During the World War II, Argentina implemented an active policy regarding the situation of its citizens in Europe, both Jewish and non-Jewish. In general terms, Argentines were not persecuted because of their nationality. Situations of victimization were instead mainly linked to three causes: political motives, racial motives, or circumstances arising from the development of the war itself.
The situation of Argentine Jews in Europe changed significantly after Argentina broke diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. Until then, their status as citizens of a neutral country had provided them with a certain degree of relative protection. However, following that diplomatic shift, Adolf Eichmann issued a general order for their internment. Around 90 Argentine Jews were sent to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp as exchange prisoners. Others were deported to extermination camps or interned in concentration and transit camps.
One of the central episodes of Argentine diplomatic efforts was the decree issued in 1942 by the government of Ramón Castillo, authorizing the admission into the country of 1,000 Jewish children. To implement the initiative, a committee composed of Jewish institutions was created. Among them, SOPROTIMIS (Society for the Protection of Israelite Immigrants) promoted negotiations with the National Directorate of Migration.
However, the project ultimately failed. The Nazi occupation of Vichy France meant that the children’s departure depended on German authorization, which proved impossible to obtain. Despite further negotiations with the Argentine Foreign Ministry and with diplomatic representatives in Vichy and Berlin, the plan did not succeed. The decree expired on December 31, 1943, without the initiative ever being implemented.
