Solano López's grip on reality—never very strong—loosens…

Solano López's grip on reality—never very strong—loosens further as the war nears its inevitable denouement.

Imagining himself surrounded by a vast conspiracy, he orders thousands of executions in the military.

In addition, he executes two brothers and two brothers-in-law, scores of top government and military officials, and about five hundred foreigners, including many diplomats.

He frequently has his victims killed by lance thrusts to save ammunition.

The bodies are dumped into mass graves.

His cruel treatment of prisoners is proverbial.

Solano López condemns troops to death if they fail to carry out his orders to the minutest detail.

"Conquer or die" becomes the order of the day.