Fidel Sánchez Hernández (7 July 1917 – 28 February 2003) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as
president of El Salvador
The president of El Salvador ( es, Presidente de El Salvador), officially known as the President of the Republic of El Salvador ( es, Presidente de la República de El Salvador), is the head of state and head of government of El Salvador. He i ...
from 1967 to 1972. During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.
Military career
Before becoming president, Sánchez Hernández was an army general in El Salvador and had brief stints as a
military attaché in
Washington D.C.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
(after his participation in the overthrow of
José María Lemus
Lieutenant Colonel José María Lemus López (22 July 1911 – 31 March 1993) was president of El Salvador from 14 September 1956 to 26 October 1960. Before becoming a president, he served as an undersecretary of defense and a minister of the ...
in 1960) and in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
. President
Julio Adalberto Rivera
Julio Adalberto Rivera Carballo (2 September 1921 – 29 July 1973) was a Salvadoran politician and military officer, who was the 34th President of El Salvador, in office from 1962 to 1967.
Early life and career
Rivera was born in Zacatecolu ...
promoted him to
Minister of the Interior
An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...
in 1962, and he served in that office until 1967, when he succeeded Rivera to the position of president.
Presidency
He continued Rivera's progressive programs and created a mostly civilian cabinet. The
1967 election was considered one of the few in the period of military domination to have been fairly conducted; the gains made by the opposition (winning a majority of the popular vote) in the
legislative and local elections the following year suggested El Salvador was on the road to democratization, a trend that would not be continued as elections in the 1970s were blatantly rigged.
In July 1969, Sánchez Hernández led the Salvadoran Army in its brief but violent
Football War
The Football War ( es, La guerra del fútbol; colloquial: Soccer War), also known as the Hundred Hours' War or 100 Hour War, was a brief military conflict fought between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. Existing tensions between the two countr ...
against
Honduras. He had much success, occupying a large part of that country. But, under a cease-fire agreement arranged by the
Organization of American States, Sánchez Hernández agreed to pull his troops out, much to the opposition of many of his military leaders.
The war with Honduras led to much economic distress in El Salvador. Refugees, mostly Salvadorans that resided in Honduras, poured into the country and Honduras closed off trade routes.
Sánchez Hernández remained president until 1972 and was succeeded by Colonel
Arturo Armando Molina.
Death
On the night of 28 February 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.
Orders and decorations
The following is a list of orders and decorations awarded to Sánchez Hernández:
*
Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella
The Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (''Orden al Mérito de Duarte, Sánchez y Mella'') is the principal order of the Dominican Republic. It was established on 24 February 1931 as the ''Juan Pablo Duarte Order of Merit'' (''Orden al M ...
(13 November 1970)
*
Order of the Quetzal
The Order of the Quetzal (Spanish: Orden del Quetzal) is Guatemala’s highest honor.
History and award conditions
Established in 1936, it is bestowed by the Government of Guatemala
Politics of Guatemala takes place in a framework of a p ...
(3 September 1968)
*
Collar of the
Order of the Aztec Eagle
The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle ( es, Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca) forms part of the Mexican Honours System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners in the country.
History
It was created by decree on December 29, 1933 ...
(16 January 1958)
*
Grand Cross of the
Order of Isabella the Catholic
The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...
*
Grand Order of Mugunghwa
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa ( ko, 무궁화대훈장) is the highest order awarded by the government of South Korea. It is awarded to the President of South Korea, and it may be awarded to their spouse, heads or former heads of state of South Ko ...
(22 September 1970)
*
Grand National Order (4 March 1969)
*
Grand Cordon of the
Order of the Cloud and Banner
The Order of the Cloud and Banner () also known as the Order of the Resplendent Banner is a military award of the Republic of China. It was instituted on June 15, 1935 and is awarded in nine grades for contributions to national security. The insig ...
(14 February 1968)
*
Grand Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
(11 August 1971)
References
1917 births
2003 deaths
People from Morazán Department
Salvadoran people of Spanish descent
National Coalition Party (El Salvador) politicians
Presidents of El Salvador
Interior ministers of El Salvador
Salvadoran military personnel
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
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