The 1973 Chilean coup was a military takeover that occurred on September 11, 1973, in Chile. It resulted in the overthrow of the democratically elected president, Salvador Allende, who had been in office since 1970. The coup was led by General Augusto Pinochet and the Chilean military, who opposed Allende's socialist policies and reforms. Following the coup, a military junta was established, and Pinochet became the head of state. The regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the imprisonment, torture, and disappearance of thousands of Chileans. The coup and its aftermath significantly impacted Chilean society and politics for decades.