Guatemala - Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional - History
The history and development of the Guatemalan Army is one of the most extensive and complex issues that exists throughout the history of the country, as it is the history of Guatemala itself. Its birth extends from the earliest formations, whose primary purpose was to protect its inhabitants, culture and territory, as well as the trade routes in the region that today is known as MESOAMÉRICA, so, in the development of these societies is observed To a military representative as part of the Main Council governing the government, there being a complete hierarchy in its ranks, Academies of Instruction and complex military service. However, the process of discovery, conquest and colonization totally dismantled these organizations, also disappearing society until then.
The colonial period did not imply greater development in what it refers to national militias, because during this time the Army was composed by Europeans settled in the colonies or the children of these born in the New World, nevertheless, Chinchilla Aguilar considers Captain General Don Pedro Salazar and Herrera as the author of the first attempts to form a regular Army in Guatemala, although it was not possible to materialize the project.
Later, Captain General Don Matías de Gálvez organized the Infantry and Cavalry Corps from Chiquimulilla to Carthage, as well as reinforced the supply for the defense of the kingdom, being attributed to him the expulsion of pirates in the Spanish colonies, thanks to a reorganization that included natives and Mestizos of the region.
After Independence, military composition continued to be of a militia type, without real training, nor discipline that implies an efficient hierarchy in the ranks, together with regional conflicts that prevented an effective operation for the Army.
Both Manuel Arce and Francisco Morazán managed to maintain a certain level of control and organization within the fledgling Central American Army for some time. However, it was Rafael Carrera who, after a series of military actions, gave a new meaning and interpretation to the concept of a strategy that the Guatemalan Army would now use to become this time as the best and most organized defensive contingent in the region, even allowing it to triumph over larger groups.
Carrera's death saw a period of emptiness for the Army, since the government presided over by Field Marshal Vicente Cerna does not provide important achievements to the military ranks, which resurrected Field Marshal Serapio Cruz as one of The luminaries in the history of the country and whose death provided a decisive inspiration for the successful culmination of the so - called Liberal Revolution of 1871, led by Generals Miguel Garcia - Granados and Justo Rufino Barrios.
This movement that involved great advances for the country, brought with it the greatest achievement in military history with the founding of the Polytechnic School and thanks to which the Army emerges as a professional institution; From this moment it can be said that the advance for the Army takes a new course, As the changes continue to benefit the ranks and the country, with new perspectives and projections, and whose educational and formative role for military cadres makes it possible to achieve great achievements, including the emergence of national aviation since 1912, and which is effectively consolidated From 1921, with figures such as Coroneles Jacinto Rodríguez Díaz, Miguel García Granados (Nieto), Carlos Mérlen, Ricardo Rodas, Oscar Morales López and others.
In later years and after a period of political constancy, the movement of October 20, 1944, which involved radical changes for the country at all levels, took shape. The Army witnessed the modernization of armament, as well as the tactical organization and use of weapons and services.
At the highest levels were temporarily abolished the rank of Brigadier General and Division, structuring a new organization for the General Staff of the Army, as well as for the military regionalization that allowed greater control of garrisons and Military Commands in the interior.
By 1945, the Ministry of War disappeared and the Ministry of National Defense took its place; a new organization for the Guatemalan Air Force is also being created; Various regulations are updated, leaving behind those previously in force. In a more recent period, the military field has observed several changes that have been motivated by a spirit of progress towards the country. Since the main function of the Army based on a constitutional precept is to maintain sovereignty, freedom, Territorial integration and peace in the Republic, which has involved the creation of the National Defense Navy with its bases and Naval School.
The current moments have inspired the reorganization of military commands, establishing new dependencies within a modern technological field and projecting the population, which only seeks to fulfill the mission entrusted through specific objectives and thanks to the greater professionalisation of personnel serving in their ranks, delivering the best of them to the institution and primarily to Guatemala; Extending for more than two thousand years to what caused the formation of the Army in antiquity providing protection to the population, culture and territory.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
