Campo Vía pocket

Campo Vía pocket
Part of the Chaco War
File:Campovia hcn01.jpg Map of the battle, with a portrait of Colonel Estigarribia in the background
Date November - December 1933 Location Gran Chaco Result Decisive Paraguayan victory
Belligerents
Republic of Bolivia, 4th and 9th Bolivian Divisions	Republic of Paraguay, Paraguayan Army
Commanders and leaders
Lt Col Carlos Banzer (Commander of the la 4° División Boliviana) Lt Col Gonzales Quint (Commander of the 9° División)	Col José Félix Estigarribia. Lt Col Rafael Franco
Strength
8,000 troops	27,000 troops

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 Masamaclay. The encircled troops were forced to capitulate due to lack of supplies. Up to 2,000 Bolivian soldiers were killed and 7,000 made prisoner. Subsequently, the Paraguayan troops expelled the Bolivian army from the southern region of Chaco by the end of 1933, forcing the resignation of German General Hans Kundt to the Bolivian High Command.

Bibliography

• Masamaclay, historia de la guerra del Chaco, Segunda edición