The Chaco War and the Russians

     The presence of Germans and other Europeans in Paraguay is well known.  Paraguay invited European immigrants to settle in their country, especially after the disastrous Triple Alliance War of the 19th Century.  Some claim that the Paraguayan population was reduced from over a million to around 400,000.  There are no accurate figures, but no doubt the Paraguayan population had taken a heavy toll and was significantly reduced after that war. 
     European immigrants had been coming to Paraguay even before the the Triple Alliance War, but the numbers increased considerably after the war.  There were many immigrants from Germany and Italy.  However, Russia too provided some immigrants, especially after their Bolshevik Revolution that followed the First World War.  At one time, between 1920s and the 1950s, there were several thousand Russians living in Paraguay, centered around the capital city of Asuncion.  There was even a Russian Orthodox church in Asuncion, with services held in Russian by a Russian priest.  Most of the Russians that came to Paraguay were professionals, doctors, engineers, and soldiers, educated class.  Paraguay's military academy was founded and run by former Tsarist Russian officers.  The academy was headed by former Tsarist Russian General Belaeff, who was given a Paraguayan colonel's rank.  Most of the staff at the academy were former Russian officers.  But before the academy could produce a decent crop of new officers, the Chaco War with Bolivia (1932-1935) was on the verge of breaking out.
     Paraguay did not have an officer corps to speak of, in fact, they barely had an army that was rag-tag, with no leadership.  So, in desperation, the Paraguayan government, on the advice of Belaeff, ordered their Ambassador in Paris to try and recruit former Russian officers to fight for Paraguay.  Bolivian army had been trained and was led by German officers.  In fact, the Chief of Staff of the Bolivian Army was a former German General Hans Kundt!  The Bolivian army was a Latin version of the German army! They were dressed like the Germans, armed with German weapons, and trained and led by German officers!  The majority of the Bolivian officer corps were combat experienced German officers.  Paraguayans had nothing of a kind.  So they recruited about 100 former Russian officers to fight for their country.  They first recruited about 50 former officers, but then they ran out of experienced volunteers, so they recruited an additional 50 or so who had military training, but not necessarily experience.  My acquaintance, Alexander Von Eckstein was in the latter group.
     Although Paraguayan Generals commanded the Paraguayan army, it was actually Belaeff, the former Russian General who commanded the combat troops.  Belaeff recommended that Paraguay fight a guerrilla war.  He said that Paraguay did not have enough troops, trained officers, or equipment to fight the Bolivians head on as a conventional force.  Bolivians were well armed, well trained and officered by Germans.  They also outnumbered the Paraguayans considerably, something like 5 to 1.  So, taking Belaeff's advice, the Paraguayans launched a guerrilla war, fighting on numerous fronts of their choosing.  The 100 or so Russians were sent off to Chaco, where the majority of fighting was taking place.  There, the Russians were split up and assigned to lead small Paraguayan units with local Chaco Indian scouts to conduct guerrilla warfare.  Many units operated on horseback and were led by former Cossack officers.  It was a very hard campaign.  These Russian led guerrilla forces mostly lived off the land!
     In the meantime, the Paraguayan navy, the brown water navy that operated on Parana and Paraguay Rivers, was commanded by a former Tsarist Russian Admiral, Prince Tumanoff.  Tumanoff was given a Paraguayan captain's rank and charged with organizing the navy units.  Tumanoff did so successfully with a staff of former Russian naval officers.  Interestingly, he was always addressed by his title, not his military rank.  Even the Paraguayans called him el principe (the prince) rather than capitan (captain).
     The Russian led guerrilla campaign was highly successful, although history books do not give credit to the Russians.  The Russian veterans of the Chaco War themselves do not begrudge the fact that their contribution did not receive credit.  As one veteran said, "We were mercenaries, so why should we get the credit?"
     After two years of bitter fighting, the Chaco War ended with a Paraguayan victory.  By the end of the war, two Russians were promoted to general officer rank, Belaeff being the first.  After the war, several more were promoted to general, despite some opposition and anti foreigner mentality of majority of Paraguayans.  Also, several streets in Asuncion were named after Russians!
     Despite not receiving due credit, it is quite apparent to anyone who has done any research in the area that Russian contribution during Chaco War was significant.  Most of the Russians left Paraguay by the 1950s, ending up in Canada and the United States.
     The Chaco War and Russian participation is but a small part of Paraguayan history, but it is an important one and should not be ignored.  Aside form fighting in the Chaco and training and leading Paraguayan soldiers in battle, most of the medical staff, doctors and nurses in field hospitals during the war were Russian.  They may have been small in numbers, but their contribution was significant.