Alfredo Stroessner

Alfredo was married to Eligia Mora. Together they had three children, including one daughter, Graciela. Graciela's son, Alfredo Dominguez Stroessner, is currently a senator in Paraguay.

At the end of Stroessner's reign, his son, Alfredo, suffered from substance abuse and his other son, Gustavo, was openly homosexual. Because of these two perceived deficiencies, neither of his sons was deemed acceptable to replace him as President of Paraguay.

The political leader died in Santa Luzia Hospital in Brasilia, Brazil on August 16, 2006. A case of pneumonia ravaged him while he was trying to recover from a hernia operation.

Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda was born on November 3, 1912 in Encarnacion, Paraguay. Alfredo's father was Hugo Stroessner, an immigrant from Germany who worked as an accountant. Alfredo's mother was a native Paraguayan from a wealthy family.

At age 16, Alfredo enrolled in national military school. When he was 18, he graduated, receiving a commission as a lieutenant.

In 1932, Stroessner served in the artillery and fought in the ‘Chaco War’ against Bolivia.

The ambitious lad moved up the ranks quickly and three years later, in 1946, he was appointed to the general staff of the military.

In 1947, during the ‘Paraguayan Civil War’, he backed the forces of President Morinigo. A year later, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier.

In 1949, he backed President Felipe Molas Lopez as he fended off a coup. Six months later, the brigadier switched his support to Federico Chavez, who overthrew Lopez in a coup d’état.

In 1951, Chavez appointed Stroessner as the army chief of staff.

During his tenure as the President of Paraguay, the authoritarian leader inaugurated the Itaipu Dam which generates over 80 TWh of electricity per year.