Alfredo Astiz facts for kids

Alfredo Ignacio Astiz (born 8 November 1951) was a former Argentine naval officer. He served in the Argentine Navy during a time when the military was in charge of Argentina (1976–1983). He was sometimes called El Ángel Rubio de la Muerte, which means "The Blond Angel of Death." He was later removed from the military in 1998.

Astiz was part of a group called GT 3.3.2. This group was based at the Naval Mechanics School (ESMA) in Buenos Aires. During those years, the school was used as a secret place where political prisoners were held. Many people were held there and treated very badly. GT 3.3.2 was involved in serious events that were later investigated by a special commission in Argentina.

Astiz was known for joining human rights groups to gather information. He was involved in the disappearance of twelve human rights activists in December 1977. Among them were Azucena Villaflor and two other founders of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Two French Catholic nuns, Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, also disappeared. None of these twelve people were ever seen again after being taken.

During the 1982 Falklands War, Astiz and his team surrendered to British forces. Some countries, like Sweden and France, wanted to question him about the disappearance of their citizens. However, the United Kingdom sent him back to Argentina. Later, in 1990, a French court found Astiz guilty in his absence for the disappearance of the two French nuns. He was sentenced to life in prison by that court.

In 2005, Argentina's highest court decided that some laws protecting military officers from past crimes were not valid. This allowed the government to look into old cases again. Astiz was then held for questioning about disappearances and mistreatment. In July 2005, a mass grave was found. DNA tests identified the remains of Duquet, Villaflor, and two other Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. In October 2011, Astiz was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in Argentina.

Naval Service and Role

Alfredo Astiz was a naval officer who served in the Argentine Navy. He was part of a special unit called GT 3.3.2 (Task Force 3.3.2). This unit was based at the Naval Mechanics School (ESMA) in Buenos Aires. During the time of military rule in Argentina, this school was used as a secret center. Many people were held there and treated poorly.

Gathering Information

During the period known as the "Dirty War," Astiz worked as an intelligence officer. His job was to join human rights groups in Argentina, especially in Buenos Aires. He used a false name, "Gustavo Niño." He would stay with a group long enough to find out who the main members were. Then, he would arrange for these people to be taken by military forces.

Those who were taken were brought to the secret center at ESMA. They were questioned to get information about other members and activities. Many of the people held there later disappeared.

Astiz was believed to be involved in the disappearance of many people between 1976 and 1977. Some of these people were from other countries. Their cases drew international attention as their governments tried to find them. For example, three Italian citizens disappeared in 1976 and 1977. One of them, Susana Pegoraro, was pregnant. It was thought she gave birth while held captive, and her baby was given to a military family.

In January 1977, a 17-year-old girl named Dagmar Hagelin, who had Swedish citizenship, was shot and taken by Astiz. Her father, Ragnar Hagelin, worked for many years to find out what happened to her. Dagmar Hagelin was never found. In 2000, the Argentine government paid compensation to her family. Witnesses said they saw Dagmar Hagelin at the ESMA center. Astiz was said to be in charge of her questioning. She was never seen alive again.

In December 1977, Astiz was involved in the disappearance of about a dozen people. These included members of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. This group of mothers protested peacefully to find out what happened to their missing children. Two French Catholic nuns, Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, also disappeared. They had cared for the disabled son of the former president, Jorge Videla. None of these people were seen alive again after being held at ESMA.

Later in December 1977, unidentified bodies were found on beaches south of Buenos Aires. Autopsies showed they had died from being thrown from aircraft over the ocean. In July 2005, several bodies were found in a mass grave. DNA tests identified the remains of Duquet, Azucena Villaflor de Vicenti, and two other founders of the Mothers of the Plaza. Alice Domon's remains have not been found.

Falklands War Involvement

Astiz led a special team of fifteen Tactical Divers Group members, called los lagartos (the lizards). They were involved in the first actions that led to the Falklands War. On March 19, 1982, they landed on South Georgia. They pretended to be workers for a scrap metal company. They raised the Argentine flag while a British team was watching.

The next day, a British official told Astiz to take down the flag and leave. Astiz took down the flag but stayed. The British then sent a ship, HMS Endurance, with 22 Royal Marines to remove him. They arrived on March 23. More Argentine marines arrived later, and there was a fight at Grytviken. After some fighting, the Royal Marines surrendered to the larger Argentine force. The Royal Marines were sent back to the United Kingdom.

The British government sent more forces to South Georgia. The Argentine soldiers there surrendered on April 23, 1982. Astiz insisted on signing a surrender document for his small group. This made it seem like he was the commander of all the soldiers on South Georgia.

Prisoners of War

After the British took back South Georgia, Argentina's Foreign Minister said they were technically at war with the UK. The UK decided to send all 151 Argentine soldiers and 39 civilians captured on South Georgia back home.

Because of the attention on Astiz's surrender, the Swedish and French governments contacted the UK. They said Astiz was accused of crimes against their citizens. They asked the British to question him. The UK decided to hold Astiz longer than the other prisoners. He was held on Ascension Island for a time.

Return to Argentina

Two weeks later, the UK decided to move Astiz to the United Kingdom. They said he would be available for interviews with French and Swedish representatives. Astiz was questioned twice in June 1982 by a British police officer. Both times, Astiz did not answer any questions. The UK sent a report of these interviews to the Swedish and French governments. Astiz was sent back to Argentina on June 10, 1982. This was just before the end of the Falklands War.

The UK government believed that international rules for prisoners of war protected Astiz from being charged with crimes in the UK or sent to another country. This was because the crimes he was accused of happened in Argentina. Also, at that time, these specific actions were not considered international crimes.

Legal Actions and Later Life

On March 16, 1990, a French court found Astiz guilty in his absence. He was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the disappearance of the two French nuns, Alice Domon and Léonie Duquet. French law allows trials for foreigners accused of crimes against French citizens, even if the crimes happened in another country.

For many years, Astiz was protected by laws in Argentina that stopped military officers from being charged for past actions. In 1998, he gave an interview to an Argentine magazine. He made comments that led to him being removed from the military.

Astiz was arrested by Argentine police in July 2001. Italy wanted him to be sent there for the disappearance of three Italian citizens in 1976 and 1977. This included the disappearance of a baby born to one of them. Astiz was not sent to Italy.

In 2005, Argentina's highest court said that the laws protecting military officers were not valid. After this, the government started looking into past cases again. In 2005, Astiz was held for questioning about the 12 people who disappeared in December 1977. Astiz and 17 other people linked to ESMA were charged with various disappearances and mistreatment. After a long trial, on October 27, 2011, Alfredo Astiz was found guilty by an Argentine court. He was sentenced to life in prison for serious actions committed during the "Dirty War."

Of the other people on trial, 11 also received life sentences. Four others received sentences from 18 to 25 years, and two were found not guilty. By late 2011, Astiz was one of many people convicted for human rights abuses from that time.

Claims of French Involvement

In January 2007, Astiz and another former naval officer, Luis María Mendía, told Argentine judges that a French intelligence agent, Bertrand de Perseval, was involved in the disappearance of the two French nuns. Perseval, who lives in Thailand, denied this.

There have been claims that France helped train Argentine officers in certain methods used during a war in Algeria. These methods included harsh questioning. Mendía asked the Argentine court to call former French officials to testify. He also blamed former Argentine leaders for signing anti-subversion orders before the military took over in 1976. Some people believe these claims are an attempt to shift blame away from those who committed the actions.

Personal Background

Family Life

Alfredo Astiz was born on November 8, 1951. His father, Bernardo Astiz, was a vice admiral in the Argentine Navy. His mother was María Elena Vázquez. He followed his father into the military.

Health Information

Astiz was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. In October 2013, the Supreme Court upheld decisions that denied him treatment in a military hospital. This was because of a rule that banned convicted people from using these facilities. Astiz said that this was an attempt to harm his health by denying him access to the Pedro Mallo Naval Hospital, which he said was the only place that could give him the care he needed.

Images for kids

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  CPO2 and parachuters insignia displayed in the Imperial War Museum, London; one on the left is a Chief Petty Officer, or SubOfficial 2ndo