What if Bolivia decided to fully commit to a Pro Axis alliance after the 1943 coup?

[Brian_Ghilliotti]

This article is based on the on-line historical news clip shown in the link below:

COUP IN BOLIVIA PRESIDENT HELD BY PRO-NAZIS - Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954) - 22 Dec 1943

From research I come up with the following facts:

-Bolivia was in important source of tin and other resources needed for the allied war effort

-There were quite a few pro-Nazi leaders involved in the coup, who pressured the coup leader, Gualberto Villarroel López, to fully commit to an alliance with the Nazis

-Gualberto Villarroel López caved into to US pressure and dismissed his pro-Nazi ministers

See: History of Bolivia (1920–64) - Wikipedia

See: Gualberto Villarroel - Wikipedia

So what if Gualberto Villarroel decided to resist US pressure, and go along with his pro-Nazi ministers, committing to an alliance with the Axis powers?

At the very least, there would have been some disruption to Allied tin supplies. However, even if the Nazi's wanted take advantage of Bolivia's tin and other natural resources, Bolivia's land locked position would have made it very difficult for either party to take advantage of the opportunities this coup. To be able to exploit Bolivia's tin resources, the Nazis would have had to encourage other pro-Axis coups in other nations to permit pro-Nazi Bolivia access to the sea. Chile would be a logical choice, if the Germans were willing to take the risks of accessing remote ports on Pacific coast of South America. Perhaps it would have been worth it if a Nazi sympathetic Chile offered war resources to the Axis powers, both Germany and Japan, as well as Bolivia.

A more likely reaction of the Axis would be providing refuge to pro-Nazi elements of Argentine military and help them plot the overthrow of the strict neutralist regime that was ruling the country. This coup plot might have been possible with the large German immigrant population in the country. This would have given the Germans access to southern Atlantic ports, with long transport routes for the Bolivian tin to be shipped. Again, it would have been worth it if it gave the Axis access the Argentina's natural resources as well. An interesting side question is if the Germans would have helped the Argentine military take over the Falklands. Doing so may have given the Germans a naval base to protect southern Atlantic and Pacific Coast shipping rotes.

Please see: Argentina during World War II - Wikipedia

From there, it might have been possible to engineer a pro-Nazi coup inside Uruguay. This would give Axis interests more Atlantic coastal port access and shorter land transportation routes through the corridor separating Bolivia and Brazil.

From my research Uruguay there were rumors of a primarily German immigrant based pro-Nazi coup plot.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spies and Espionage

External engineering of a pro-Nazi coup in Uruguay would have been difficult, as it probably would have met fierce resistance. If these developments materialized to this point, the Axis powers would have probably tried to carry on with it anyway, even if it did result in outside intervention from the US and other local south American nations. If they won, it would have been worth it strategically. The level of German Army commitment would have been minimal, and it would have to rely on local sources of logistical support.

The nature of an anti-Nazi campaign in South America would largely depend if Chile was under a pro-Axis regime or not and if the Germans helped the Argentines occupy the Falklands. It would definitely have involve stepped naval warfare in the South Atlantic. I doubt the German command would think it could win this war if the historical variables did not change for Europe. However, they would see a 'South American Front' as a good way of draining Allied war resources and slowing down their progress in Western Europe. Perhaps they could have used it as a political bargaining chip, involving a ceasefire on the Western Front in exchange for withdrawal of all German military assets in South America, coupled with assistance in fighting the Soviets ('common enemies').

A more likely outcome, however, is that there would be immediate plans to remove the pro-Nazi regime in Bolivia as soon as it was caught supporting pro-Nazi coup efforts in other countries. This would have to be a predominately US led effort, because the United States would not want to see an anti-Nazi campaign against Bolivia turn into a historical grievance based land grab over Bolivia's territory, which could generate more wars. I would guess that the United States would try to carry out an invasion plan involving an attack against Bolivia from all sides, but this might be limited by terrain and temperature variables. The United States would likely have to keep occupying Bolivia in order to prevent the temptation of surrounding countries from 'punishing' Bolivia by claiming key pieces of border lands.

Whatever Nazi diplomatic elements in South America that remained after this hypothetical event (just a Bolivian anti-Nazi invasion only) could have continued to tie down US forces in Bolivia by covertly funding any anti-American partisan forces that emerged and organized into guerrilla bands later on before the Nazi collapse in Europe.

Brian Ghilliotti