The Start of the Guatemalan Civil War The Cold War Documentary

Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video on how the 1954 CIA-backed Guatemalan Coup laid the groundwork for the Guatemalan Civil War.
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#coldwar #guatemala #civilwar #centralAmerica

[@bosqueperenne]

As a Guatemalan who learned English with your channel over the years, I really appreciate this video, especially how you started it in the first 40 seconds.

[@AI-hx3fx]

Hello! I just want to hear from someone on the ground with the Guatemalan perspective how this has impacted your society in 2023. Muchísimas gracias a usted para la respuesta.

[@yotoronto12]

It's kinda ridiculous how United Fruit's greed led them to losing even more.

[@frankieseward8667]

Actually i call it karma.

[@LS1056]

Well deserve karma.

[@KailamiMwiinga]

I doubt they lost anything

[@Nach0s187]

@@KailamiMwiingathey had to be purchased and don’t exist anymore

[@KailamiMwiinga]

@@Nach0s187 so they morphed to something else?

[@RickRobinCagnaan]

The civil war got so bad that it’s bad for business. Bad for United Fruit Company’s business, that is.

[@cap.meruwkateklimana8321]

It’s makes UFC’s plan to overthrow Guatemala government look like dumbass and idiotic. Also so that Company should better off by simply move on to next country that willing pay money their business.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

​@@cap.meruwkateklimana8321true.

[@brianzybura8633]

Well, good for United Fruit company. This company to this very day--now called Chiquita Brands International is the lowest form of human life on the face of this Earth! They have cause endless misery, hate, and bloodshed from 1954-1996 in Guatemala and other Central American countries! NO ONE SHOULD EVER GIVE A FLYING FUCK ABOUT HOW WELL THIS COMPANY IS DOING! The former United Fruit Company--now Chiquita Brands is for sure the American Hitler.

[@kokotheclown2588]

@@cap.meruwkateklimana8321but u see that takes reason and brains something a bunch of old bags lack

[@lordprometheus3080]

Tiempos Recios or “ Harsh Times “ by Llosa talks about this period of Guatemalan history. I found the book very informative

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

This is the another big problem for south America. In there lot of military coups launched and impacted the countries economies. The cold war channel one of my fav. Love from Sri Lanka ❤️🔥.

[@matthewboyle2641]

Just finished a book on the murder of bishop Gerardi in 1998 after the REMHI report Also read a book on Allende and the coup in Chile. There was also coups within the coup there. Even the military were targeted if they were constitutionalists or just not corrupt/violently right wing. So many atrocities, so many broken things that can't be taken back, but hopefully it's possible to move forward. But multinationals and the security apparatus haven't changed much.

[@bernadmanny]

It's so frustrating to know that if American business men didn't have such rapacious greed, central America might be a reasonably stable region.

[@larsandreasrisy4402]

That's true👍 And world would have been a more peaceful place.. 🙄

[@rodrigovelasquez49]

The United States's people are kidnapped by a corrupt, Masonic and unscrupulous elite.

[@qZbGmYjS4QusYqv5]

Don't forget businessmen from the other counties and countless revolutionaries sponsored by USSR, Cuba and China

[@CiiTiiZzeN]

"might" really carrying a lot of weight lol

[@deesus1085]

This is such a funny take because the communists are literally bankrupting south and latin america. 😂

[@Mixedwithawholelot]

Thank you love from a Guatemalan!!! 🇬🇹😁

[@ekmalsukarno2302]

The Cold War, can you please make a video on the history of Portugal during the Salazar regime. Can you also please make a video on the history of Macau during the Cold War. Please accept my requests.

[@mcmcmcm6520]

Just a note for future videos on Latin America (or Spain/Portugal)... in Spanish and Portuguese, you have to say their first last name (their father's name) not just their second surname (their mom's). Carlos Castillo Armas would have to be called Castillo Armas .. or if you want to shorten it, simply Castillo... never just Armas (or Armás as you pronounce it.) Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes would never be called "Fuentes" but would be Ydígoras Fuentes or simply Ydígoras.

[@civ27]

in Portuguese the order is reversed (i.e. the mother's surname is first and the father's surname is second) and using either name is fine

[@deangajraj]

History offers a complex tapestry of geopolitics, ambition, and ideological struggles with extensive ramifications. The Guatemalan Civil War mirrors the Cold War's many proxy battles; indigenous Maya already subject to systemic racism were stuck in the middle of global politics. Thucydides' Melian Dialogue holds true; the strong can do what they wish and the weak must endure what comes, a cruel irony. Leaders like Arbenz and Fuentes strategize without considering the wide-reaching impact of their decisions on vulnerable segments of society. While reflecting on these events, George Santayana's wisdom echoes: we condemn ourselves to repeat history if we fail to remember it. The Cold War reminds us that nations and people become tools when higher powers wield them as such. Humanity should aspire to lesson from past mistakes, promoting peace instead of division and unity above war.

[@jameslewis192]

Amazing so much info on the world in the Cold War that I never ever new!fantastic show 👏🏼

[@yegirish]

Great job on this!

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Thank you for sharing this truthful showing of this informative video about Guatemala 🇬🇹 Guatemalan people's suffering during the Cold 🥶 War...I am glad you explained clearly all events occurred there.... 10:06

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely informative video

[@voltanzapata8024]

I’m half thank you for presenting the facts I’m very proud of my heritage and culture!

[@needjuice]

Thank you for this video on a very unpopular topic.

[@wiktorberski9272]

Thank you for your movies. History of South America during Cold War is a little bit a distant story fo rme

[@ericcwalinski]

Can you do Colombia next please???!!

[@ericcwalinski]

And other South American countries like Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, etc

[@comicbookninja5268]

Macau during the Cold War would be a good future video.

[@mi-lo4ec]

Totally

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Nice

[@NoName-sb9tp]

"Oh look, if it's not the consequence of listening to the banana man coming back to bite us!"

[@kevinobrien2311]

Right on target with your Bell Button remarks at the end!

[@armagan3941]

why are the sources not specified in the description

[@larryschwartz8264]

This one isn't available on Patreon yet. What gives?

[@lessonstolivefor]

Good explanation. I’m glad you did not mince words about US involvement

[@sankarchaya]

America's behavior in Central America during the Cold War pretty conclusively shows that the US wasn't concerned with defending democracy but corporate interests. Supporting literal genocide against indigenous Mayans was one of the human rights lows of the cold war, and one most Americans are blissfully unaware of

[@chriss780]

Yes the US was far more brutal in its spheres of influence, the americas, and invaded far more often than the ussr did in eastern europe, its not even close.

[@frankieseward8667]

Until it happens in their country. Given our Republicans being the upstanding people they are it may come sooner or later

[@missmiss8359]

​@@frankieseward8667 it's weird how many Americans wish the worst for their country .

[@ernst91]

Yeah so what?

[@chriss780]

​@@missmiss8359 Its really not if you've lived here and seen the utter disdain and brutality with which the government treats the people the only thing worse than living under americas domestic policy is being a victem of it its foreign policy. Only an ignorant outsider who knows nothing about us could say something like that. the george floyd protests for example were brutally crushed by police brutality, freedom of speech is a myth. Cops shoot people like dogs and then when people protest police brutality the only response is more police brutality. The us is on paper the richest country on the planet, so it 100% could fix any of these problems if it wanted- but us health indicators - life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal morality are third-world, and beaten by poor countries like Cuba. Most of us are one medical emergency away from bankruptcy and hundreds of thousands don't have insurance at all Public transit is nonexistant out of NYC and every single city is built around cars, you can't afford one you basically don't exist, there's 0 maternal leave so women are forced back to work literally days after giving birth, its barbaric Child labor is absolutly rampant in factories and agriculture work, on levels with the gilded age. Cops are lawaless, violent, and corrupt and can kill basically with impunity civil rights and voting rights act have been chipped away at for decades and are barely enforced. Its not a good place to live for average people, and most places worse are places the us has invaded, couped, bombed or sanctioned. depends what you mean by country I care about the people who live here but not the government or the army or the military industrial complex.

[@morgan97475]

MG Smedley Butler comes to mind.

[@LeCharles07]

I like that jacket.

[@Mrgunsngear]

🍿

[@jce-mp7kv]

Why don’t you look at the camera?

[@bigsarge2085]

✌

[@breezeanonymous6034]

Could you share wisdom about creation of India and then creation of India/Pakistan in the context of cold war?

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Make a vídeo about Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 civil war 1985-2009

[@beepboop204]

[@jarrodyuki7081]

1. sunday to thursday 2 air conditioner 65 degrees 3. 10am -9pm!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marcusmenalucas7224]

I Was Born In The CARIB REGION Of Guatemala In 1973, And The Violence Did Not Arrive In The Region until 1996, along With The End Of The "CIVIL WAR" ALSO, SINCE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR, CAME THE FEMENICIDIO, MORE THAN 500 WOMEN AND GIRLS EACH YEAR SINCE 1996!

[@frederikvanstolk5815]

Who was this Mexican businessman that financially supported Yon Sosa?

[@julianshepherd2038]

The "Free Market" !

[@Victwe1]

How do you know am in Guatemala right now 😂

[@AnneWilliamsonanneliesecreates]

Disappearances? You mean murders of the Maya.

[@user-rc7ig2ft4j]

Pinnacle Players anielarry carvermarv 😊😊

[@peterchung2262]

6:54 *left wing

[@Juanrahvo]

Lots of erroneous facts.

[@raybarry4307]

I'm a staunch American cultural & Political Imperialist. Whatever benefits My country's culture & Political structure is what must be done. Ideally a free & fair anti communist Guatemala would of course be my first choice (l have after all nothing against Guatemala or its people). However, if that wasn't possible then so be it. Western Political security had to come first. In the light of a life or death world wide Political struggle like the cold war some pawns must (sadly) be sacrificed. This is not personal (or even desirable) it's just realpolitik.

[@samuelvasquez-reyes2974]

While you ought be a staunch American imperialist, you have to also recognize that the Guatemalan government was not threat to US interests. Further, most of (if not all) of the opponents of military dictatorships were not communists. Negating your claims of communism

[@CarlXVIGustafBernadotte420]

People like you is why 9/11 happened

[@extrahistory8956]

Talk about a boot licker. Guate.ala wasn't even communist when the US overthrew its government. This is just justification for genocide.

[@bimasetyaputra8381]

​@@samuelvasquez-reyes2974yeah, the claim that "we're just fighting communism" doesn't hold any water. No, you're just fighting for the profits of the fruit companies.

[@Albert-Arthur-Wison225]

Albeit one who can’t spell😂.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Why can't people just do what the USA wants

[@qZbGmYjS4QusYqv5]

Why people in the USA don't want to do what the USA wants?

[@ernst91]

​@@qZbGmYjS4QusYqv5Because we know best for you.

[@marlkarx1757]

Whata whitewash.

[@ernst91]

Guatemalans should look in the mirror if they want to see the problem.

[@MALAYDES]

India 🇮🇳 and Rusia 🇷🇺 vs = Amerika 🇺🇸

[@ernst91]

Jai Shree Ram!

[@piotr_jurkiewicz]

?

[@jstantongood5474]

Really tired of the word Genocide being bandied about so cavalierly.

[@TheColdWarTV]

So are we. Please google "Guatemalan genocide" or "Mayan genocide"

[@chriss780]

It has been internationally recognized as one by numerous international bodies, numerous people are in prison for crimes relating to genocide, and it meets every criteria of the definition.

[@AloisWeimar]

Really tired of YT Reactionaries whine’n about definitions of things in general, but especially without any context for how genocide is defined by say the U.N. for example. This falls under that definition, sorry for your consternation by things being called by what happened.