Argentinian Patagonia in the interwar period.About the origins of the Militar Zone of Comodoro Rivadavia

Abstract

In 1944 the national government created the Militar  Zone   of  Comodoro  Rivadavia,  whose  explicit  objective  was  the  defense  of  the oil  operation.  This  zone  modified  the  limits of  the  National  Territories  of  Chubut  and Santa Cruz to create a new political-administrative jurisdiction in the Gulf San Jorge basin.

There are diverse works which are dedicated to the study of this particular conjuncture of  Comodoro Rivadavia history. They have emphasized that the Great Powers’ interest to appropriate  of  a  strategic  resource  as the oil, in a context of World war,  constituted  a decisive reason to organize a militarized space. However, the access to sources that are little consulted by the historians can relativize this affirmation,  directing  the  reasons  that  led  to the creation of the Military Government to the characteristics of the oil workers’ movement.