The Defeat of Che Guevara: Military Response to Guerrilla Challenge in Bolivia [Hardcover]

Gary Prado Salmon (Author), John Deredita (Author), Lawrence H. Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 1990

A thoroughly documented account of the 1967 guerrilla challenge in Bolivia, this volume reconstructs events leading up to, during, and after the defeat of the insurgency. Against the background of the 1960s' attempt to extend Cuban influence throughout Latin America, the book offers an analysis of trends in Bolivian politics from 1952 to 1967. General Prado then evaluates the geographical setting of the insurgency, guerrilla preparations, and the Bolivian response. Prado identifies key strategic errors, including Che Guevara's failure to capture peasant support, and analyzes Che's own theories. Military historians will find no sensational revelations here but, instead, previously unknown details that form a concise reconstruction of The Defeat of Che Guevara. Recently retired from the Bolivian Army, Prado avoids partisan tones and provides an unusually balanced account of the 1967 guerrilla insurgency in Bolivia. A four-part volume, Part I presents a thorough discussion of the international, national, and military climate. Part II assesses the geographical setting. Part III details operations from preparations to defeat. The volume concludes with a thorough evaluation of the insurgency--causes for its failure, an analysis of Che Guevara's theories, and the Bolivian army's mistakes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Captain Gary Prado Salmon commanded the unit that captured Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967. Prado also grew up in Vallegrande where Guevara established his base. His reflective, intelligent, insightful, and candid book will stand as an authoritative, if unofficial, account of the sad demise of the most flamboyant Latin American guerrilla fighter of the 20th century. Based on the field diaries of Guevara as well as on Bolivian military sources, Prado's book dispassionately discusses the difficult local geography, the local and international climate at the time, and the entire operations of both sides on virtually a daily basis. Prado evaluates the strategies and errors of both the guerrillas and the Bolivian army, and he clarifies the confusion surrounding the death of Guevara. The Bolivian guerilla campaign suffered from poor planning, limited resources, and a pathetic ignorance of local geography, politics, and history. Adequately translated and readable, this book is enhanced with maps and photographs. All levels.”–Choice

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: Spanish

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers; First Edition, First Printing in English edition (July 24, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275932117
• ISBN-13: 978-0275932114
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,768,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A clear-headed account of important history, December 14, 2002

By 

Ken Coffman (Mount Vernon, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Defeat of Che Guevara: Military Response to Guerrilla Challenge in Bolivia (Hardcover)

This is an interesting book written in a direct and fluid style. The details and explanations are very credible and should be required reading for everyone that has a Guevara poster on their wall. Not that they would read anything that contradicts their distorted world view, of course. To the credit of the author and translator, this book seems like it would be dry and dull, but it is not. If you're interested in history and South America, then I recommend this book.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Che's Farewell, December 4, 2005

By 

NobodyImportant (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Defeat of Che Guevara: Military Response to Guerrilla Challenge in Bolivia (Hardcover)

-Once again I feel under my heels the ribs of my Rocinante. I return to the trail with my shield on my arm. Nothing essential has changed except that I am more conscious, my Marxism is deeper and more crystallized. I believe in the armed struggle as the only solution for the peoples who fight to free themselves and I am consequent with my beliefs. Many will call me an adventurer, and I am, but of a different type, one of those who put their lives on the line to demonstrate their truths. --Che Guevara, farewell letter to his parents