Russian Military Emigration in Paraguay and Its Contribution to the Victory in the Chaco War (1932-1935)

The article is devoted to the history of the formation of the Russian military migration in Paraguay during the post-revolutionary period and its participation in the Chaco War of 1932-1935 on the side of the Paraguayan army. The aim of this article is to study the composition of Russian military emigration, its adaptation in the conditions of a new country of residence and the application of combat experience in the Paraguayan army. The article is based on the principles of historicism, credibility, scientific objectivity and systematicity; it used general and special-historical methods, including analysis and synthesis, unity of historical and logical, comparative-historical method, problematic-chronological. The object of research is Russian military emigration to Paraguay in 1920-1930. The subject of research is the forms of participation of Russian combat officers and military engineers in the training of military personnel of the national army, in the conduct of cartographic works, personal contribution of Russian officers to the victory of Paraguay in the Chac war with Bolivia. The participation of military emigration in strengthening the national army of Paraguay, its contribution to the victory in the Chaco War, the nature of the relationship between the Russian and Paraguayan military and the policy of preserving historical memory about the Russian military standing up for their «second homeland». Features of the formation of the Russian diaspora in Paraguay are revealed, and the structure of the Russian military community in this country is described. Special attention is paid to the process of social adaptation of former military («rusoses blankos»), the institutional structure of military organizations. Concluded the involvement of military emigration in the internal life of the country of residence, some of its representatives have taken an important position in the state authorities, which has contributed to the integration of «Rosoz Blankos» in the structures of Paraguayan society and the formation of a positive image of the Russians in the public consciousness of the local population.

Paraguay, Chaco war, Russian officers, military emigration, Paraguayan army, adaptation, Russian hearth, world economic crisis, colonization of lands, repatriation