La Violencia - Ten-year Civil War in Colombia - Cold War DOCUMENTARY

Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video on La Violencia. Join host David as we delve into the hidden pages of Colombian history beyond the notorious drug lords. In the aftermath of World War II, Colombia faced an undeclared civil war known as La Violencia. This turbulent decade, fueled by political violence between left and right factions, left over 200,000 lives lost and a lasting impact on Colombian politics.
The roots of La Violencia trace back to the political rivalry between Conservative oligarchists and Liberals, dating back to the establishment of the Republic in 1886. Decades of violent conflicts, including The Thousand Days War, paved the way for the explosive events of 1948. The assassination of Liberal Party leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán marked the tipping point, triggering El Bogotazo, a 10-hour riot that sparked a decade-long civil war.
La Violencia was characterized by a breakdown of institutions, with both sides resorting to mob violence, militias, and organized crime. The conflict, while initially rural, engulfed the entire nation, with the government's attempts to consolidate power backfiring.
In 1953, a military coup led by Gustavo Rojas Pinilla aimed to quell the violence, offering amnesty to guerillas. While not ending the conflict entirely, it marked a turning point, with support from various political factions.
The establishment of the National Front in 1957, a partnership between Liberals and Conservatives, brought a semblance of order. However, the scars of La Violencia persisted, giving rise to the ongoing Colombian Conflict.
As we reflect on this heartbreaking chapter of Colombian history, it's essential to remember the victims and understand the complex dynamics that continue to shape the nation's narrative.
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#ColdWar #Colombia #LaViolencia

[@FelipeGarcia-ch3iw]

One thing to note with La Violencia is that one of the biggest contributors were the very toxic institutions in Colombia. Back in the 20th century Colombian law didn’t allow Colombians to vote for their local governments, the president nominated them, like you nominate a minister. The President named the governors and the governors named the mayors, not to mention that everything was handled from the capital. This made the presidential election a life and death drama that could represent the only way Colombians got to express their vote and usually neither of the parties share power making every election a very toxic endeavor

[@kuroazrem5376]

As a Colombian, I gotta say this is an amazing presentation of the period of La Violencia. Unbiased, to the point, and well-summarized, congrats. Also, few people here believe Roa Sierra acted alone in killing Gaitán. Most believe he was killed by the establishment with support from the US.

[@vampiricagorist6979]

The US government was definitely involved. They treat everything in the western hemisphere as their territory.

[@mansorotb9628]

قتل بدعم من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والشرح ناقص في حرب كولومبيا الاهليه 👉 فيها تحريف عن الحقيقة وفيه كتب ممنوعه لأنها ذكرت الحرب وكان قراتها جريمه

[@leninthedespoiler8113]

Thank you for talking about this, I’m Colombian myself and my grandparents have told me stories about this period of time and it is very interesting and also sad. Sadly my country hasn’t seen peace since our independence.

[@tjitse3916]

Although I live in a more stable country, I can’t help thinking of people who had so much problems that they don’t know what to do with peace when it comes. If it is long enough, the problems, than people forget how to treat one another well, stopping a fight doesn’t easily stop a lack or trust, that needs a long time to grow enough to stay. I have seen this sometimes throughout history (I’m a history nerd, not focused on Colombia though).

[@leninthedespoiler8113]

@@tjitse3916 Yeah we have a saying in Colombia that’s something like “God gave us beautiful land filled with evil men” I wouldn’t say Colombians are inherently violent because really no one is, you become violent because of the environment you live in, and since we’ve been living in a state of war for at least 60 years, it explains a lot.

[@alexandruchira184]

We are so sorry to hear that,we hope next life you will get another country

[@trvst5938]

@@leninthedespoiler8113 it’s the result of mercenary violence. We rid the world of mercenary for about 180 years but they’re making a comeback. They’re unaccountable war criminals and they’ve been destabilizing the world since the 50-60s. Wagner trained some of the troops that attacked Israel, while the U.S. supplies Israel weapons. It’s become a proxy war.

[@leninthedespoiler8113]

@@alexandruchira184 I am not ashamed of being Colombian at all. In fact I am very proud of being a citizen of the most biologically diverse country in the world, we are a regional power and we have beautiful woman. I love being Colombian I wouldn’t change it for anything.

[@xzeroangelx]

As a Colombian this was the best overview of this time period I’ve ever seen. Thank you.

[@bayshawnmalik]

As an American living in Colombia this is the best explanation of La Violencia I have seen. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

Just visited the country. Such a horrible conflict. Thanks for sharing.

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

There were a couple mistakes (mainly pronusiation of places and the fact that the republic started before 1886, 1886 was just when we had yet another change of constitutio), but overall this is probably one of the best videos about Colombia I have seen from a western youtube channel.

[@kuroazrem5376]

Before that, Colombia was more of a federation.

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

@@kuroazrem5376 Still a republic tho. Just like the usa (we were literaly calle dthe united states of Colombia, lol).

[@Patrick_3751]

Every time I learn about a coup in history, the reasons for it are dubious at best. Gustavo Pinilla's rise to power is probably the only justifiable coup I've heard about! And the fact that he actually stepped down from power and civilian control resumed after the violence subsided? Mad respect!!

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

That not a bug, that is a feature. Coups are inherently not popular so that is why they are designed to be: 1) done by a small group of people with connections to essential parties, 2) done in breakneck speed to keep those who oppose them and would potentially oppose them in the dark, and 3) it has no input from the population at large. In coups, it does not really matter how justified your reason is for doing so, all it matters is that you oust the incumbent powers fast enough for those who would oppose them to not know and act upon the news until it's too late...

[@admiralbrown9334]

He didn't step down. The military turned on him and had another coup to hand power back to civilians.

[@samswift102]

Reading a Chronicle of a Death Foretold in high school was my only knowledge of this period up until now. Thanks for all the hard work.

[@nicholaskelly1958]

I remember seeing the film version. Which stared Anthony Delon, Rupert Everett and Ornella Muti in the key roles. A truly tragic tale about honour, love and revenge intermingled with Rio Magdalena and its paddle steamers.

[@lordprometheus3080]

Gabriel Marquez wrote about this period in his Autobiography. It’s a great source of information from a young college student who witnessed the horror and grow up to become a great writer. The first time I learned about Gaitan was in that book

[@terrencebushell9588]

I remember the references to the constant civil wars between the liberals and conservatives in One Hundred Years of Solitude I imagine that is a reference to this period...

[@josedavidgarcesceballos7]

Just in case, this relates to the korean war and american advice to create paramilitary groups. The cold war part of this historical period deserves an episode too. Cheers.

[@SimCityEA1989]

I came here from 2nd American Civil War videos. One of them said that a scientist who studied societies and its conflicts, said that an American Civil War would most likely be that of the Colombian Civil War. Watching this video, the similarities are... errie at best-

[@davidbarrett590]

A particularly good episode of the Cold War! I find is so sad - more than sad really - that this beautiful, essentially very wealthy and productive country and its charming, essentially liberal-minded, tolerant, generous democratic people with an amazing have had to endure absolutely appalling terror for nearly all of its history - violence, frankly, that makes most urban or rural terrorism, look tame.

[@denniswatson6622]

I was on a tour in Bogota last weekend learning about the Bogotazo. Cool to see this being covered.

[@DadHominem]

Terrific overview. Thank you.

[@stuffedninja1337]

PROTECT THE BELL BUTTON

[@fabioguerrero3513]

The young Fidel Castro was in Bogotá, the day of Bogotazo Uprising, maybe this day inspired his insight about a social unrest in his own country. The power of mases are a social force in all societies.

[@deshaun9473]

Can you do an episode on the "Years of Lead" in Italy between the Italian Left and the Italian Right? It's very similar to this. Thanks!!

[@stefanodadamo6809]

Well, the difference is enormous. Italy had only some hundred deaths due to terrorist acts. Most people were spectators to what is now largely known to have been a puzzle of NATO-deep-state-sponsored destabilisation, exploiting both long involved Neofascist goons and accomplices within army and police with access to rich and powerful people, with a view to a coup d'état, and, in a later phase, a pulviscule of often manipulated and largely infiltrated extreme leftwing factions.

[@felixbeuker6684]

As long as we are getting to this part of the world, perhaps an episode on Perón and Argentina? IK you guys would do the subject justice so pls consider, Love that you guys cover global history so well

[@renaatsenechal]

Thanks i love

[@badluck5647]

For a country with high levels of corruption and endless insurgency, it is amazing how well the Columbia economy has done. Shoutout to the resourcefulness and resilience of the 🇨🇴 people

[@balabanasireti]

Good workers, bad politicians

[@HerrZenki]

Colombia's lucky it's a solid landmass If it were an archipelago like say, Indonesia or the Philippines, its economic and political development wouldve been more stifled....and a smaller population helps too.

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

In great part is due to independent institutions handling the economy as a response to the political chaos. Probably the most notorious example being how the hyper inflation after the 1000 days civil war lead to the central bank being made independent (unlike in argentina) which meant we had a fairly competent phiscal policy despite the chaos the country has gone through.

[@kuroazrem5376]

IT'S COLOMBIA, NOT COLUMBIA.

[@badluck5647]

@@kuroazrem5376 Grammer police

[@jimmy31hendrix]

17:26 Technically yes, they disbanded, but. . . Not all of them, a lot remained fighting and are now referred to as "Disidencias de las Farc" (FARC dissidents). So yeah, just a change in the name, but pretty much the same dudes. Plus, some of the ones that demobilized and singed the peace treaty, took up arms again, since many were being targeted and killed after going back to civilian life. At the time of writing, the Colombian army actually restarted combat operations against them in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca.

[@Critt_Ari]

Can you make a documentary abour 1980 coup in Turkey? I saw your video about 1960 coup but I believe 1980 was a lot more important and had a much greater impact in cold war as a whole since it was how Turkish fascist and communist factions were pacified thus how Turkey prevented her possible civil war which could ravage the countryside in a proxy war between nato and soviets.

[@renaatsenechal]

Yeah im here for you

[@monkeeseemonkeedoo3745]

I never got to learn about these, so it's very interesting to see it here lol

[@wiktorberski9272]

Less known episode from European perspectve. I was interesting to watch or rather to listen

[@Anverse-14]

Didn't Encanto's backstory is caused by the La Violencia

[@MrvelvetviruS]

Apart from little issues of pronunciation from someone whose native language is not Spanish, the documentary is good. Colombia has done great advances regarding economic growth and further democratization, specially after 1991 constitution. Sadly the country still faces issues regarding armed violence. Since the 80's and the fall of the Eastern block the main fuel for conflict is the dominance of trade corridors for drug smuggling. A problem which only solution seems to be legalization. Many of us Colombians see war on drugs as a failed battle that cannot be win and that its highly disproportionate for us, being a public health issue for developed consumer nations, while we have to deal with all the violence and stigma abroad, only to see how narcotic consumption keeps growing. The country also continues without having a proper agrarian reform that would help to improve the living conditions of the people on the countryside. Bein the land possession an eternal problem in Colombia. The current administration is trying to push on this agrarian reform, along with the implementation of the peace agreement signed with farc, which has been met with strong opposition from conservative parties, and big landowners that want to keep the country in backwardness.

[@CamiloOsSan]

1990 Constituion DESTROYED COLOMBIA Just look how nasty and dirty are the streets now just look a new generation of Drugged teenagers and sex addicts all because of a Constitution written by criminals and the country will NEVER be in peace meanswhile this constitution still ruling

[@howardbealethemadprophetof3361]

The day when J. E. Gaitan was murdered, Fidel Castro Ruz was in Bogotá who also took place in the riots to the point that many testified that he was leading a squad of mobs (chusma) against a detachment of policemen in the outskirts of Teusaquillo. It was without paradox that the government of gen. Rojas Pinilla finally brought peace and ease to a troubled nation, scourged by years of bloodshed. Sadly his term was cut short by the same oligarchs that rule to this very day. VIVA COLOMBIA.

[@bwags117]

Love who he says ~columbia~ with the accent but then pronounces "Columbians" with the American/english accent.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@Mrgunsngear]

🇺🇸

[@antoniobarone99]

Who knows La Violencia because of TNO? 👋👋👋

[@dieguito3422]

Gaitanist gamer heated moments against japoid and germanoid puppets

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

TNO's representation of Colombia is pretty mediocre tbh.

[@GeneralissimusStalin17]

Gaitanismo time.

[@TheMormonPower]

2nd !!!!

[@DiegoDuran-or9cg]

Podría hablar sobre la guerra peruano-ecuatoriana de 1941, es un capitulo sumamente interesante en la historia de los 2 países

[@lkzhang820]

Is there a Disney movie roughly based on this period？

[@ibmjones]

Yes, the movie is Encanto.

[@lkzhang820]

@@ibmjones Yes，my understanding of Encanto is that the opening of the film was set during the Thousand-Day War.

[@javiergarrido6088]

​@@lkzhang820Exaclty.. from 1899 until 1902 was that damn thousand days war between conservatives and liberals.

[@jankowalski3496]

Klaus Barbie was there.

[@SSNewberry]

Hablas español?

[@TheColdWarTV]

no, solo ingles

[@SSNewberry]

@@TheColdWarTV At least you speak D&D.

[@beepboop204]

[@seabassdarapper]

The "disgruntled loner" theory for how Gaitan died is very similar to Lee Harvey Oswald and JFK here. It's convenient for the government to pin the assassination on a loner, but, most people assume CIA involvement at some level. Same exact thing with Gaitan, except slightly more evidence of CIA involvement

[@carloscampo9119]

My dears. You have committed a travesty for all Colombians: You have incorrectly named our country in the thumbnail of this video. Its ColOmbia. Not ColUmbia. Please, Mr. Graphic editor…

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

They also said the republic started in 86. They probably confused the creation of the republic with the constituion of 86.

[@carloscampo9119]

But they fixed the mistake in the thumbnail! Thanks Kings and Generals Team! Much love ❤️

[@morgan97475]

I never knew this about Colombia. Great video. Why are these people so prone to violence? Amazing & sad.

[@CapitanJusticia]

Hope you’re not asking this from the land of mass shooters.

[@ladondracorex7679]

This could be us!!! We in America must be steadfast against political violence!!! 🇺🇸

[@Charliecomet82]

This war gave the world the term, "Colombian Necktie."

[@CapitanJusticia]

You mean Sicilian necktie!

[@mikehoffler4097]

Space Ghost Coast to Coast Episode 44b Brilliant No. 2

[@mat3714]

Algorithm

[@bryanr.2649]

Thanks to this war Pablo Escobar was born 😮

[@eljamaicano1]

Lmao. Is Cauca no Carca

[@-JA-]

🫢👍

[@stefanodadamo6809]

It has almost always been a butcher's shop of a country, unfortunately. Lately Mexico surpassed it, for the same combination of causes. As for the political aspects, I'm utterly against bipartisan systems also for this reason. Democracy is either multiparty and with strictly proportional electoral systems, or isn't (unless you're Britain 🤷‍♂️).

[@quedtion_marks_kirby_modding]

3 different parties have won the last 3 elections tho?

[@ElPendejo1201]

Not really, mexico has a cartel problem which Colombia has mostly dealt with. Colombia is currently dealing with more of a insurgency problem with different rebels and they control a majority of the rural centers of the country which is why Colombia is becoming more urbanized

[@admiralbrown9334]

​@@quedtion_marks_kirby_moddingyes, the bi-partisan system in Colombia ended 20 years ago.

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

A wrong turn by A driver caused all of this. Archduke Franz Ferdinand should have live.

[@iiTzoreo1]

If it wasn’t the archdukes death. Something else would have caused it. The world was a powder keg ready to blow

[@zico739]

Latin Americans are usually far too quick to use violence for political change. Seems like they are finally pulling away from that tendency though.

[@davidtheberge1231]

Colombia mentioned WTF IS NOT HAVING A CIVIL WAR 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🦜🦜🦜🦜🥑🥑🥑🥑🥑

[@domenstrmsek5625]

America : lets do it again?

[@CARL_093]

👍👍