The Montoneros were a leftist urban guerrilla group in Argentina, active primarily during the 1970s. They emerged in response to political repression and social inequality, advocating for a Marxist-Leninist ideology. The group engaged in various activities, including kidnappings, assassinations, and attacks against government officials and military targets. The Montoneros were part of a broader wave of political violence in Argentina, which included other groups like the ERP (People's Revolutionary Army). Their actions contributed to the political turmoil that led to the Dirty War, a period marked by state terrorism against suspected dissidents from 1976 to 1983.