Argentina

=== National Reorganization Process ===
{{Main|National Reorganization Process|Dirty War}}
[[File:Junta Militar argentina 1976.png|thumb|The "[[National Reorganization Process|first military junta]]" – Admiral [[Emilio Eduardo Massera|Emilio Massera]], Lieutenant General [[Jorge Rafael Videla|Jorge Videla]] and Brigadier General [[Orlando Ramón Agosti|Orlando Agosti]] (from left to right) – observing the [[Argentine Declaration of Independence|Independence Day]] military parade on [[Avenida del Libertador (Buenos Aires)|Avenida del Libertador]], 9 July 1978]]

The "Dirty War" ({{lang-es|Guerra Sucia|links=no}}) was part of [[Operation Condor]], which included the participation of other right-wing dictatorships in the [[Southern Cone]]. The Dirty War involved [[state terrorism]] in Argentina and elsewhere in the Southern Cone against political dissidents, with military and security forces employing urban and rural violence against left-wing guerrillas, political dissidents, and anyone believed to be associated with socialism or somehow contrary to the [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] economic policies of the regime.<ref>''Political Violence and Trauma in Argentina'', Antonius C. G. M. Robben, p. 145, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007</ref><ref>''Revolutionizing Motherhood: The Mothers of the Plaza De Mayo'', Marguerite Guzmán Bouvard, p. 22, Rowman & Littlefield, 1994</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GgAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6482,2531128 "Argentina's Guerrillas Still Intent On Socialism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026112012/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GgAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6482,2531128 |date=26 October 2019 }}, ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'', 7 March 1976</ref> Victims of the violence in Argentina alone included an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 left-wing activists and militants, including trade unionists, students, journalists, [[Marxist]]s, [[Peronism|Peronist]] [[guerrilla]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aliciapatterson.org/stories/argentinas-dirty-war|title=Argentina's Dirty War|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129015852/http://aliciapatterson.org/stories/argentinas-dirty-war|archive-date=29 January 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref> and alleged sympathizers. Most of the victims were casualties of [[state terrorism]]. The opposing guerrillas' victims numbered nearly 500–540 military and police officials<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desaparecidos.org/arg/doc/cifras/mili.html|title=Militares Muertos Durante la Guerra Sucia|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827125022/http://www.desaparecidos.org/arg/doc/cifras/mili.html|archive-date=27 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref> and up to 230 civilians.<ref>Gambini, Hugo (2008). Historia del peronismo. La violencia (1956–1983). Buenos Aires: Javier Vergara Editor. pp. 198/208.</ref> Argentina received technical support and military aid from the United States government during the [[Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]], [[Presidency of Richard Nixon|Nixon]], [[Presidency of Gerald Ford|Ford]], [[Presidency of Jimmy Carter|Carter]], and [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administrations.

The exact chronology of the [[political repression|repression]] is still debated, yet the roots of the long political war may have started in 1969 when trade unionists were targeted for assassination by Peronist and Marxist paramilitaries. Individual cases of [[state-sponsored terrorism]] against Peronism and the left can be traced back even further to the [[Bombing of Plaza de Mayo]] in 1955. The [[Trelew massacre]] of 1972, the actions of the [[Argentine Anticommunist Alliance]] commencing in 1973, and [[Isabel Perón]]'s "annihilation decrees" against left-wing guerrillas during ''[[Operativo Independencia]]'' (Operation Independence) in 1975, are also possible events signaling the beginning of the Dirty War.{{efn-ua|Citations discussing this include:<ref name=Reutuers2014/><ref name=Buncombe2022>{{cite web|last=Buncombe|first=Andrew|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-businessman-79-face-trial-210300460.html?guccounter=1|title=Florida businessman, 79, to face trial over notorious 1972 massacre in Argentina|work=[[The Independent]]|via=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=11 February 2022|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219065302/https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-businessman-79-face-trial-210300460.html?guccounter=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McDonnell|first=Patrick J.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-13-fg-isabel13-story.html|title=Arrest of Isabel Peron signals willingness to reexamine era|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=13 January 2007|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219065302/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-13-fg-isabel13-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Burke|first=Hilary|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN10477880|title=Argentina probes pre-Dirty War rights crimes|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=21 January 2007|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219065302/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN10477880|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Onganía shut down Congress, banned all political parties, and dismantled student and worker unions. In 1969, popular discontent led to two massive protests: the ''[[Cordobazo]]'' and the ''[[Rosariazo]]''. The terrorist guerrilla organization [[Montoneros]] kidnapped and executed Aramburu.{{sfn|Robben|2011|p=127}} The newly chosen head of government, [[Alejandro Agustín Lanusse]], seeking to ease the growing political pressure, allowed [[Héctor José Cámpora]] to become the Peronist candidate instead of Perón. Cámpora won the [[Argentine general election, March 1973|March 1973 election]], issued [[amnesty|pardons]] for condemned guerrilla members, and then secured Perón's return from his exile in Spain.{{sfn|Galasso|2011|loc=vol. II|pp=423–65}}
[[File:Soldadosargentinos3.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Argentine soldiers during the [[Falklands War]], 1982]]

On the day Perón returned to Argentina, the clash between Peronist internal factions—[[right-wing]] union leaders and [[left-wing]] youth from the Montoneros—resulted in the [[Ezeiza Massacre]]. Overwhelmed by political violence, Cámpora resigned and Perón won the following [[Argentine general election, September 1973|September 1973 election]] with his third wife [[Isabel Perón|Isabel]] as vice-president. He [[expulsion of Montoneros from Plaza de Mayo|expelled Montoneros from the party]]{{sfn|Robben|2011|pp=76–77}} and they became once again a clandestine organization. [[José López Rega]] organized the [[Argentine Anticommunist Alliance]] (AAA) to fight against them and the [[People's Revolutionary Army (Argentina)|People's Revolutionary Army]] (ERP).{{sfn|Anderson|Sloan|2009|p=40–41}}{{sfn|Wilson|2016|p=167}}

Perón died in July 1974 and was succeeded by his wife, who signed a secret decree empowering the military and the police to "annihilate" the left-wing subversion,{{sfn|Robben|2011|p=145}} [[Operation Independence|stopping ERP's attempt]] to start a rural insurgence in Tucumán province.{{sfn|Robben|2011|p=148}} [[March 1976 coup|Isabel Perón was ousted]] one year later by a junta of the combined armed forces, led by army general [[Jorge Rafael Videla]]. They initiated the [[National Reorganization Process]], often shortened to ''Proceso''.{{sfn|Galasso|2011|loc=vol. II|pp=467–504}}

The ''Proceso'' shut down Congress, removed the judges on the Supreme Court, banned political parties and unions, and resorted to employing the [[forced disappearance]] of suspected guerrilla members including individuals suspected of being associated with the left-wing. By the end of 1976, the Montoneros had lost nearly 2,000 members and by 1977, the ERP was completely subdued. Nevertheless, the severely weakened Montoneros launched a counterattack in 1979, which was quickly put down, effectively ending the guerrilla threat and securing the junta's position in power.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 1977, Argentina set up a military base on the uninhabited British [[South Sandwich Islands]] in the South Atlantic Ocean. In March 1982, an Argentine force took control of the British territory of [[South Georgia]] and, on 2 April, Argentina invaded the [[Operation Rosario|Falkland Islands]]. The United Kingdom quickly dispatched a task force to regain possession. After a short, bloody conflict, Argentina surrendered on 14 June and its forces were sent home. Street riots in Buenos Aires followed the humiliating defeat and the military leadership stood down.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meislin |first1=Richard J. |title=THOUSANDS IN BUENOS AIRES ASSAIL JUNTA FOR SURRENDERING TO BRITAIN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/16/world/thousands-in-buenos-aires-assail-junta-for-surrendering-to-britain.html |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=16 June 1982 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014050234/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/16/world/thousands-in-buenos-aires-assail-junta-for-surrendering-to-britain.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CBS News releases video of the Falklands War riots |url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/cbs-news-releases-video-of-the-falklands-war-riots |work=Fox News |access-date=7 November 2018 |date=24 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107224852/https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/cbs-news-releases-video-of-the-falklands-war-riots |archive-date=7 November 2018 |url-status = live}}</ref> [[Reynaldo Bignone]] replaced Galtieri and began to organize the transition to democratic governance.{{sfn|Galasso|2011|loc=vol. II|pp=505–32}}