A history of Poles in Chile

Abstract

This article is an attempt at a systematic presention of the history of groups of immigrants from Poland from the turn of the eigthteenth century to the 1950s. The Poles in Chile were above all scholars, craftsmen, workers, and priests. Thez lived scattered througout the whole territory of Chile, although the largest settlements were in Santiago and Valparaiso. Scattered, few in number, lacking conflicts with the surrounding Chilean population, the Poles formed their own organizations only in certain circustances. The first was formed in 1916 when the Polish Fund Committe of Chile was organized to aid victims of the European war. Based on this organization, the 1. Domeyko Polish Cultural Club was formed, but its activity ceased around 1920. Efforts were made to organize material assistance for Poland and Promote thr Polish cause; a dozen or so volunteers even joined the Polish Army. The next important stage in the history of Chile’s Polonia was the period after 1945, when the Polish population of Chile reached its highest level, 1000-1200 people. Numerous organizations were thenesteblished, and the sole Polish-language periodical "Polak w Chile” was also published. The common denominator linking the Polish population was opposition to the Communist government in Poland.

Also discussed is the particular role of the Polish clergy in Chile, who from the middle of the nineteenth century carried out missionary activity among the Indians and then also within Polonia. They plazed an essential role in the maintenance of the national traditions of Chile’s Polonia.