Lithuanian Argentines

Lithuanian Argentines are Argentine citizens who are fully, partially, or predominantly of Lithuanian descent, or Lithuanian-born people residing in Argentina. During the 1920s about 35,000 Lithuanians arrived in Argentina.^[1]

History

Pioneers and settlements

Main cities with Lithuanian population in Argentina: 1.Rosario 2. Buenos Aires 3. Berisso

In 1909, a group of Lithuanian immigrants from the cities of Ensenada and Berisso founded the Lithuanian Mutual Aid Society Vargdienis, whose prominent members were the Lithuanian gentlemen Rimavičius, Pavilonis, Bogužas and Baltušis.^[2] With less specific dates it is known that even before the First World War there had been organisations of Lithuanian immigrants in Villa Diego, near Rosario, Santa Fe (Aušros žvaigždė) and in the city of Avellaneda (Susivienijimas lietuvių Argentinoje). The collectivity of Berisso meanwhile adopted the name of Nemunas, which retains to the present.^[3] The Lithuanian diaspora in Argentina have their own radio programme called "Echoes of Lithuania" (Ecos de Lituania).

There is also a significant Lithuanian-Jewish community.^[4]

Organisations

They established their own institutions: Sociedad Lituana de Socorros Mutuos Vargdienis (established 1909),^[5] Aušros žvaigždė, Susivienijimas lietuvių Argentinoje, Nemunas.

Notable Lithuanian Argentines

• José Alperovich, politician
• Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, rugby union player
• Marcia Bell, actress
• Ricardo Ivoskus, lawyer and politician
• Liudas Jakavicius-Grimalauskas, pianist
• Antonio Krapovickas, botanist
• Fanny Mikey, actress and theatre producer
• Gabriel Levinas, journalist
• Joseph Kessel, journalist
• Jevel Katz, singer
• Hector Timerman, politician and diplomat
• Jacobo Timerman, publisher, journalist and author

See also

• Lithuanian Brazilians
• Estonian Argentines

References

1. "Los otros inmigrantes. Historia de las colectividades menos conocidas" Diario Clarín, Fecha: 05/02/2006
2. "Sociedad Cultural Lituana de Socorros Mutuos NEMUNAS. Historia" Asociación de Entidades Extranjeras (AEE) de Berisso
3. Centro Lituano-Argentinos lietuvių centras. "Cómo se creó el Centro Lituano" (in Spanish).
4. The New Jewish Argentina
5. "Sociedad Cultural Lituana de Socorros Mutuos NEMUNAS. Historia" Asociación de Entidades Extranjeras (AEE) de Berisso