Background The idea for such an attack was first conceived by Arnulf Fuhrmann, a Uruguayan journalist who had moved to Uruguay from
Germany at the tail end of the
First World War. In February 1937, Fuhrmann was hired by the Salto newspaper
La Campaña as head administrator, eventually being promoted to director in March 1937. At the same time, Fuhrmann's German enclave within Salto established the
German-Uruguayan Cultural Center, of which he was elected president. Four months later in July, Fuhrmann left La Campaña, according to the newspaper, "in order to dedicate his energies to other activities." Fuhrmann was married to the widow of Frederico Jungblut, who was the owner of a photography shop in Salto called Foto Clave. Now independent from La Campaña, Fuhrmann became devoted to photography and Nazi activism, using the Foto Clave to spread anti-Semitic and Nazi propaganda. It was at this time that Fuhrmann and his five co-conspirators began to prepare for the coup, writing down their plans and obtaining supplies.
Plan According to their plans, all they needed to succeed were "fifteen days, two regiments and cavalry in
Montevideo, two companies in
Colonia as well as
Fray Bentos,
Paysandú ... a battalion in Salto, the same in
Bella Unión, two companies in
Artigas, two in
Rivera, and a battalion in
Yaguarón," believing that Uruguayan forces would easily surrender. Once the nation is captured, Fuhrmann would assume control, exterminating any
Jews or pre-colonial politicians within Uruguay, turning the state into a "colony of German peasants."
Outcome With the breakout of
World War II in
Europe, the Uruguayan government became less tolerant of Nazism within their borders, with the Tribuna Salteña newspaper in Salto writing that "It is necessary to throw the agents of Nazism out of Uruguayan territory." In June 1940 the Foto Clave shop and Fuhrmann's private resident were raided by Uruguayan officials, leading to Fuhrmann, Hotzer, Kleing, Patz, Konas Meissner, and R. Meissner being arrested; along with their six light machine guns and additional supplies being confiscated. While in detainment, investigators discovered Fuhrmann's notes for the coup but when questioned about this evidence Fuhrmann retorted that it was "merely a joke." Fuhrmann was released shortly after being in police custody, however he was arrested again by
Argentinian officials while attempting to cross the Argentinian-Uruguayan border. As the trials were being held in
Buenos Aires, Germany attempted to extradite the six convicts back to
Berlin, with Argentina declining and sentencing the men to thirteen years in prison. In 1946, the men were released for good behavior; their lives after this becoming unknown. == References ==