# Jorge Rafael Videla

> Argentine dictator (1925–2013)

**Wikidata**: [Q75853](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q75853)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Rafael_Videla)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jorge-rafael-videla

## Summary
Jorge Rafael Videla was an Argentine military officer, politician, and dictator who ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1981. Born in 1925 and deceased in 2013, he is historically recognized as the leader of the military junta that governed the country during the "Dirty War." His career was defined by his extensive military education and his authoritarian leadership of the Argentine state.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 2, 1925
- **Nationality:** Argentina
- **Education:** Nation Military College, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, Army War Academy
- **Known for:** Serving as the de facto dictator of Argentina and leading the military government during the Dirty War
- **Employer(s):** Argentine Armed Forces, Argentine Government (Military Junta)
- **Field(s):** Military Governance, Politics, Military Strategy

## Contributions
Jorge Rafael Videla led the military coup that established a dictatorship in Argentina, overseeing the "Dirty War," a period of intense internal conflict and state repression that lasted from 1976 to 1983. He was the key figure behind "Operation Sovereignty," a significant military operation scheduled for December 22, 1978, aimed at asserting Argentina's position in the border conflict with Chile. His leadership tenure, defined by his work period starting in 1942 and ending in July 1978, fundamentally altered the political landscape of Argentina through the suspension of democratic institutions.

## FAQs
**Where did Jorge Rafael Videla receive his military education?**
He attended three prominent institutions: the Nation Military College (the Argentine military academy), the Army War College (Escuela Superior de Guerra), and the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in the United States.

**What military operation was Jorge Rafael Videla associated with?**
He was associated with Operation Sovereignty, an Argentine military operation focused on the border with Chile that was scheduled for December 22, 1978.

**What awards did Jorge Rafael Videla receive?**
He received the Order of the Liberator General San Martín and the Order of May from Argentina, as well as the Order of the Sun of Peru.

**When did Jorge Rafael Videla serve as dictator?**
He served as the leader of Argentina during the military dictatorship period known as the "Dirty War," which spanned from 1976 to 1983, with his specific work period ending on July 13, 1978.

**What were the dates of Jorge Rafael Videla's birth and death?**
He was born on August 2, 1925, and died on May 17, 2013.

## Why They Matter
Jorge Rafael Videla remains a pivotal and controversial figure in Latin American history due to his role as the leader of Argentina's last military dictatorship. His regime was responsible for the "Dirty War," a period that had a profound and lasting impact on Argentine society, politics, and human rights discourse. The actions taken during his leadership continue to influence Argentina's legal systems and collective memory, serving as a defining era of the country's 20th-century history.

## Notable For
- **Role:** Argentine dictator (1925–2013).
- **Conflict:** Leadership during the Dirty War (1976–1983).
- **Military Operation:** Planning Operation Sovereignty (1978).
- **Awards:** Recipient of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín, Order of the Sun of Peru, and Order of May.
- **Education:** Training at the Army War Academy (founded 1900) and the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
- **Career Span:** Military service from March 3, 1942, to July 13, 1978.
- **Aliases:** Also known as Jorge Videla, Jorge R. Videla, and Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo.

## Body

### Early Life and Military Education
Jorge Rafael Videla was born on August 2, 1925, in Argentina. His path to power began with a rigorous military education at some of the region's most prestigious institutions. He attended the **Nation Military College**, the primary Argentine military academy established in 1869. Furthering his strategic studies, he graduated from the **Army War Academy** (Escuela Superior de Guerra Teniente General Luis María Campos), which serves as the Argentine Army's premier staff college and university. Founded on January 1, 1900, and located at Avenida Luis María Campos 480 in Buenos Aires (coordinates: -34.57325377799083, -58.43403433473839), this academy specializes in training high-ranking officers in military science and national defense.

Additionally, Videla attended the **Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation**, a United States military school. This institution, which has its origins dating back to 1946, is located in the U.S. and provided him with training within a broader hemispheric defense context.

### Military and Political Career
Videla's professional military career began on March 3, 1942. Over the decades, he ascended through the ranks to become a senior military officer. His occupations are listed formally as a military officer and a politician. He eventually became a member of the ruling military junta (member_of: Q65967194), which seized control of the Argentine government.

His rise to power culminated in his role as the **de facto President of Argentina**, a position he held as a dictator. This period of his life is defined by his work period, which started in 1942 and concluded on July 13, 1978. During this time, he was the central figure in the National Reorganization Process, the official name of the military government.

### Leadership and the Dirty War
As the leader of Argentina, Videla governed during the **Dirty War** (1976–1983). This era, noted in the historical context of Argentina, was marked by severe political instability and state repression. Under his command, the military government engaged in widespread actions against political dissidents. The dictatorship represented a significant deviation from the democratic republic established by Argentina's Congress of Tucumán in 1816.

One of the major strategic events during his tenure was **Operation Sovereignty**. Scheduled for December 22, 1978, this was a large-scale military operation positioned at the border between Argentina and Chile. The operation reflected the aggressive geopolitical posture of his regime during a period of heightened tension with neighboring nations.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Videla received several high-level military and honorary decorations. These included:
*   **Order of the Liberator General San Martín**: An Argentine honorary order instituted on August 17, 1943.
*   **Order of May**: An Argentinian order established on December 17, 1957.
*   **Order of the Sun of Peru**: The highest award bestowed by Peru to commend notable civil and military merit, instituted on October 8, 1821.

### National Context and Legacy
Videla's life and career are deeply intertwined with the history of **Argentina**, the South American nation declared independent in 1816. Operating out of the capital, Buenos Aires, his regime stood in contrast to the nation's constitutional history. While Argentina is recognized globally for its cultural exports like tango and its economic significance as a G20 member, Videla's legacy is predominantly associated with the violation of human rights and the dismantling of democratic institutions during the late 20th century. His death on May 17, 2013, marked the end of a life that profoundly shaped the country's modern history.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.cij.gov.ar/nota-6215-Difunden-fallo-que-condeno-a-prision-perpetua-en-Cordoba-a-Videla.html)
2. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2013/05/130517_videla_obituario_rg)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [Source](https://tn.com.ar/politica/2021/11/05/murio-alicia-hartridge-la-esposa-de-jorge-rafael-videla/)
5. Source
6. Diccionario crítico de los años setenta
7. [Find a Grave](https://es.findagrave.com/memorial/110670584/jorge-rafael-videla)
8. [Source](https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/resoluciones/914-1977)
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. [Source](https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/7067395/19751128?anexos=1)
12. [Source](https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/7067075/19751029?busqueda=1)
13. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
14. SNAC
15. Find a Grave
16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
17. Munzinger Personen
18. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
19. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
20. [Source](https://gw.geneanet.org/gentuc?lang=es&p=jorge+rafael&n=videla+redondo)
21. Geni.com
22. [sentence](https://www.cij.gov.ar/nota-6215-Difunden-fallo-que-condeno-a-prision-perpetua-en-Cordoba-a-Videla.html)
23. Autoritats UB
24. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
25. Dizionario di Storia
26. [Source](https://www.perfil.com/noticias/deportes/de-casa-amarilla-a-casa-rosada-1121-0091.phtml)
27. authority file of the National Library of Uruguay