Who Is Alfredo Stroessner?

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How far will someone go to achieve power? Alfredo Stroessner answered this question time and again throughout the duration of his life. Stroessner was born on Nov. 3, 1912 in the Paraguayan border city of Encarnación. He grew up in a wealthy family. His father Hugo Stroessner was a German immigrant who became a mechanic and ironworker, while his mother grew up in a wealthy Paraguayan family of Spanish descent. Despite Stroessner’s early life being very extravagant he was never satisfied and he sought to gain more power. Stroessner joined the Paraguayan army in 1929, and became a lieutenant in 1931. Throughout and after the Chaco War against Bolivia Stroessner steadily rose in rank. He was a very dedicated soldier whose sense of patriotism was unparalleled. It was this spirit of dedication and determination that allowed Stroessner to rise to the top so quickly. He became a brigadier and the youngest general officer in South America by 1948. In 1954, Stroessner led a coup d’état to overthrow President Federico Chávez. After he became president, Stroessner ruled for eight terms a total of 35 years. He improved Paraguay’s economy at an astonishing rate primarily by building the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world in Itaipu Dam. Stroessner’s rule actually helped the country a great deal, but he always made sure he was in absolute control. The power of his military was unstoppable; the people had no freedoms and they were completely at Stroessner’s mercy. In 1988 Stroessner was elected into his eighth successive term as president but he was overthrown by a military coup in 1989. His former right hand man General Andrés Rodríguez took over the country. The reason for the coup was simple Rodríguez feared Stroessner’s children would succeed him and he would not let that happen. Rodríguez exiled Stroessner to Brazil where he lived in hiding until his death.

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