Battle of Boquerón marks 94 years since Chaco War engagement

The 94th anniversary of the Battle of Boquerón marks a pivotal moment in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. The conflict concluded at the Boquerón fort on September 29, 1932, following a period of intense siege.

In the Paraguayan perspective, the victory led by Colonel José Félix Estigarribia was a decisive turning point that provided the military and the population with the confidence to win the war. The eventual peace treaty signed in 1938 granted Paraguay sovereignty over much of the Chaco Boreal, a region that now constitutes more than half of its national territory.

From the Bolivian perspective, the battle is remembered as a symbol of heroic resistance and sacrifice. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Marzana, a Bolivian garrison of approximately 800 men endured a 20-day siege characterized by extreme dehydration and food shortages. Despite aerial supply attempts, the garrison was forced to surrender after exhausting all supplies, with fewer than 500 survivors remaining.