In the early 1970s, Chile was experiencing significant social and political upheaval, instigated by the election of Salvador Allende, the first Marxist to be elected president in a Latin American country. His government, which began in 1970, implemented a series of socialist reforms aimed at nationalizing key industries, redistributing land, and improving social services. However, these policies were met with fierce opposition from conservative sectors of society, business interests, and the United States government, which feared the spread of communism in the region. As the economy faltered and political tensions escalated, a coup became increasingly likely.

On September 11, 1973, the Chilean military, led by General Augusto Pinochet, launched a calculated coup against Allende's government. Early in the morning, tanks rolled through Santiago as aircraft bombed La Moneda, the presidential palace, where Allende remained. In his final communication, he resolutely rejected the coup, stating that he would not resign. As military forces took control of the city, Allende died in the palace, with reports attributing his death to the violence of the coup, although the exact circumstances remain debated.

In the aftermath, Pinochet’s regime instituted widespread repression, targeting dissenters and opposition through intimidation, incarceration, and torture. The coup marked the beginning of nearly two decades of military rule in Chile, characterized by the suspension of civil liberties and the establishment of a neoclassical economic model. Pinochet's government was supported by the United States, which viewed Chile as a bulwark against communism in Latin America. The events of this day had far-reaching consequences for Chilean society and politics, repercussions that would continue to influence Latin America for decades.