Fidel Sánchez Hernández

Fidel Sánchez Hernández (7 July 1917 – 28 February 2003) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as president of El Salvador from 1967 to 1972.[1] During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.
General
Fidel Sánchez Hernández
32nd President of El Salvador
In office
1 July 1967 – 1 July 1972
Vice PresidentHumberto Guillermo Cuestas
Preceded byJulio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded byArturo Armando Molina
Minister of the Interior
In office
1 July 1962 – 1 July 1967
PresidentJulio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded byFrancisco Armando Arias
Personal details
Born7 July 1917
El Divisadero, El Salvador
Died28 February 2003(2003-02-28) (aged 85)
San Salvador, El Salvador
Political partyNational Conciliation Party
SpouseMarina Uriarte
Children4
Parent(s)Vicente Sánchez Estrada
Teresa Hernández Echeverría
OccupationMilitary, politician
Military service
Allegiance El Salvador
Branch/serviceSalvadoran Army
RankGeneral
Battles/warsFootball War

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. (after his participation in the overthrow of José María Lemus in 1960) and in Paris. President Julio Adalberto Rivera promoted him to Minister of the Interior 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 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.[2]

Death

On the night of 28 February 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a heart attack 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:[3]

 Dominican Republic

 Guatemala

 Mexico

 Spain

 South Korea

 Taiwan

 West Germany

References
  1. "Gral. Fidel Sánchez Hernández — Asamblea Legislativa". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  2. "Biografia de Fidel Sánchez Hernández". www.biografiasyvidas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. "Gral. Fidel Sánchez Hernández". asamblea.gob.sv (in Spanish). Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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