Trelew Massacre: The 1972 Execution of Political Prisoners in Argentina
The Trelew Massacre stands as one of the most notorious episodes of state violence during the period leading up to Argentina's Dirty War. On August 22, 1972, sixteen political prisoners—members of various left-wing and Peronist guerrilla organizations—were executed by the Argentine Navy. This event was not a random act of violence but a calculated retaliation following a daring prison break and the subsequent recapture of several militants.
Key Facts
- Date: August 22, 1972, at 03:30 a.m.
- Location: Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport, Trelew, Chubut Province, Argentina.
- Victims: 16 deceased, 3 injured.
- Perpetrators: Argentine Navy, led by Lieutenant Commander Luis Emilio Sosa.
- Target Groups: Montoneros, ERP (People's Revolutionary Army), and FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces).
- Motive: Revenge for a successful prison escape from Rawson Prison on August 15.
The Rawson Prison Evasion
The chain of events began on August 15, 1972, when 110 captured guerrillas attempted a massive escape from the Rawson prison in Chubut Province. During the chaos, one guard, Gregorio Valenzuela, was killed, and another, Justino Galarraga, was critically wounded. While the majority of the inmates were recaptured, six high-ranking leaders successfully escaped.
The operation was masterminded by Mario Roberto Santucho, leader of the Workers' Revolutionary Party, though some accounts credit Marcos Osatinsky of the FAR with the initial plan. The "Leakage Committee"—consisting of Santucho, Osatinsky, Fernando Vaca Narvaja, Roberto Quieto, Enrique Gorriarán Merlo, and Domingo Menna—reached the Trelew airport via a Ford Falcon. There, they boarded a hijacked Austral BAC One-Eleven airliner and flew to Chile, which was then governed by socialist President Salvador Allende.
A second group of 19 escapees managed to reach the airport using commandeered taxis, but they arrived too late to board the aircraft.
Recapture and Detention
Realizing their window for escape had closed, the 19 remaining militants called a press conference and surrendered to the Navy. They hoped that the presence of journalists and judicial authorities would serve as a guarantee for their safety. However, Lieutenant Commander Luis Emilio Sosa, deputy chief of the Almirante Zar Naval Base, transported the prisoners to the military facility, claiming it was a temporary measure due to ongoing riots at Rawson Prison.
Crucially, the guarantors—including Judge Alejandro Godoy and various newspaper directors—were denied entry to the base under the pretext that their group was too large. This left the prisoners isolated and vulnerable.
During this period, the Argentine government, led by Alejandro Agustin Lanusse, pressured Chile to deport the six escaped leaders. Meanwhile, the Justicialist Party sent a formal demand to Minister of Interior Arturo Mor Roig, insisting that the human rights and safety of the prisoners be respected.
The Execution at Almirante Zar
By August 21, the atmosphere in Trelew and Rawson was one of extreme tension, with 3,000 Navy troops stationed at the airbase. In the early hours of August 22, at 03:30 a.m., the 19 detainees were awakened and forced to lie face down. They were then gunned down by a patrol led by Lieutenant Commander Luis Emilio Sosa and Lieutenant Roberto Bravo. Those who did not die immediately were given a coup de grâce (a final shot to ensure death).
The official military report claimed that the deaths occurred during a second attempted escape. However, the reality was a simulated escape used as a cover for mass execution. In the aftermath, the government passed Law 19.797, which banned the dissemination of information regarding guerrilla organizations to control the narrative.
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Summary of Casualties and Survivors
| Category | Count | Notable Names / Affiliations |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased | 16 | Alejandro Ulla, Ana María Villarreal de Santucho, María Angélica Sabelli, and others from PRT-ERP, FAR, and Montoneros. |
| Survivors | 3 | Alberto Miguel Camps, María Antonia Berger, Ricardo René Haidar. |
| Perpetrators | Navy Patrol | Led by Lt. Cmdr. Luis Emilio Sosa and Lt. Roberto Bravo. |
Retaliation and Aftermath
The massacre triggered a cycle of violence. On April 30, 1973, Rear Admiral Hermes Quijada, who had promoted the military's false version of the events, was assassinated in Buenos Aires by ERP guerrillas. Over the following years, the anniversary of the massacre became a flashpoint for protests and attacks, including bombings in Córdoba and La Plata, and an attack on the destroyer Santísima Trinidad by Montoneros guerrillas in 1975.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary motive for the Trelew Massacre?
The massacre was an act of revenge by the Argentine military dictatorship (Revolución Argentina) following the successful escape of six high-profile guerrilla leaders from Rawson Prison on August 15, 1972.
Who were the political organizations involved?
The prisoners belonged to various left-wing and Peronist militant groups, specifically the Montoneros, the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).
How did the military justify the killings to the public?
The official government version claimed that the 16 prisoners were killed while attempting a second escape from the Almirante Zar Naval Base.
What happened to the three survivors of the execution?
The survivors—Alberto Miguel Camps, María Antonia Berger, and Ricardo René Haidar—were later victims of the broader state repression; all three were reported as disappeared between 1977 and 1982.
Where did the escaped leaders flee to?
The six leaders who successfully escaped Rawson Prison flew from Trelew to Chile, which was then led by President Salvador Allende, and eventually traveled to Cuba.