Fidel Sánchez Hernández (7 July 1917 – 28 February 2003) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as president of El Salvador from 1967 to 1972.^[1] During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.

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Quick Facts General, 32nd President of El Salvador ...

General Fidel Sánchez Hernández
32nd President of El Salvador
In office 1 July 1967 – 1 July 1972
Vice President	Humberto Guillermo Cuestas
Preceded by	Julio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded by	Arturo Armando Molina
Minister of the Interior
In office 1 July 1962 – 1 July 1967
President	Julio Adalberto Rivera
Succeeded by	Francisco Armando Arias
Personal details
Born	7 July 1917 El Divisadero, El Salvador
Died	28 February 2003(2003-02-28) (aged 85) San Salvador, El Salvador
Political party	National Conciliation Party
Spouse	Marina Uriarte
Children	4
Parent(s)	Vicente Sánchez Estrada Teresa Hernández Echeverría
Occupation	Military, politician
Military service
Allegiance	El Salvador
Branch/service	Salvadoran Army
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Football War

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Before becoming president, Sánchez Hernández was an army general in El Salvador and had brief stints as a military attaché in Washington D.C. (after his participation in the overthrow of José María Lemus in 1960) and in Paris. President Julio Adalberto Rivera promoted him to Minister of the Interior in 1962, and he served in that office until 1967, when he succeeded Rivera to the position of president.^{[citation needed]}

He continued Rivera's progressive programs and created a mostly civilian cabinet. The 1967 election was considered^{[by whom?]} one of the few in the period of military domination to have been fairly conducted; the gains made by the opposition (winning a majority of the popular vote) in the legislative and local elections the following year suggested El Salvador was on the road to democratization, a trend that would not be continued as elections in the 1970s were blatantly rigged.^{[according to whom?][citation needed]}

In July 1969, Sánchez Hernández led the Salvadoran Army in its brief but violent Football War against Honduras. He had much success, occupying a large part of that country. But, under a cease-fire agreement arranged by the Organization of American States, Sánchez Hernández agreed to pull his troops out, much to the opposition of many of his military leaders.^{[citation needed]}

The war with Honduras led to much economic distress in El Salvador. Refugees, mostly Salvadorans that resided in Honduras, poured into the country and Honduras closed off trade routes.^{[citation needed]}

Sánchez Hernández remained president until 1972 and was succeeded by Colonel Arturo Armando Molina.^[2]

On the night of 28 February 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a heart attack while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.

The following is a list of orders and decorations awarded to Sánchez Hernández:^[3]

 Dominican Republic

• Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (13 November 1970)

 Guatemala

• Order of the Quetzal (3 September 1968)

 Mexico

• Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (16 January 1958)

 Spain

• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

 South Korea

• Grand Order of Mugunghwa (22 September 1970)
• Grand National Order (4 March 1969)

 Taiwan

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner (14 February 1968)

 West Germany

• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (11 August 1971)