Battle of Boquerón
Boquerón, Gran Chaco, Paraguay
What happened
The Paraguayan army under Lieutenant Colonel José Félix Estigarribia fought the Bolivian garrison under Colonel Manuel Marzana. Bolivia and Paraguay both claimed the Gran Chaco, a hot, dry wilderness thought to hold oil. When Bolivia occupied the outpost of Boquerón, Paraguay surrounded it. Both sides suffered badly from lack of water, and after almost three weeks the Bolivian defenders surrendered.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first major battle of the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay. Paraguay's win gave it an early advantage.
What came next
The Chaco War ended with a ceasefire on 12 June 1935, and Paraguay received about three-quarters of the Chaco. A peace was signed in Buenos Aires in 1938, and the final border was marked in 2009.
Did you know?
Bolivian troops had never seen mortars before, which gave Paraguay a key advantage during the siege.
Timeline
- July 1932Bolivia occupies Boquerón and other outposts.
- 9 September 1932Paraguay begins the siege of Boquerón.
- 29 September 1932The Bolivian garrison surrenders.
- 12 June 1935A ceasefire ends the Chaco War.
- 28 April 2009Bolivia and Paraguay sign the final border document.