The group was formed by Pablo Rodríguez Grez in 1970 with Roberto Thieme as secretary general, and turned more and more clandestine throughout the presidency of Salvador Allende.

In July 1973, it received orders from the Chilean Navy, which opposed the Schneider Doctrine of military adherence to the constitution, to sabotage Chile's infrastructure.

The collaboration between Fatherland and Liberty and the Chilean Armed Forces increased after the failed October 1972 strike which had sought to overthrow Allende socialist administration.

Patria y Libertad gathered mainly upper and middle-class students, united by common anti-communist beliefs, engaged in street brawls against leftist militants and sympathizers, armed with nunchakus and molotov cocktails.

[12] According to Prof. Michael Stohl, and Prof. George A. Lopez, "After the failure to prevent Allende from taking office, efforts shifted to obtaining his removal.

The Chilean Navy's June 1973 plan included sabotaging bridges, oil pipelines, energy towers and the fuel supply.

They indicated that many members of the group had been recruited by the Chilean security services and had thus collaborated to the repression, including acts of torture and of forced disappearances.