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Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
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Maximiliano Hernández Martínez

president of El Salvador
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Maximiliano Hernández Martínez served as president of El Salvador from December 1931 to May 1944. His rise to power followed a coup that ended the direct control of the presidency by coffee barons, ushering in a period of military governments that lasted until 1979.12

Martínez's rule is notably marked by the brutal suppression of a farmworkers' revolt in January 1932, organized by Agustín Farabundo Martí. This event, known as la matanza ("the slaughter"), resulted in the summary execution of at least 10,000 people. The revolt and its aftermath reinforced the landed elite's reliance on military dictatorship and significantly diminished Indigenous culture. Although personally austere, Martínez was known for his interest in the occult and attempted to emulate European fascist dictators. His regime ultimately fell after a general strike in May 1944.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. history of El Salvador - The rule of Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, the revolt of Augustín Farabundo Martí, and la matanza
  2. El Salvador - Military dictatorships

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