971.
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Extract

From the 1890s until the Second World War the armed forces of Argentina underwent an extensive modernizing and professionalizing process, as did those of other major states of South America. During this period, foreign influence was exerted on the Argentine military establishment, which actively sought assistance from Europe and the United States. Germany was the dominant external actor and the strongest foreign military influence in Argentina.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , November 1972 , pp. 257 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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References

1 For some works in English tracing the historical development of the Argentine Army, see Tulio, Halperín Donghi, ‘Revolutionary Militarization in Buenos Aires, 1806–1815’, Past and Present (06 1968), pp. 84–107;Google ScholarJohn, Lynch, ‘Intendants and Cabildos in the Vice royalty of La Plata, 1782–1810’, Hispanic American Historical Review, 35 (08 1955), 337–62;Google ScholarLyle, N. McAlister, The Fucro Militar in New Spain (Gainesville, Univ. of Florida Press, 1957), passim.Google Scholar Important or useful works in Spanish include Juan, Beverina, El virreynato de las provincias del Río de la Plata [1776–1810] (Buenos Aires, 1935);Google ScholarDario, Cantón, Notas sobre las fuerzas armadas argentinas (Buenos Aires, Instituto Torcuato Di Tella, 1967);Google Scholar ‘La historia patria y la acción de sus armas’, Revista Militar [Buenos Aires], CXXXXVI-VIII (May 1960) [entire editions which include several articles]; Jorge, Abelardo Ramos, Historia política del ejército argentino: de la logia Lautaro a la industria pesada (Buenos Aires, 1959);Google ScholarAgusto, G. Rodríguez [Colonel, Argentine Army], Reseña histórica del ejército argentino (Buenos Aires, Secretaria de Guerra, 1964) [Textbook used in Argentine Military Academy].Google Scholar

2 Robert, A. Potash, The Army & Politics in Argentina, 1928–1945 (Stanford, Calif., 1969), p. 3. Cited hereafter as Potash, Army & Politics.Google Scholar

3 Ibid., p. 4.

4 Fritz, T. Epstein, ‘European Military Influences in Latin America’, Unpublished MS, Library of Congress, p. 140.Google Scholar

5 Potash, , Army & Politics, p. 4.Google Scholar

6 Ibid., pp. 78 and 83. Cf., p. 5.Google Scholar

7 Potash, , Army & Politics, pp. 5–16.Google Scholar

8 Epstein, , pp. 82–4.Google Scholar

9 Washington, U.S. National Archives, United States Military Attaché (Argentina) Report No. 1736, dated 16 May 1919, Military Intelligence Division (M.I.D.) File No. 2001−36; No. 3617, 10 May 1926, M.I.D. 2001−153; No. 3625, 12 May 1926, M.I.D. 2001−153; No. 3690, 10 Sept. 1928, M.I.D. 2001−153; No. 4001, 31 May 1929, M.I.D. 2048−182; No. 4214, 9 Sept. 1930, M.I.D. 2271−L−23. These reports hereafter are cited MA(Report No.)/date/(M.I.D. No.).

10 Potash, , op. cit., pp. 4–5.Google Scholar

11 Epstein, , op. cit., p. 110.Google ScholarCf., Kurt von Borcke, Deutsche unter fremden Fahnen (Berlin, 1938), pp. 313 ff.Google Scholar

12 For Uriburu's friendship and patronage, see Epstein, , op. cit., pp. 68 and 110. German Foreign Ministry Files, U.S. National Archives Microfilm Publications, Microcopy T-120/ Roll No. 972-b/No frame numbers given/‘ Papers of Ambassador Faupel’ reveals that Faupel commanded a Freikorps contingent shortly after the war. German Foreign Ministry Files will be cited hereafter as GFM, T-120/Roll No./Frame No./Documènt Description. For Faupel's ostensible reason in returning to Argentina and the importance of the lectures to his subsequent appointment, see GFM T-120/5644/L478055–59/Letter of Ricardo W. Staudt to von Gneist, the German Minister in Buenos Aires, date illegible on the document but probably 1925. Staudt was an ethnic German, evidently prominent in the German colony of Buenos Aires. His letter also emphasizes the special prestige which Uriburu's position provided Faupel, as well as the existence of the oral agreement behind their relationship.Google Scholar

13 Epstein, , op. cit., p. 83.Google Scholar Cf. GFM, T-120/4006/KI222435/37/‘ Aufzeiehnung’ by Gesandter von, Keller, 9 11 1931.Google Scholar

14 GFM, T-120/5644/L478055.59/Ricardo W. Staudt to Minister von Gneist. Cf. GFM T–120/400G/K122404–07/Gneist to Auswärtiges Amt [Foreign Ministry], ‘Tàtigkeit dcutscher Offiziere als Informanten bei argentinisehen Armee’, 16 March 1927.

15 GFM, T-120/4006/Kt22416–20/Report by an unidentified German officer who served under Faupel entitled: ‘überblick fiber die derzeitige Lage der Informantes in Argentinien’, 16 March 1927.

16 For a discussion of the relevant clauses of the Versailles Treaty pertaining to military restrictions, see Epstein, , op. cit., p. 96.Google Scholar See, for example, John, P. Fox, ‘Max Bauer: Chiang Kai-shek's First German Military Advisor’, Journal of Contemporary History, 5 (1970), 33–6 and 44,Google Scholar on the concern of the German Foreign Ministry for the international repercussions emanating from German military advisors' activities. Representative ministerial disclaimers of official German governmental sanction of German officers serving in the Argentine Army are in GFM, T−120/4006/K122404−07/Gneist to Auswärtiges Amt, ‘Tatigkeit deutscher Offiziere als Informanten bei argentinischen Armee’, 16 March 1927 and GFM, T−120/4006/K122425−30/ Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, Militärmission’, 22 June 1931.

17 Ibid.. Cf. GFM, T−120/4006/K122404−07/Gneist to Ausswärtiges Amt, 16 March 1927; GFM, T−120/4006/K12209−10/Gneist to Auswärtiges Amt, 4 April 1927; GFM, T−120/5644/ L478055.59/Ricardo W. Staudt to Gneist, 1925 (?).

18 A comprehensive analysis by a German diplomat of the positive benefits accruing from German officers serving with the Argentine Army, including the perceptive recognition of their economic contribution is in GFM, T−120/4006/K122425−30/Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, 22 June 1931. Cf. GFM, T−120/4006/K122404−07/Gneist to Auswäriges Amt, 16 March 1927. See also GFM, T−290/5/01278ff./for a series of diplomatic reports on political military, and economic relations between Germany and Argentina, 1922–30.

19 For examples of diplomatic supervision of the officer's multifarious activities, see GFM, T−120/3708/Ko15340−41/Auswärtiges Amt directive to Ministers in several South American Countries, ordering them to watch carefully the economic activities of various agents, including military personnel, who might be engaged in arms and munitions traffic, 18 March 1927. Diplomatic scouting of German officers in Argentina is in GFM, T−120/400G/K122404−07, 16 March 1927; K122409−10, 4 April 1927; K122425−30, 22 June 1931. An excellent account of diplomatic intervention into the affairs of the officers is in GFM, T120/4006/ K122445−46/Minister von Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, relating the minister's interference with an officer's political activities, 14 Aug. 1931.

20 GFM, T−120/4006/K122416−20/Report by an unidentified German officer who served with Faupel entitled: ‘Überlick über die derzeitige Lage der Informantes in Argentinien’, 16 March 1927.

21 Ibid., for the close regulation of the officers by the Argentine Army. Uriburu's response to the protest made by the French Military Attaché is in GFM, T−120/4006/K122435−37/ ‘Aufzeichnung’ by Minister von Keller, 9 Nov. 1931.

22 The request for the promotion to General and the Foreign Ministry's liaison efforts with the Reichswehrministerium is in GFM, T−120/5644/L478055−59/Ricardo W. Staudt to Gneist, 1925.

23 GFM, T−120/4006/K122404−07/Gneist to Auswärtiges Amt/‘‘Tätigkeit deutscher Offiziers als Informanten bei argentinischen Armee’, 16 March 1927 and K122416−20/Report by an unidentified German officer who served under Faupel entitled: ‘überblick über die derzeitige Lage der Informantes in Argentinien’, March 1927 reveals the antagonisms engendered by Faupel among some Argentine officers.

24 MA 3866/16 Feb. 1928/2001−163.

25 MA 3625/52 May 1926/2001−153; 3617/10 May 1926.

26 The account of Faupel's ‘tour’ of South America and his reception in Peru is in GFM, T−120/3708/Ko15235−42/Minister Rohiand [Peru] to Auswärtiges Amt, 8 March 1927. Faupel officially became Inspector-General of the Peruvian Army, 9 April 1927. GFM, T−120/3708/ Ko15245/Minister Rohland to Auswärtigcs Amt, 9 April 1927.

27 GFM, T−120/3708/Ko15235−45/Minister Rohiand to Auswärtiges Amt, 8 March and 9 April 1927.

28 Epstein, , p. 83.Google Scholar

29 A good analysis of Faupel's later Spanish activities as well as his Nazi Party affiliation is in Manfried, Merkes, Die deutsche Politik im spanischen Bürgerkrieg 1936–1939 (Bonn, 1969), pp. 193–4.Google Scholar

30 Ramon, Molina, ‘La defensa profesional’, Revista Militar, 48 (01 1927), 1–6;Google Scholar cited in Potash, , op. cit., p. 4, from which the direct quotation is taken. This article did not escape German attention. Their concern was reflected in a diplomatic report which included a partial translation of the article. GFM, T-120/4006/K122413–15.Google Scholar

31 GFM, T−120/4006/K122416−20/Report of unidentified German officer who served with Faupel, , ‘Überblick über die derzeitige Lage der Informantes in Argentinien’, 03 1927.Google Scholar

32 Ibid..

33 Ibid..

34 Ibid..

35 MA 3866/16 Feb. 1928/2001−163. All of the officers originally assembled by Faupel may not have left Argentina shortly after the departure of their superior. Later diplomatic correspondence suggests that two majors may have stayed with General Kretzschmar from the beginning of his duty. GFM, T−120/4006/K122425−30/Minister von Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, ‘Militärmission’, 22 June 1931 and K122445−46/Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, 14 August 1931.

36 MA 3866/16 Feb. 1928/2005−163; 6111/12 Sept. 1939/2257−By157. Epstein, , p. 88.Google Scholar

37 GFM, T−120/4006/K122425−30/Minister von Keller to Auswärtiges Amt, ‘Militärmission’, 22 June 1931.

38 For biographic information on Rodriguez, see MA 4522/7 March 1932/2271−L−27 MA 4845/8 Feb. 1934/2271−L−27; MA 5295/26 Feb. 1936/2271−L−27. For the biographic details on Pertiné, see MA 1418/16 Oct. 1918/2001−19; MA 12[?]/15 Jan. 1920/10987−655; MA 5348/3 April 1936/2001−160; MA 5474/4 Nov. 1936/2271−L−27. For Justo's role in sending gentine officers to Germany, see GFM, T−120/3397/E608424/Botschafter [Ambassador] Edmund, von Thermann to Auswärtiges Amt, 26 12 1933. The German Ambassador relates that Justo spoke to him of his contribution in the renewal of Argentine officer training in Germany. For the economic activities of Pertiné on behalf of German armaments, see Records of Headquarters, German Armed Forces High Command, U.S. National Archives Microfilm Publications, Microcopy T−78/Roll 356/6315829;’ Aktenvermerk’ of Major Rossing to the Chief of the Army High Command, 26 Oct. 1934. Cited hereafter as 0KW, T−78/Roll No. /Frame No. /Document Description.Google Scholar

39 MA 3690/10 Sept. 1926/2001−153; MA 4770/17 Nov. 1933/2271−L−20; MA 5877/4 Nov. 1938/2257−123; MA 6126/9 Oct. 1939/2048−182. On the pro-German efforts of Molina, see also GFM, T−120/3397/E608429/Thermann to Auswärtiges Amt, 13 June 1934.

40 Evidence of three officers in Germany in 1930 is in GFM, T−I20/4006/K12243I−32/ Argentine Ambassador to Germany, Dr Ernesto Restelli to Dr Heinrich Brünning, the German Chancellor, 31 Oct. 1931. The total of eighteen officers is in OKH, T−77/524/1694913/Totals given by the German Army Attachégruppen section, 12 February 1939. Estimate for the entire period based on MA reports, passim.

41 GFM, T−120/4006/KI22425−30/Keller to Auswärtiges Amt/ ‘Militärmission’, 22 June 1931.

42 Ibid.

43 For Kretzschmar's retirement and Niedenführ's appointment and promotion, see MA [No. illegible]/(?) 1935/2001−195; MA 6111/12 Sept. 1939/2257−B−157 MA 5772/I April 1938/2257−123; MA 5877/4 Nov. 1938/2257−123; MA 6124/6 Oct. 1939/2257−B−I57 MA 5877/4 Nov. 1938/2257−123; MA 6111/12 Sept. 1939/2257−B−157 MA 6124/6 Oct. 1939/2257−B−157.

44 MA 6111/12 Sept. 1939; MA 6124/6 Oct. MA 6134/Nov. 1939/2257−B−157.

45 GFM, T.120/4006/K122425−30/Kellr to Aufwärti ges Amt/ ‘Militärmission’, 22 June 1931.

46 GFM, T−120/4006/K122445−46/Keller to Auswärtigcs Amt/ Political activities of Major a.D. C. Schneider, 14 Aug. 1931.

47 OKW, T−78/359/6319827/ ‘Liste der deutschen Militär−, Marine- und Luftattachés und deren Gehilfen im Ausland’, 25 April 1940. Ibid../6319826/ ‘Neue Militär-attachéstillcn in Südamerika’, I August 1940.

48 Records of Headquarters of the German Army High Command, U.S. National Archives Microfilm Publications, T−77/874/5621957/ ‘Posten von Militär− und Marine-Attachés in einzelnen Hauptstädten von Südamerika’, 27 June 1936. Cited hereafter as OKH, T.77/ Roll No. /Frame No. /Document Description. Cf. GFM, T−120/917/387288/ ‘Marine-Attaché für Südamerika’, 7 Feb. 1936.

49 GFM, T−120/3022/E493887−88/Thermann to Auswärtiges Amt/ ‘Innere Politik Argentiniens’, 3 June 1936. Cf. GFM, T−120/3022/E493775/Minister von Meynen to Auswärtiges Amt, 02 March 1938.

50 GFM, T−120/2642/H004686/‘ Handakten Clodius’/Aktenvcrmcrk, 3 Oct. 1936. Ibid../ Hoo4683−84/Aktenverrmerk, 6 October 1936.

51 For Argentine pilots in Germany, see OKW, T−78/366/6328295/‘ Kommandos ausländischer Offiziere Stand 15. April 1928’.

52 MA 5877/4 Nov. 1938/2257−123.

53 For a good discussion on the problems caused by Deutschtum propaganda and the role of various agencies in the process, see GFM, T−120/235/165634−49/‘ Niederschrift über die erste Sitzung der Lateinamerika-Konferenz am 52. Juni 1939 im Auswärtigen Amt’. The discussion pinpoints 1937 as an especially difficult year for German-Argentine diplomatic relations.

54 A wealth of correspondence on the repercussions of the Patagonia episode is in GFM, T−120/1097/451172−215/‘ Patagonien Affaire’. Cf. GFM, T−120/235/165635−37/Thermann remarks on the debacle and its consequences for German diplomacy made at the Auswärtigen Amt ‘Lateinamerika-Konferenz’, 12 June 1939.