The situation of Jewish migration from Nazi Germany generated significant debate among various Latin American nations. Chile was no exception to the controversy during the governments of Arturo Alessandri and Pedro Aguirre Cerda, between 1938 and 1942. This study aims to analyze Chile’s overall position regarding the phenomenon of Jewish migration to Europe, with particular attention to the experiences of Jewish refugees in Bolivia and their attempts to migrate to Chile.
The central hypothesis suggests that the reception of German Jews from Bolivia occurred during a pivotal juncture in Chilean foreign policy, when decisions regarding European Jewish migration intersected with expectations for relations with Bolivia. Diplomatic ties at the embassy level had been strengthened; however, Bolivia’s landlocked status remained a central concern in Bolivian policy. Consular and diplomatic efforts regarding German Jews formed part of a largely unknown and overlooked period in Chile-Bolivia relations, reflecting the complexity faced by both states in responding to a universal human tragedy.
