Polish Chilean

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Polish Chilean
Polaco-Chileno
Domeyko.jpgIgor Lichnovski.png
Ignacy Domeyko · Igor Lichnovsky
Total population
10.000[citation needed]
Regions with significant populations
Santiago, rest of Chile
Religion

Roman Catholic and Jewish

Related ethnic groups

Poles, Polish Argentine, Polish Brazilian, Polish American, Polish Canadians

Polish Chileans include immigrants to Chile and their descendants who recognize their Polish ancestry.

Contents

Immigration[edit]

A small number of Poles came to Chile, with first of them coming during the Napoleonic wars. In early 20th century, there were around 300 Poles in Chile. One of the most notable Polish Chileans, Ignacy Domeyko became chancellor of the University of Chile in that time. After World War II, 1947-1951, around 1,500 Poles, mostly former Zivilarbeiter (forced laborers in Nazi Germany), as well as former soldiers and inmates of Nazi concentration camps settled in Chile. In 1949 the Association of Poles in Chile was founded (reestablished formally as "Zjednoczenie Polskie w Chile im. Ignacego Domeyki" /Unión Polaca de Chile "Ignacio Domeyko" in 1992,[1] president Andrzej Zabłocki [2]). A significant majority of Polish Chileans live in Santiago.[3]

In addition, during the Interbellum around 1000 Polish Jews immigrated to Chile, mostly for economic reasons.[3]

Another Polonia organization in Chile is Koło im. Jana Pawła II ("Pope John Paul II Circle"), chairman Ewa Odachowska [2]

Also, the Polish Catholic Mission (under Polish Episcopal Conference; pl:Polska Misja Katolicka) operates in Chile.[2]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]