page_title: Leopoldo Galtieri
section_title: Presidency
hierarchical_section_title: Leopoldo Galtieri / Presidency
caption_attribution_description: Español: Galtieri entrando a la casa de gobierno. Documentos Fotográficos. Inventario 336666.
context_page_description: Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli was an Argentine general and President of Argentina from December 1981 to June 1982, during the last military dictatorship.
  The death squad, 601 Intelligence Battalion, directly reported to him. Having ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, he was removed from power soon after the Argentine defeat by British armed forces in the Falklands War.
context_section_description: In December 1981, he rose to the Presidency of Argentina in a coup that ousted General Roberto Viola. Argentine support became the principal source of funds and training for the Contras during Galtieri's tenure.
  Galtieri retained direct control of the army whilst President of the governing Military Junta and did not appoint a new commander-in-chief.
caption: Galtieri, in his first day.
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