Pinochet’s Early Life:Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte was born on November 25, 1915 in Valparaiso, Chile, to descendents of French settlers who had come to Chile more than a century before. He was the eldest of six children, his father a middle-class government worker. He entered military school when he turned 18, and graduated as a Sub-Lieutenant in four years.
Military Career:Pinochet rose quickly in rank, in spite of the fact that Chile was not at war. In fact, Pinochet never saw any action in combat during his entire military career: the closest he would come was as commander of a detention camp for Chilean communists. Pinochet became an intellectual, lecturing at the War Academy for periods of time and authoring five different books on politics and warfare. By 1968 he had been promoted to Brigadier General.
Pinochet and Allende:In 1948, Pinochet met Salvador Allende, a young Chilean senator. A socialist, Allende had come to visit the concentration camp run by Pinochet where many Chilean communists were held. In 1970, Allende was elected president, and he promoted Pinochet to commander of the Santiago garrison. Over the next three years, Pinochet proved invaluable to Allende, helping put down opposition to Allende’s economic policies, which were devastating the nation’s economy. Allende promoted Pinochet to commander-in-chief of all Chilean armed forces on August 23, 1973.
The Coup of 1973:Allende was wrong to trust Pinochet. With the people in the streets and the economy in shambles, the military made a move to take over the government. On September 11, 1973, less than 20 days after he was made commander-in-chief of the army, Pinochet ordered his troops to take Santiago and ordered an air strike on the presidential palace. Allende died defending the palace, and Pinochet was made part of a four-man ruling junta led by the commanders of the army, air force, police and navy. Later he would seize absolute power for himself.
Military Career:Pinochet rose quickly in rank, in spite of the fact that Chile was not at war. In fact, Pinochet never saw any action in combat during his entire military career: the closest he would come was as commander of a detention camp for Chilean communists. Pinochet became an intellectual, lecturing at the War Academy for periods of time and authoring five different books on politics and warfare. By 1968 he had been promoted to Brigadier General.
Pinochet and Allende:In 1948, Pinochet met Salvador Allende, a young Chilean senator. A socialist, Allende had come to visit the concentration camp run by Pinochet where many Chilean communists were held. In 1970, Allende was elected president, and he promoted Pinochet to commander of the Santiago garrison. Over the next three years, Pinochet proved invaluable to Allende, helping put down opposition to Allende’s economic policies, which were devastating the nation’s economy. Allende promoted Pinochet to commander-in-chief of all Chilean armed forces on August 23, 1973.
The Coup of 1973:Allende was wrong to trust Pinochet. With the people in the streets and the economy in shambles, the military made a move to take over the government. On September 11, 1973, less than 20 days after he was made commander-in-chief of the army, Pinochet ordered his troops to take Santiago and ordered an air strike on the presidential palace. Allende died defending the palace, and Pinochet was made part of a four-man ruling junta led by the commanders of the army, air force, police and navy. Later he would seize absolute power for himself.