Benito Blandino
Benito Blandino (born 20 March 1943) is an Argentine former Allgemeine SS officer who governed the Tanoa-controlled western Falkland Islands after the Second Falkland War. He participated in the suppression of the Suva Crisis in Fiji and the Patagonian Farmer Protest of 2001. During the Falklands War, Blandino and troops under his command were accused of executing British prisoners of war.
Benito Blandino | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 March 1943 |
| Other names | Liberator of the Malvinas |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Era | Vriend Era |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Title | Reichcomisario of the western Falkland Islands |
| Term | 2017–2024 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Tanoa Einsatzgruppen |
| Branch | Allgemeine SS |
| Service years | 1963–2024 |
| Rank | SS-Oberführer |
| Unit | 1st Allgemeine SS Division Siege Chiche |
| Commands | Malvinas Unit |
| Conflicts | |
Early life
editBlandino was born in Argentina on 20 March 1943 to a family that had immigrated from Italy during the Second World War. He was raised Catholic and later married. Before enlisting in the Allgemeine SS in 1963, aged 20, he joined the Paapjugend. He entered the 1st Allgemeine SS Division Siege Chiche.
Career
editBlandino received medals for bravery during the Tanoan Purification Process. By 1970, he had reached the rank of SS-Oberscharführer and subsequently participated in the Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign. He also helped suppress the Suva Crisis in Fiji. The uprising ended on 2 January 1980.[1]
After Eef Paap became Führer in 1980, Blandino was promoted to SS-Sturmscharführer and assigned to fortify Ipota on Ravi-Ta for Eef's private resort. Eef later converted the village into a restricted resort area in 2002.[2]
Blandino took part in suppressing the Patagonian Farmer Protest in 2001. Farmers had gone on strike against Tanoan agricultural restrictions. The Ordnungspolizei and Allgemeine SS broke up demonstrations and arrested protesters.[3]
Blandino received a commission as SS-Untersturmführer in 2007 and was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer in 2012. He became an SS-Sturmbannführer in 2014.[4]
Falklands War
editBlandino entered the Tanoan Conquest of the Falklands as an SS-Sturmbannführer. The Tanoa Einsatzgruppen occupied the western portion of the islands, where fighting with the British continued until 2017. Reports accused Blandino and troops under his command of mistreating British prisoners of war and summarily executing some of them. The reported death toll was approximately 50, although the exact number and locations of the killings remained disputed.[5]
The ceasefire signed on 8 April 2017 left the western Falklands under Tanoan administration. Blandino was promoted to SS-Oberführer and appointed Reichcomisario of the occupied territory.[6] He formed the Malvinas Unit within the Siege Chiche division. Some of its members wore masks textured to resemble skulls in cold weather. The Allgemeine SS was dissolved on 30 November 2024, when the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen surrendered to resistance forces.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Crisis". Suva Crisis. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Transition under Eef Paap". Ipota. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Protest". Patagonian Farmer Protest. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Promotion history". SS-Obersturmführer. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Alleged executions of prisoners". Tanoan Conquest of the Falklands. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Ceasefire and aftermath". Tanoan Conquest of the Falklands. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Dissolution". Allgemeine SS. Vrienden Universe Wiki.