CHAS GERRETSEN

1973-1974 Santiago, Chile. Daily Life

President Salvador Allende Gossens was the democratically elected socialist president of Chile from 1970 until his death during the US backed military coup d’état on September 11, 1973.

Many of these images are to be found in the book ‘Chile The Photographic Archive 1973-1974’

1973, January. Daily life, Santiago rush hour

Daily life

February 10. Parliamentary re-election campaign.

The National stadium was full, 80.000 people with another 40 plus outside the stadium, according to the local media.

The people were euphoric, he was their hope for a better future.

The stadium trembled as more than 80.000 people chanted, "Allende!
Allende! El Pueblo te defeiende!" — The stadium trembled as more than 80.000 people chanted, "Allende! Allende! El Pueblo te defeiende!"

President Allende with wife Hortensia Bussi

Convincing Luis Corvalán, Secretary General of the Communist party, into buying some lottery tickets for a local tv station

The almost daily riots: Left against Right

The extreme Right.

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Beginning of Tancazo. June 29, 1973.

End of the Tacazo. (Failed Coup d'état) June 29, 1973

Demonstrations and riots continued,
July 1973 — Demonstrations and riots continued, July 1973

Celebrating the Third Anniversary of the election of the Unidad Popular Government. 04.September 1973

Little did the people realize that 7 days later their dreams would be shattered and their lives be changed forever.

A farmer hands President Allende a potato. A bag was too heavy to lift.

In the early morning of September 11, 1973 General Augusto Pinochet, with three conspirators, overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende, in a violent coup d'état. The president did not survive the attack.

These images were taken on September 18, 1973, one week after the coup, in the Catholic church: ‘Iglesia de la Gratitude Nacional’ in Santiago.

Daily life, after the coup d'état

President Allende's house had been bomben and looted.

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photojournalist Sylvain Julienne

All democratic institutions, like the National Congress, had been closed by the Junta.

The Italian embassy was a safe haven for many who had supported Allende.

refugees in the Italian embassy