War of Paraguay

This scenario takes place in the War of Paraguay(aka Triple Alliance War), the bloodiest conflict ever fought in all Americas.

In the time of the war, Paraguay was a strong country. It had the second economy of all Americas(only behind the USA), and was the only Latin American nation with none external depedency. It also had the largest armed force on Latin America: a professional army of over 80.000 men. Brazil, in that time, only had 18.000 professional soldiers. Paraguay also had 400 cannons and industrys that built them.

In 1864, Brazil invaded Uruguay and deposed the Blaco government, that was pro-Paraguay and installed a pro-brazilian government. López tried to be a mediator between the Blancos and the Brazilian Empire, but his wish was refused. So in 12 december of 1864 he ordered the caputure of the brazilian ship Marquês de Olinda and begun the invasion of Southern and Central Brazilian Provinces and Uruguay.
Because the Argentinians refused to let Paraguayan troops cross their territory, Lopez declared war on Argentina and invaded its northern provinces. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay signed the Triple Alliance Treaty againts Paraguay.
The first phase of the war was defined by Paraguayan victories. That phase ended in 18 september of 1865, when the Brazilian army defeated Paraguayan forces at Uruguaiana.
The second phase was the invasion of Paraguay. The allies had a great victory at Tuiti, but were defeated at the fortress of Humaitá, the best defended of Paraguay. There was also a huge naval battle at Riachuelo, where the Brazilian baron Barroso commanded a fleet that destroyed the paraguayan navy. This made it impossible for López to invade the argentinian province of Entre Ríos and from this moment on Paraguay fought a defensive war.
The third phase, also known as Dezembrada, begun when the Brazilian Commander Caxias captured Humaitá. Brazilian troops advenced into Paraguay and eventually captured Assuncion and killed Lopez at Cerro Corá, in 1870.
After the end of the war, Paraguay was completely destroyed and never recoverd. Over 300.000 paraguayans died(2/3 of that countrys male population). Paraguay also lost part of its territory to Brazil and Argentina and had to pay a war debt(they never paid actually, Brazil forgave that debt in 1943.)
Brazil mobilized 180.000 men to war, of whom 30.000 died.

Some pics of the war

Solano López


A map of the war


The Battle of Riachuelo

Another pic of the Battle of Riachuelo

Hey!Why is peru not American then mid east?

I wouldn't call it the bloodiest conflict fought in the Americas, I would say the American Civil War has that honor. 2nd bloodiest though, no question. If I remember correctly, Paraguay's male population was reduced to like 220,000, most of those under the age of 18.

I don't think Paraguay's economy was second only to the USA either, I would think that Brazil or Canada had the larger overall economy.

It is nice though to see a scenario based on this little-known war, it rivals WWII with regard to the % of pure civilian losses suffered by a country. Looking at the resources potential of Argentina and Brazil alone, its amazing that Paraguay lasted as long as it did (over 5 years).

Wonderful to have a scenario based upon this conflict as all I knew of it was that Paraquay was taken on by nations whose populations were 30:1 that of Paraquay and that 80% of all Paraquan men died in that war.

Compared to the American Civil War of the same period where the South lost only 25% of her manpower it makes me wonder what inspired such resistance.

Originally posted by Procifica


I don't think Paraguay's economy was second only to the USA either, I would think that Brazil or Canada had the larger overall economy.

It is nice though to see a scenario based on this little-known war, it rivals WWII with regard to the % of pure civilian losses suffered by a country. Looking at the resources potential of Argentina and Brazil alone, its amazing that Paraguay lasted as long as it did (over 5 years).

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Paraguay economy was really the second of Americas. Brazilian economy was pretty pathetic back than, we were only beginning to develop the coffee economy that would last untill 1930(when Vargas begun a huge industrial proccess). And the canadian population was very samall, so the GDP was low.

And the paraguayan resistence is indeed impressive, it has always amazed me. It has to do with the fanatical devotion paraguayans had for Solano López and the superior quality of their army.

Actually, the Confederacy had about 275,000 men dead, out of a population of 9 million. If you take out the 4 million African-Americans, that leaves us with 5 million, of which probably half were men.

very good scenario luiz


now im going to try paraguay and see if i can change history a bit...bwa ha ha ha

Originally posted by Azale
very good scenario luiz


now im going to try paraguay and see if i can change history a bit...bwa ha ha ha

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thanks...

and good luck!

e isso ae kra
finalmente outro portuga aki na area
e esses americano que vao toma no cu!
euayageyfg!

It is a good scenario.

good scenario

I love it

First of all, i would seriously doubt that Paraguay was such a strong economy, i think either Mexico or Argentina were pretty stronger. The bloodiest war? I don´t think so. you´re forgetting about the independence of Mexico, the civil war in Argentina, and many many other things.

Oh, and by the way, don´t bother, catalonia will never be free.

Nope!

Finally....something like this comes along. I've had trouble even finding much of a history on the War of the Triple Alliance. Now, I can just have some slaughtering mayhem.

And wasn't Paraguay devastated by that war? A large amount of land lost, a HUGE percentage of men of a certain generation dead....that was a brutal conflict.

chill...

I also got the idea that you weren't exactly treated friendly if you weren't fanatically loyal to the Paraguayan dictator. As in not treated friendly like "Meet Mr. Bullet and Mr. Earthworm."

Originally posted by Kamui
First of all, i would seriously doubt that Paraguay was such a strong economy, i think either Mexico or Argentina were pretty stronger. The bloodiest war? I don´t think so. you´re forgetting about the independence of Mexico, the civil war in Argentina, and many many other things.

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Paraguay did had the largest economy among latin countries and was the most industrialised nation in Latin America.
And the conflict was FAR more bloody than the mexican independence and argentinian civil war. In Americas it may only be behind the American Civil War in number of casualties, but it's bloodiest than the Civil War if you take in account the % of man killed.

Originally posted by The Yankee

And wasn't Paraguay devastated by that war? A large amount of land lost, a HUGE percentage of men of a certain generation dead....that was a brutal conflict.

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You are right.
That's on the description of the scenario, btw.