Carlos Castillo Armas
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His Excellency Lieutenant colonel Carlos Castillo Armas |
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|---|---|
| President of the Republic of Guatemala | |
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In office 7 July 1954 – 26 July 1957 |
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| Preceded by | Elfego Hernán Monzón Aguirre |
| Succeeded by | Luis González López |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 November 1914 Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala |
| Died | 26 July 1957 (aged 42) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Political party | National Liberation Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Odilia de Castillo Armas |
| Occupation | Military |
| Signature |  |
Carlos Castillo Armas (November 4, 1914 – July 26, 1957) was a US-backed authoritarian ruler of Guatemala. He took power in a coup d'état orchestrated by the CIA in 1954.
Born the illegitimate son of a planter, Castillo Armas had been educated at Guatemala's military academy. A protege of Francisco Javier Arana, he had fought on the side of the rebels in the democratic uprising that began the Guatemalan Revolution, and received a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Until 1949, he served as the director of the military academy. As a result of Arana's failed coup attempt against the government of Juan José Arévalo, Castillo Armas wound up in exile in Honduras. Here, he came to the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency, while attempting to find arms and funds for another revolt against the Guatemalan government. In 1950 he launched an unsuccessful armed assault against a fortress in Guatemala city, and was wounded and arrested, before escaping to Honduras. In 1952, influenced by a propaganda campaign by the United Fruit Company and its perception of the Guatemalan government as being infiltrated by communists, the Truman administration authorized Operation PBFORTUNE to overthrow Jacobo Árbenz. This coup attempt was to be led by Castillo Armas, but it was abandoned after too many details were leaked.
In 1953, the administration of Dwight Eisenhower began to plot a coup against Árbenz, influence by continued concerns over communist influence and the Dulles brothers close ties to the United Fruit Company. Several candidates were considered to lead the coup; Castillo Armas was eventually selected because he was considered dependable by the CIA. In June 1954 Castillo led an invasion of Guatemala with 480 men armed and trained by the CIA, supported by a campaign of psychological warfare and an air force supplied by the US. Although the invasion suffered initial setbacks, the fact of US support to the rebels made the Guatemalan army reluctant to fight, and on 27 June Árbenz was forced to resign. A series of military juntas then briefly held power during negotiations that ended with Castillo Armas assuming the presidency on 7 July 1954.
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Wikipedia