The Error That Frustrated the 1972 Rawson Prison Mass Escape Attempt

On August 15, 1972, a meticulously planned mass escape from Rawson prison, a maximum-security facility in Argentina's Chubut province, was thwarted by a critical error, leading to a tragic outcome for most of the involved leftist militants.

The escape attempt involved 116 prisoners, primarily members of the armed organizations Montoneros, FAR, and ERP, who were held as political prisoners during the military dictatorship led by General Agustín Lanusse. The plan was to seize the prison and then escape, but only six prisoners managed to flee successfully. The majority were recaptured, and 19 others were apprehended and later transferred to Trelew, where they became victims of the infamous Trelew massacre.

Fernando Vaca Narvaja, a leader of Montoneros, later reflected on the failure, stating, "The simplest thing is what went wrong. It usually happens." This sentiment points to a fundamental flaw in execution rather than a lack of planning.

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The simplest thing is what went wrong. It usually happens.

Jorge Lewinger, a high-ranking member of FAR who was coordinating the escape from outside, admitted to making a mistake that proved decisive. "I made a mistake, which is what has always tormented me," he confessed years later. His actions on the day of the escape have been both defended and questioned by his former comrades, highlighting the complex and contentious nature of the event's aftermath.

The Rawson prison, officially known as the Institute of Security and Resocialization-Unit 6 of the National Penitentiary Service, held many of the country's political prisoners at the time. Initial escape plans involving a tunnel proved impossible due to the soil conditions, forcing the militants to opt for a prison takeover as the first step.

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I made a mistake, which is what has always tormented me.