German Nicaraguan
 | |
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Spanish and German | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| German people, German Costa Rican |
A German Nicaraguan is a Nicaraguan having Germans ancestries or a German naturalized Nicaraguan. This includes Poles due to Partitions of Poland. During the 2nd World War, after Nicaragua's allies declared war on Germany, the German immigrants not naturalized were persecuted and imprisoned and some them were deported to Germany or to concentration camps in other countries. Although the Germans emigrated to Nicaragua since the 19th century, most of the German Nicaraguans speak still both Spanish as German languages.
History
Early of the emigration
The first German who settled in Nicaragua could be the merchant of Leon who was known simply as "Don Alemán" (Don German), known by Orlando W. Roberts, (although the real name of German was not mentioned) in 1810.[1] In 1852, a group of German immigrants, mostly and starting compound by single men, began to settle in northern Nicaragua with the purpose of cultivating 200 blocks of land per person that were granted by the Government. The requirement for receipt of the program was to cultivate the land and have initial capital equivalent to about $ 2,500 per person. Over time, they built farms they rode and its benefits became to Nicaragua in a power coffee, and North Nicaragua became in the epicenter of this economic prosperity.[2] So, In Castillo Viejo (Old Castle), the next station upstream, must have lived by the year 1852 several Germans.[1] The Germans came by boat to Granada and rode down to the areas where they would establish. Others came to Leon and began their journey to Matagalpa.[2] Much of the Germans, who then moved to Costa Rica in 1853 had come to Nicaragua with the emigrant ship "Antoinette".[1]
During the World War II
To beginning of World War II in 1939, Nicaragua's allies - France, United States and England - declared war to Germany. The Government of Nicaragua prompted a wave of persecution against the Germans in Nicaragua. During this period, were also attacked in La vaterland fifty descendants of young Germans who had decided to benefit from the planting of coffee offered by the Conservative governments of the Thirty Years (1857-1892) and then by the Liberal government of José Santos Zelaya (1893-1909), who in an effort to promote the cultivation of coffee, gave up 200 acres of land in the wilderness areas of Matagalpa and Jinotega, mainly. They were the ones who started the promotion, production, processing, transportation and marketing of coffee in northern Nicaragua.
The president of Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza Garcia declared the war against Germany in 1941, and the Germans in Nicaragua were victims of this struggle raised abroad. Somoza began "hunting" Germans for reunite him and imprison him. The oldest people were arrested and the youngest people were taken to the Fifth Eitzen, property of Somoza, an that had intervened to German Ulrich Eitzen. Interestingly the Fifth Eitzen is now the building housing the Ministry of Foreign Cooperation in Managua. Once imprisoned not fed them. Their families brought them food and other stuffs personal hygiene, but the guard recorded everything they brought there. Only Germans naturalized Nicaraguan were not imprisoned or were released from the jail. However, there were also Germans deported to Germany. Some German groups from Nicaragua were in refugee camps in other countries but once the war and the German persecution arrived to his end, some of them returned to Nicaragua.[2] Also, there were some groups of German immigrants (and of others origins) deported to concentration camps in the United States from Nicaragua. Those who refused to be deported were confined on Ellis Island, a small island in New York, used as a quarantine site for immigrants.[3]
Demography
The descendants of those Germans living today in the mountains, in fincas, like their ancestors did. Most of them can, yet today, speak both Spanish as German languages. In addition, many German Nicaraguans are able of speak several languages more (basically English and French). They maintain the use of certain elements of German culture as is the use of fireplaces in their homes, which are often not used in Hispanic America.[2]
German Festivals in Nicaragua
Between 4 and 15 of June is celebrated in Nicaragua German Culture Festival in Nicaragua. As part of this festival, there are events of gastronomy, cinema, philosophy, and music heritage. All events are free admission, except for the Grand Concert "Germany in the heart of Nicaragua", the cost of entry will be 120 at the box office córdobas Ruben Dario National Theater.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Template:Sp icon Alemanes en Nicaragua "Germans in Nicaragua", posted by por Güetz Von Houwald, retrieved 31 August 2012
- ^ a b c d Template:Sp icon La prensa, el diario de los nicaraguences. Enfoque Alemanes en Nicaragua: Entre el dolor y el olvido, posted 26 July 2000, retrieved 31 August 2012
- ^ Template:Sp icon Nicaragua actual, retrieved August 31, 2012
- ^ El Nuevo diario.
