General Carlos Prats González (1915 - 1974), was a Chilean political figure, and General Augusto Pinochet's predecessor as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army.

Background

He was born in Talcahuano on February 2, 1915, the oldest son of Carlos Prats Risopatrón and Hilda González Suárez. He joined the Army in 1931, and after a brilliant career, was named Commander-in-Chief on October 26, 1970, by President Eduardo Frei Montalva, following the assassination of his predecessor, General René Schneider on October 22. His nomination allayed fears of a possible military intervention because of the election of Salvador Allende to the presidency.

Public participation during the Allende years

With time, he became the strongest supporter of President Allende, and was a member of his cabinet several times, even becoming his vice-President in 1972. On June 29, 1973, he put-out a bloody coup attempt: the "tanquetazo."

On August 24, 1973, he was finally forced to resign, embarrased by a public protest of the wives of his Generals. His retirement removed the last obstacle for the military coup, that took place only two weeks later, on September 11.

After the coup, he was sent into exile to Argentina. On September 30, 1974, in Buenos Aires, he was killed along with his wife Sofia Cuthbert , outside his own apartment, with a car bomb.

See also

• Salvador Allende
• Chilean coup of 1973
• 1970 Chilean presidential election
• Augusto Pinochet
• René Schneider

External Links

• Official biography (in Spanish)