Paraguayan Civil War (1947)

The Paraguayan Civil War also known as Barefoot Revolution was a conflict in Paraguay that lasted from March to August 1947.

In 1940, President Higinio Morínigo suspended the constitution and banned political parties. Resistance to his rule took the form of general strikes and student riots. In 1946, Morínigo legalized political activity and formed a cabinet with the Febrerista Revolutionary Concentration and the Colorado Party. The Febreristas resigned from the coalition on January 11, 1947, angry that Morínigo seemed to be favouring the Colorados.

The Febreristas made common cause with the Liberal Party and the Paraguayan Communist Party. Rafael Franco led a rebellion which became a civil war as the Paraguayan armed forces, which had previously remained loyal, split.

On the rebels' side were all the political parties except the Colorados, most of the bankers and administrators and 80% of the officers. Out of eleven army divisions, four joined the rebels-on March 8 the two infantry divisions at Concepcion rebelled, joined by the two Chaco infantry divisions a few days later.

On the government's side were the Colorados, the three cavalry divisions at Campo Grande; the three Asunción divisions (infantry, signallers and engineers) and the artillery division from Paraguari. Most importantly, Argentina under Juan Perón gave vital support to the government without which they might well have fallen.

On April 27, the navy joined the rebellion and shelled Asunción, they were fought off by the artillery division that had come from Paraguarí, commanded by Alfredo Stroessner. The largest gunboats of the fleet, Paraguay and Humaita, were seized by the rebels in Buenos Aires while they were undergoing repairs.

Morínigo fought back and eventually gained the upper hand, and had won back control by August 1947. A third of the population had fled.