Political Leaders & Revolutionaries Codexery

Alfredo Stroessner

Paraguayan military dictator who ruled for 35 years.

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Alfredo Stroessner

Frank Scherschel · Public domain

Alfredo Stroessner was a Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 until his overthrow in 1989.[1] Stroessner's rule, which lasted 35 years, was the longest dictatorship in South America, according to an ABC Color article from 2022.[2][3] At age 93, Stroessner passed away on 16 August 2006 while living in exile in Brasília.[4][5]

Alfredo Stroessner at desk (1cropped)
Alfredo Stroessner at desk (1cropped). Image: Frank Scherschel · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Key facts and history

Stroessner was born in Encarnación on 3 November 1912 to a German immigrant father and a Paraguayan mother of Guaraní and Spanish descent.[6][5] He joined the army at 16, fought in the Chaco War, and became commander-in-chief of the army by 1951.[7][8] He seized power in a coup on 4 May 1954 and was elected unopposed as the Colorado Party nominee.[9][8] His regime was a leading participant in Operation Condor, a campaign of state terror coordinated with other South American dictatorships.[10][11]

Alfredo Stroessner at desk (3cropped + constraste)
Alfredo Stroessner at desk (3cropped + constraste). Image: Frank Scherschel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Under the state-of-siege rules, authorities could prohibit public gatherings and demonstrations, and could arrest and hold individuals indefinitely without any trial.[12][13] On 3 February 1989, General Andrés Rodríguez, who had been Stroessner's close confidant for over thirty years, overthrew him in a coup, after which Stroessner went into exile.[14][15]

1978 cuba. alfredo alcorta antonio maidana y julio rojas tras su liberacion despues de 20 anos presos en los calabozos de stroessner llegando a cuba en donde son recibidos como heroes.
1978 cuba. alfredo alcorta antonio maidana y julio rojas tras su liberacion despues de 20 anos presos en los calabozos de stroessner llegando a cuba en donde son recibidos como heroes.. Image: Jeanmersault · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What the research sources say

The NBC News obituary notes that Stroessner transformed Paraguay into a relatively modern nation but also made it a refuge for Nazi war criminals including Josef Mengele.[11] The same source reports that his death met with indifference in the former "Alfredo Stroessner" neighborhood, now renamed San Pablo.[11] The Library of Congress Country Studies account states that the state of siege was in continuous effect from 1954 until April 1987, except for very few short periods.[13] The ABC Color article from 2022 describes Stronistas gathering to celebrate his birthday, with one supporter saying "another general Stroessner" is needed for security.[2]

Alfredo Stroessner at desk
Alfredo Stroessner at desk. Image: Frank Scherschel · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Alfredo Stroessner 1920s (constraste)
Alfredo Stroessner 1920s (constraste). Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Alfredo Stroessner 1920s
Alfredo Stroessner 1920s. Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sur, "La evidencia científica prueba carácter dictatorial del stronismo, asegura CPCH", Ciencia del Sur, 2019-09-20 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. "Stronistas hacen apología de la dictadura y recuerdan a su líder", ABC Color, 2022-11-03. facts only, no text reused. abc.com.py
  3. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Scardamaglia, "Murió el dictador Alfredo Stroessner", Página 12, 2006-08-17; "Stronistas hacen apología de la dictadura y recuerdan a su líder", ABC Color, 2022-11-03; Grieco y Bavio, "La sociedad paraguaya se declara cansada de su joven presidente y desencantada de más de cien años de Partido Colorado en el poder", El Diario, 2022-06-15; Stocker, "Horacio Cartes: Millionaire. Criminal. Business titan. Homophobe. The next president of Paraguay?", The Independent, 2013-04-21; Stocker, "Horacio Cartes: Millionaire. Criminal. Business t en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ex-Paraguayan dictator Stroessner dies at 93", NBC News, 2006-08-16; "Exdictador Stroessner sigue grave", La Nación, 2006-08-16; "Ex-Paraguayan ruler dies in exile", 2006-08-16; "Stroessner sepultado en la ciudad testigo de su total ostracismo", La Vanguardia, 2006-08-17 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Scardamaglia, "Murió el dictador Alfredo Stroessner", Página 12, 2006-08-17. facts only, no text reused. pagina12.com.ar
  6. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; "Stronistas hacen apología de la dictadura y recuerdan a su líder", ABC Color, 2022-11-03; Scardamaglia, "Murió el dictador Alfredo Stroessner", Página 12, 2006-08-17; "Hoy en la historia. Nace Alfredo Stroessner", Hoy, 2022-11-03; Amorós, "Alfredo Stroessner, el tirano de un país invisible", La Vanguardia, 2021-09-18; ; "Tod von Paraguays Ex-Diktator Alfredo Stroessner", WDR, 2006-08-16; Amorós, "Alfredo Stroessner, el tirano de un país invisible", La Vanguardia, 2021-09-18; ; "Tod von Paraguays Ex-Diktator Alfredo Stroessner", WD en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Tod von Paraguays Ex-Diktator Alfredo Stroessner", WDR, 2006-08-16; Smink, "Cómo el régimen de Alfredo Stroessner convirtió a Paraguay en uno de los países más desiguales del mundo", BBC Mundo; Bernstein, "Alfredo Stroessner; Paraguayan Dictator", The Washington Post, 2006-08-17; Schemo, "Alfredo Stroessner, Paraguayan Ex-Dictator, Dies", The New York Times, 2006-08-17 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Smink, "Cómo el régimen de Alfredo Stroessner convirtió a Paraguay en uno de los países más desiguales del mundo", BBC Mundo (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mount, "Encyclopedia of U.S. – Latin American Relations", CQ Press, 2012, p. 845; Bethell, "The Cambridge History of Latin America", Cambridge University Press, 1991, p. 250–256; "Tomás Romero Pereira", ABC Color, 2005-11-06 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Greg Grandin (2011). The Last Colonial Massacre: Latin America in the Cold War. University of Chicago Press. p. 75.; Walter L. Hixson (2009). The Myth of American Diplomacy: National Identity and U.S. Foreign Policy. Yale University Press. p. 223.; McSherry, "State Violence and Genocide in Latin America: The Cold War Years (Critical Terrorism Studies)", Routledge, 2011, p. 107; Blakeley, "State Terrorism and Neoliberalism: The North in the South", Routledge, 2009, p. 22 & 23 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Ex-Paraguayan dictator Stroessner dies at 93. NBC News. August 16, 2006.. facts only, no text reused. nbcnews.com
  12. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Security and Political Offenses Library of Congress Country Studies; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Security and Political Offenses Library of Congress Country Studies. facts only, no text reused. country-data.com
  14. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Así murió Stroessner hace 10 años", ultimahora.com, 16 August 2016; Nickson, "The Legacies of the Stroessner Dictatorship in Paraguay", Current History, 2025, p. 68–73; Lambert, "A decade of electoral democracy: continuity, change and crisis in Paraguay", Bulletin of Latin American Research, 2000, p. 379–396 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  15. Wikipedia, "Alfredo Stroessner" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gimlette, p. 29 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Alfredo Stroessner (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year was Alfredo Stroessner born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1912.

From the source: “Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda was born in Encarnación on 3 November 1912.”

2. In which place was Alfredo Stroessner born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Encarnación, Paraguay.

3. In what year did Alfredo Stroessner die?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 2006.

From the source: “Stroessner was exiled to Brazil on 5 February, where he died on 16 August 2006 and was buried.”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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