This is the first volume of the 1992 coup d'état attempts in Venezuela, focusing on the causes and the opening moves of the February 1992 coup. Author José Daniel Fernández Dugarte’s original manuscript was too large for the @War series, so the editors decided rather than break the book in two, leaving the volumes unbalanced, the book was partitioned part way through. This first volume focuses on the background and history of the Venezuelan armed forces and the beginning of the first coup. As the editors note, “We recognize this leaves the reader with something of a cliff hanger ending to this volume and hope that you will understand this decision and pick up the story and discover the conclusion presented in Volume 2.” The author did a great job relating this complex story, and while the volume does end abruptly, I will be looking forward to the second volume to find out the details of the first coup, and the more important second coup, and its aftermath.

The first non-numbered chapter is titled, ‘(…) Venezuela Siempre Será un Cuartel’. Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios Ponte y Blanco, or commonly known as SimónBolívar, figured largely in the history of Latin America in the early 19^th century, was the man who would

“lead Venezuelan troops during the bloody Independence War that took place between 1810 and 1923, once said that ‘Ecuador will always be a convent; Columbia will always be a university; and Venezuela will always be a barrack’. The latter description, albeit simplistic, has proven true historically.”

Simón Bolívar led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire.

Venezuela has known lawlessness, strife, conflict and war through much of its history. Like much of Latin America, rule is through caudillos (a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power, roughly translated to "military dictator" or "warlord"). The opening chapters deal with the various, and numerous, conflicts and wars leading up to the 1992 coup.

For Now and Forever! The 1992 Coup d’état Attempts in Venezuela - Volume 1: Causes and the Opening Moves of the February 1992 Coup is a part of Helion and Latin America@ War No. 42 (HEL1562). The 76-page page book is complete with extensive photographs, technical details and specifications, and detailed illustrations, composing the following seven chapters:

• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• An Editorial Note
• Preface
• ‘…y Venezuela siempre será un cuartel’

1. The Venezuelan Armed Forces
2. Uprisings and Coups
3. Civilian Control of the Armed Forces
4. Rupununi Rebellion and Border Disputes
5. 27 February 1989; Caracazo
6. 4 February 1992; Ezequiel Zamora Operations Plan
7. A Rebellion in Trouble

• References
• Notes
• About the Author

The book is a fascinating look at a country trying to find its identity, largely through its armed forces and staying in power. As a major oil producer, it found an ally in the United States, particularly as the Cold War heated up with Russian influence in Cuba. American arms started flowing in World War II, then increased when Cuban influence and Communism found root with its neighbors.

The 1992 coupd'état found its roots in the violent suppression in Caracazo as protests against public transportation fee increased on 27 February 1989. The institution of martial law and suspension of several constitutional rights did little to quell the looting and violence. Official estimates of civilians killed were only 276 or 277, but independent investigations revealed the actual number was well above 3,000 with many bodies dumped in a mass grave on the outskirts of Caracazo.

Elements of the military wanted change and began the plan that was to take place in December 1991. When that plan didn’t work out due to the President not being in country at the planned time, a lot of military leaders lost faith in the coup and backed out, so when the February coup began, it did so without a lot of the units in the place. Loyalist and rebel military units fought for control, along with the National Guard and DISIP (Dirección Nacional de los Servicios de Inteligencia y Prevención, the General Sectoral Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services) fighting to protect the President.

It is interesting that this was an officer-led coup with soldiers in the units not knowing which side they were on until the fighting began. Loyalist officers were given the chance to join the rebellion or be detained, with several joining the rebellion and others being detained. The rebellion was discovered early, and the plan quickly fell apart with its key leaders being arrested. The book does end abruptly describing operations on the first day. The second volume will be essential to describe the remaining events, the aftermath, and setting up of the second, successful coup d'état later in 1992. Hugo Chavez is mentioned a few times, and it will be interesting to see how this leader comes into power.

Modelers will appreciate the plethora of black and white period photographs of the Venezuelan military armored vehicles, anti-aircraft, aircraft, helicopters and soldiers with their weapons. The color profile section, for which Helion’s @War series is known, is replete with images of the M8 Greyhound, M3A1 half track with French 37mm Schneider Model 1928 Automatic Gun, AMX-13V, Canon de 155mm Mle F3 Automoteur, AMX-13M51 Rafagá (AMX-13 chassis with American M-4E1 turret from the M42A1 Duster), Thyssen Henschel UR-416, AMX-30, Alvis FV101 Scorpion 90, and Cadillac Gage Commando V-100. Aircraft are represented by the Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, Embraer Tucano, and T-2D Buckeye. Black and white photographs showcase Venezuelan combat vehicles including the locally produced Tortugas reconnaissance cars, M3A1 Stuart tanks, M2 White Scout Car, M18 Hellcats, and previously mentioned French combat vehicles. Aircraft include the Douglas C-47 Skytrains, C-123B Providers, C-130 Hercules, G.222 transports, English Electric Canberra, T-6, BAC Jet Provost T.Mk 51s, North American F-86 Sabres, Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighters, Mirage IIIs and 5s, OV-10, F-16A, Sikorsky S-51, The author and illustrators have provided a fantastic reference source for modelers, vignettes, and dioramas for an often neglected, yet interesting South American military, particularly American, British, French and German military vehicles and equipment in different markings.

Profuse thanks to Casemate and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.