Emilio Eduardo Massera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emilio Eduardo Massera
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| Born | 19 October 1925 Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina |
| Died | 8 November 2010 (aged 85) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Allegiance |  Argentina |
| Service/ |
 Argentine Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1978 |
| Rank |  Admiral (pre-1991 epaulette) |
| Spouse(s) | Delia Vieyra |
| Children | 5 |
| Signature |  |
Emilio Eduardo Massera (born October 19, 1925 – died November 8, 2010) was an important military officer in the Argentine Navy. He played a major role in the military takeover of Argentina in 1976. Many people believe Massera was a key leader in the government's actions against political opponents, a period known as the Dirty War. This time led to the disappearance or death of many thousands of people.
Contents
Emilio Massera was born in Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina. His grandparents had moved to Argentina from Switzerland. In 1942, Massera joined Argentina's Naval Military School. He became a midshipman in 1946.
During his time in the Navy, he held various important jobs. He commanded the famous sail training ship ARA Libertad. Later, in 1973, he took command of the Sea Fleet. On December 6, 1973, Massera was named General Commander of the Argentine Navy. He was promoted to full Admiral in 1974.
Role in the Military Government
Between 1976 and 1978, Admiral Massera was part of a military junta. This was a group of military leaders who took control of Argentina. The junta included Jorge Rafael Videla and Orlando Ramón Agosti. They removed President Isabel Perón from power.
This military government ruled Argentina during a period called the National Reorganization Process. In September 1978, Massera left his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. He also stepped down from his role in the military junta.
Later Life and Legal Issues
After the military government ended in 1983, Emilio Massera was put on trial. He was accused of human rights violations. These were serious actions against people's basic rights. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and lost his military rank.
However, in 1990, the president at the time, Carlos Menem, gave him a pardon. This meant Massera was set free. He remained free until 1998. Then, he was imprisoned again. This was for new investigations into kidnappings and other serious actions during his time in power.
In 2004, Massera had a serious cerebrovascular accident, also known as a stroke. This health event made him very ill. Because of his health, he was declared legally unable to be responsible for his actions in 2005. This meant the legal cases against him were stopped.
Massera passed away on November 8, 2010, due to another stroke. His funeral was kept private. Only a small number of people attended.
See also
In Spanish: Emilio Eduardo Massera para niños
