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Bolivia
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Population: 3 350 000 (in 1938), 3 854 000 (in 1947).
Borders with Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Area: 1 098 600 squared kilometers.
Capital City: La Paz
Overview: The pre-WWII years in Bolivia were characterized by a very grave political-economical situation that was compounded by a notoriously unstable government (frequent military coups d'etat, possibly at that time the highest frequency of any place in the world), constant dependence on U.S. capital, and active penetration of the German capital which facilitated the proliferation of German influence across the country. Bolivia remained neutral in the early years of WWII. This changed on 26/01/1942, when Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Germany, Japan, and Italy; on 07/04/1943 it declared war on the Axis. However, Bolivia never participated in any military operations against them. It is a co-founding member of U.N.
Armed Forces:
After losing the "Chaco War" with Paraguay in 1938, the Bolivian armed forces were considerably reduced in size.
By 1939 the peace time standing army of Bolivia was made up of 12 infantry regiments (each of two battalions), six cavalry regiments (each of four squadrons), three mountain artillery regiments (each of two batteries), a field artillery regiment (also consisting of two batteries), six engineer battalions, and one air corps of two flights equipped with 20 aircraft. There were also small cadre infantry units known as the columnas stationed at the chief towns (each one had 100 to 200 soldiers). Somewhat bigger detachments of frontier guards (of 300 men each) performed security and border guard functions in the country's peripheral regions. Just before the eruption of World War II, the peacetime standing army of Bolivia numbered 15 000 troops. Military service was compulsory for all males capable of bearing arms and in the 19 to 50 years old age group. Active service lasted for a period of two years.
The country was divided into eight military districts, every single of these military districts was supposed to raise a single division in case of war. The divisional district headquarters were located in the following cities and towns: La Paz, Oruro, Sucre, Camiri, Puerto Suarez, Riberalta, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. By 1943 the Bolivian army's numerical strength dropped to between 8 000 and 10 000 troops. The army consisted of six infantry regiments, three cavalry regiments, two artillery regiments, and two engineer battalions.
The (previously) embryonic air force was elevated to a status of a separate branch of the armed forces (Fuerza Aerea-Air Force); four air force environs were founded; the air force was composed of a few flights by mid-1940's. These flights contained fighter, army co-operation, and light bomber escuadrillas-squadrons (there were nine to 12 planes in each squadron). Most planes were of U.S. origin. The main air fields were located at La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and Puerto Suarez.
By 1944 a Bolivian division of a military district had the following make up: two to three infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, one artillery regiment, one engineer battalion, one signals company, one medical company. Some divisions, depending on their military district's environment, also contained special railway and/or pontoon detachments. An infantry regiment included two battalions (a battalion consisted of a light machine guns company, a pistol machine guns company, and a rifles and grenades company), as well as one heavy company (equipped with anti-tank guns, mortars, and heavy machine guns). A cavalry regiment had three carabineer squadrons (equipped with carbines, light machine guns, and pistol machine guns) and one heavy squadron (its equipment was same as that of the infantry's heavy company). An artillery regiment was comprised of three batteries (each of four guns - field, mountain, or howitzer in accordance to the district's environmental conditions). The cadre for the Bolivian armed forces was prepared at the Bolivian War School and at the Bolivian Military Academy.
Main article: History of Bolivia
Bolivia was one of many Latin American countries to declare war on Germany later on in the war, joining the Allies on 7 April 1943. It was one of the two countries to declare war in 1943, the other being Colombia. Shortly after war was declared, the President of Bolivia, Enrique Peñaranda, was overthrown in a coup. The new ruler, Gualberto Villarroel, had fascist and anti-Semitic leanings, but foreign pressure[clarification needed] compelled him to remain at peace and to suppress his more extreme pro-Nazi supporters. Bolivian mines supplied needed tin to the Allies[citation needed], but with no coastline, the landlocked country did not send troops or warplanes overseas.
Borders with Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Area: 1 098 600 squared kilometers.
Capital City: La Paz
Overview: The pre-WWII years in Bolivia were characterized by a very grave political-economical situation that was compounded by a notoriously unstable government (frequent military coups d'etat, possibly at that time the highest frequency of any place in the world), constant dependence on U.S. capital, and active penetration of the German capital which facilitated the proliferation of German influence across the country. Bolivia remained neutral in the early years of WWII. This changed on 26/01/1942, when Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Germany, Japan, and Italy; on 07/04/1943 it declared war on the Axis. However, Bolivia never participated in any military operations against them. It is a co-founding member of U.N.
Armed Forces:
After losing the "Chaco War" with Paraguay in 1938, the Bolivian armed forces were considerably reduced in size.
By 1939 the peace time standing army of Bolivia was made up of 12 infantry regiments (each of two battalions), six cavalry regiments (each of four squadrons), three mountain artillery regiments (each of two batteries), a field artillery regiment (also consisting of two batteries), six engineer battalions, and one air corps of two flights equipped with 20 aircraft. There were also small cadre infantry units known as the columnas stationed at the chief towns (each one had 100 to 200 soldiers). Somewhat bigger detachments of frontier guards (of 300 men each) performed security and border guard functions in the country's peripheral regions. Just before the eruption of World War II, the peacetime standing army of Bolivia numbered 15 000 troops. Military service was compulsory for all males capable of bearing arms and in the 19 to 50 years old age group. Active service lasted for a period of two years.
The country was divided into eight military districts, every single of these military districts was supposed to raise a single division in case of war. The divisional district headquarters were located in the following cities and towns: La Paz, Oruro, Sucre, Camiri, Puerto Suarez, Riberalta, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. By 1943 the Bolivian army's numerical strength dropped to between 8 000 and 10 000 troops. The army consisted of six infantry regiments, three cavalry regiments, two artillery regiments, and two engineer battalions.
The (previously) embryonic air force was elevated to a status of a separate branch of the armed forces (Fuerza Aerea-Air Force); four air force environs were founded; the air force was composed of a few flights by mid-1940's. These flights contained fighter, army co-operation, and light bomber escuadrillas-squadrons (there were nine to 12 planes in each squadron). Most planes were of U.S. origin. The main air fields were located at La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and Puerto Suarez.
By 1944 a Bolivian division of a military district had the following make up: two to three infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, one artillery regiment, one engineer battalion, one signals company, one medical company. Some divisions, depending on their military district's environment, also contained special railway and/or pontoon detachments. An infantry regiment included two battalions (a battalion consisted of a light machine guns company, a pistol machine guns company, and a rifles and grenades company), as well as one heavy company (equipped with anti-tank guns, mortars, and heavy machine guns). A cavalry regiment had three carabineer squadrons (equipped with carbines, light machine guns, and pistol machine guns) and one heavy squadron (its equipment was same as that of the infantry's heavy company). An artillery regiment was comprised of three batteries (each of four guns - field, mountain, or howitzer in accordance to the district's environmental conditions). The cadre for the Bolivian armed forces was prepared at the Bolivian War School and at the Bolivian Military Academy.
Main article: History of Bolivia
Bolivia was one of many Latin American countries to declare war on Germany later on in the war, joining the Allies on 7 April 1943. It was one of the two countries to declare war in 1943, the other being Colombia. Shortly after war was declared, the President of Bolivia, Enrique Peñaranda, was overthrown in a coup. The new ruler, Gualberto Villarroel, had fascist and anti-Semitic leanings, but foreign pressure[clarification needed] compelled him to remain at peace and to suppress his more extreme pro-Nazi supporters. Bolivian mines supplied needed tin to the Allies[citation needed], but with no coastline, the landlocked country did not send troops or warplanes overseas.