Campo Vía pocket

Part of the Chaco War

Date	November - December 1933
Location	Gran Chaco
Result	Decisive Paraguayan victory

Belligerents

Bolivia

Paraguay

Commanders and leaders

Hans Kundt
Carlos Banzer (Commander of the 9 Division)
Gonzales Quint (Commander of the 4° División)

José Félix Estigarribia.
Rafael Franco

Strength

9,000 troops

17,000 troops

Location within Paraguay

Chaco War

Boquerón Kilómetro 7 1st Nanawa 1st Alihuatá Campo Jordán 2nd Nanawa Gondra Campo Grande 2nd Alihuatá Campo Vía Cañada Strongest El Carmen Villamontes

The battle of the Campo Vía pocket was a decisive engagement of the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia which took place in December 1933. It was one of the most prominent battles of the Chaco War. Lt Col José Félix Estigarribia, with a massive force of several divisions of the Paraguayan Army, was able to surround two Bolivian divisions around the outpost of Alihuatá. The encircled troops were forced to capitulate due to lack of supplies on 11 December. Up to 2,000 Bolivian soldiers were killed and 7,000 made prisoner. Barely 900 Bolivian troops broke away. Subsequently, the Paraguayan troops expelled the Bolivian army from the eastern region of Chaco by the end of 1933, forcing the resignation of German General Hans Kundt to the Bolivian High Command.

Bibliography

de Quesada, Alejandro (2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America’s greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9781849084161
Masamaclay, historia de la guerra del Chaco, Segunda edición

Coordinates: 23°15′39.54″S 59°56′20.66″W / 23.2609833°S 59.9390722°W / -23.2609833; -59.9390722

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