Castillo Armas, Carlos (1914–1957)

Guatemalan soldier and anti-communist political leader, coup Leader, and ruler 1954–57.

Imprisoned after a failed coup attempt in 1950, he escaped and launched an invasion in June 1954 to ‘liberate’ Guatemala from the left-wing regime of Jácobo Arbenz Guzmán, who was overthrown. Castillo Armas was installed as president through a plebiscite based on oral votes and, with other political parties banned, his National Democratic Movement won the December 1955 assembly elections. Arbenz Guzmán's land reforms were reversed and a crackdown was launched against communist and trade union activity, before Castillo Armas was assassinated in July 1957.