Bolivian Campaign

The Ñancahuazú Guerrilla or Ejército de Liberación Nacional de Bolivia (National Liberation Army of Bolivia; ELN) was a group of mainly Bolivian and Cuban guerrillas led by the guerrilla leader Che Guevara which was active in the Cordillera Province of Bolivia from 1966 to 1967. The group established its base camp on a farm across the Ñancahuazú River, a seasonal tributary of the Rio Grande, 250 kilometers southwest of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The guerrillas intended to work as a foco, a point of armed resistance to be used as a first step to overthrow the Bolivian government and create a socialist state. The guerrillas defeated several Bolivian patrols before they were beaten and Guevara was captured and executed. Only five guerrillas managed to survive, including Harry Villegas, and fled to Chile.

Bolivian Campaign
Part of the Cold War

Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967.
Date3 November 1966 – 9 October 1967
(11 months and 6 days)
Dissident Insurgency phase:
9 October 1967 - November 1967
Location
Result

Bolivian government victory

  • Che Guevara executed
Belligerents
ELN
 Cuba
Bolivia
 United States
Supported by:
Brazil
Commanders and leaders
Che Guevara 
Tania Bunke 
Harry Villegas
Fidel Castro
René Barrientos
Hugo Banzer
Félix Rodríguez
Ralph Shelton
Castelo Branco
Strength
29 Bolivians
25 Cubans
3 Peruvians
1 Argentine-Cuban (Che)
1 Argentine-German (Tania)
600 Bolivian Rangers
24 Americans
Casualties and losses
Main Phase:
55 killed or captured
Dissident Insurgency Phase:
11+ killed
Main Phase:
Unknown
Dissident Insurgency Phase:
9+ killed, 4+ injured

20+ civilians killed, 72+ injured (San Juan massacre)

Unknown total
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