User:Krisgabwoosh/Birthplace of Germán Busch 2: Difference between revisions

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* {{Cite conference |ref={{harvid|Lijerón|2009}} |last=Lijerón Casanovas |first=Arnaldo |author-link=Arnaldo Lijerón |date=29 June 2009 |title=La estirpe beniana del máximo héroe de la Guerra del Chaco: El “Camba Busch” |url=https://archive.org/details/hazana-beniana-en-la-guerra-del-chaco/page/n224 |conference=Primeras Jornadas para Revalorizar el Aporte Patriotico del Beni a la Guerra del Chaco |language=es |location=Trinidad}} In {{harvnb|SEGHB|2014|pp=225–241}}.

* {{Cite interview |ref={{harvid|Roda|2018}} |last=Roda Busch |first=Rolando |date=27 March 2018 |title=Polémica sobre el lugar de nacimiento del expresidente Germán Busch |url=https://archive.org/details/polemica-sobre-el-lugar-de-nacimiento-del-expresidente-german-busch |work=Jaque Mate |language=es |interviewer=[[Ximena Galarza]] |location=La Paz |publisher=[[Televisión Universitaria UMSA|Televisión Universitaria]]}}

* {{Cite web |ref={{harvid|”Pueblo de Leyenda” 24 March 2011}} |last1=Suárez Vidal |first1=Napoleón |last2=Velarde Landívar |first2=Argelia |last3=Espinoza Suárez |first3=Guillermo |last4=Espinoza Morón |first4=Rustan |date=25 January 2011 |title=Acta notariada de las declaraciones juradas sobre el lugar de nacimiento de Germán Busch |url=https://archive.org/details/pueblo-de-leyenda-II-10/page/n11 |type=Affidavit |agency=Notaría de Hacienda y Gobierno del Dpto. del Beni}} In ”Pueblo de Leyenda” {{inlang|es}}. Trinidad. 24 March 2011. pp. 12–19.

Birthplace controversy

The birthplace of Germán Busch, the 36th president of Bolivia, is a subject of academic dispute. Historians cite either El Carmen [es] or San Javier as the two most probable locations. Because these settlements are situated in different departments – in Beni and Santa Cruz, respectively – the debate is also a topic of regionalist controversy. The historical societies of each department back their own region’s claim.

Historical accounts both during and after the life of Busch primarily name San Javier as his birthplace. Proponents point to his baptismal certificate and the will and testament of his father as primary sources that evidence the claim. Due, in part, to its historical longevity, this remains the mainstream opinion in Santa Cruz and the remaining departments outside of Beni, and is the version taught in most schools.

The theory of El Carmen, in contrast, is based on oral history collected from those acquainted with Busch’s mother, as well as their descendants. It gained mainstream traction among some outside historians in the 2000s but was passed down as local oral tradition far earlier. References to Busch being in born in Beni appear in regional publications that date to before his presidency, during his popularity as a war hero.

Established historiography

Historian Robert Brockmann notes that “despite his legendary status, basic facts about Germán Busch are in dispute”. Multiple aspects of his background have been revised by historians over time. His birth date was long recorded as 23 March 1904, upheld in school curricula and textbooks. However, the will and testament of his father lists 1902 as his year of birth, while more obscure sources mention dates as late as 1905. Following the discovery of a certified copy of his baptismal certificate, 1903 became the most reliable birth year. “Thus, the correct and documented date of [Busch’s] birth is 23 March 1903”, according to Brockmann.

Established historiography states that Busch was born in San Javier de Chiquitos in lowland Santa Cruz Department. The settlement is situated in Ñuflo de Chávez Province, but was part of José Miguel de Velasco Province at the time, and was then named San Javier de Velasco. (?) That Busch was baptized there is undisputed, but accounts differ as to whether he was raised in San Javier or even elsewhere in the department. Local tales tell that Busch spent his childhood and adolescence in the Chiquitania and attended the Florida National School in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. To refute the latter, historian Rogers Becerra [es] produced a certificate from the institute stating that Busch never enrolled there. Historian Arnaldo Lijerón claims that there is no evidence that Busch spent a substantial amount of time in San Javier. Busch’s parents separated some months after his birth, and his mother “immediately” returned with him to Trinidad, Beni, where she had a home and family, says Brockmann.

Competing theories

The professor José Natusch Velasco states that “when an extraordinary individual emerges, many [places] compete for [the] privilege” of being their birthplace. Natusch cites the example of Homer, of whom seven different Greek cities claim to be his hometown. (?) The notion that Busch was born in Beni rather than Santa Cruz dates to before he became president. Local publications refer to him as a “native” of the department, (L237) and he was conferred the honorary title of “favorite son of Beni” by authorities in Trinidad in 1935. Busch’s assumption of office in 1937 prompted particular celebration in Beni, due to his perceived status as the “first beniano president”. (L27-28)

Following his death, Lijerón states that the claim remained “well-known oral tradition” within the department, (L21) although it was rarely reproduced outside of it. The docent Darwin Pinto cites only one example of a mainstream twentieth-century historian that claims Busch was born in Beni.^[α] The theory first gained mainstream traction among scholars in 2007, with the release of a posthumous publication by Becerra titled Aclarando la historia y… ¡Nada más!, in which he … the central tenets … The historical society

https://www.pub.eldiario.net/noticias/2017/2017_07/nt170709/opinion.php?n=32&-busch-un-crucenio-ilustre

The theory first gained mainstream traction among scholars in Beni in 2007, with the release of a posthumous publication by historian Rogers Becerra … The book is the …

Beni hypothesis

Becerra and Lijerón contend that Busch was born the hacienda La Pampita near El Carmen del Iténez [es] while the family navigated the Río Blanco in 1903. They were traveling from Baures aboard a launch captained by the father, Pablo Busch, bound for San Javier, where he had business interests and a medical practice. At some point, the mother, Raquel Becerra, entered labor, which forced the family to disembark on the banks of El Carmen.

^[β]

Other theories

Numerous other sites have been speculated to be the birthplace of Busch. These include the hamlets of Cachuela Chapacura, Beni, and Cachuela Buen Jesús, Santa Cruz. Other versions state that Busch was born aboard a rowboat in Iténez Province. Crespo’s account has Suárez assisting the Busch family “at the missions of Guarayos, on the border between Santa Cruz and Beni”. Brockmann points out that “all these places are very close to El Carmen, and are all along the Río Blanco”.

Interpretations of primary sources

Baptismal certificate

Will and testament

Testimony of relatives

References

Notes

^ The source, by historian Alberto Crespo [es], is of dubious veracity, as it also erroneously states Busch was killed by “a bullet to the heart”. For Pinto, this “demonstrates the author’s lack of knowledge about [Busch]. If he didn’t know how [he] died, he certainly wouldn’t know where he was born”. (P 109)
^ For a full publication of the notarized affidavit, see Pueblo de Leyenda 24 March 2011, pp. 12–19.

Citations

Works cited

Other sources

Academic journals

Books and encyclopedias