German Immigrants in Paraguay: A Legacy of Resilience and Contributions

How German colonies started in Paraguay, and why is this South American Country still attractive to thousands of Germans

Mennonite Moving with an Old Wagon in Canindeyu District

Historically, Paraguay has welcomed people who were born in Europe due to displacement caused by wars (in the late 1800s and after the first and second world wars), to have political thoughts independent from the governments and to have apolitical differences, and the desire to practice a particular religion freely, such as the case of the Mennonites in Paraguay that came directly from Europe and other countries of the Americas.

While times have changed, we can never predict the sociopolitical events that will cause another population movement, despite our increased connectivity through current technology.

The Paraguayan population suffered greatly after the Triple Alliance War (1865–1870), with only 300,000 survivors out of 1.3 million, facing at that time multiple crises including political, economic, and population issues. The first measure taken by the government (1872) to boost the national economy was the sale of public lands, which led to the creation of large estates, supported by the law, this allowed for the first time the freedom to buy & sell land and choose professions, which attracted foreign investment in cheap land offerings. However, most of the remaining Paraguayan population, mostly women, children, and the elderly, lacked the means to benefit from the law.

The first Mennonite immigrants arrived in 1921 (other sources indicate that these settlers began to colonize the Chaco in 1927) and continued to settle until 1948 with the support of Law № 514, which granted them numerous privileges and benefits. Despite facing challenges such as harsh terrain and water shortages, their strong group unity helped them overcome these obstacles and establish well-organized colonies. This law, gave the Mennonites:

1. Complete religious freedom.
2. Exemption from military service (during both peace and war)
3. The right to maintain their own educational system in their language (German dialect)
4. Provide religious education in schools.
5. Right to create and manage their own mutual insurance in colonies and a social security system for widows and orphans.
6. The Mennonites were given a 10-year tax exemption under this law.

The lands granted at that time were difficult to access, with a hostile environment and challenging lands to cultivate. Despite these challenges, the Mennonites in Paraguay who decided to stay founded colonies and businesses that are now critical to the food supply chain, primarily in meat and dairy products. These German descendants should be proud of their ancestors’ efforts and the fruits of their labor, which benefit not only their descendants but also a large portion of Paraguayans. These communities are mainly found in San Pedro, Guaira, Alto Parana, Misiones and other parts of Paraguay, where they can find support from other German communities. There were other cases of colonies prior to the Mennonite migration, such as the cities founded by Germans like San Bernardino and Nueva Germania, the latter having Elizabeth Nietzsche, sister of the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, as its protagonist.

The arrival of COVID-19 has brought a new wave of German immigrants (+2.000) to Paraguay, driven by their own convictions and encouraged by the active German communities in Paraguay, who have established their homes, families, and businesses in the country. One of the current causes is the coercive laws imposed during the worst part of the pandemic, which have been reformed and subtly adapted to exert new coercive power in European countries. Many of these reasons are due to environmental factors, and the opportunity to enjoy the warmth and outdoor activities is also important to new German immigrants.

Another important factor, is the strong obligatory dependence on the German government (around 33% of your income if you are a german resident goes to health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance and income tax) and the search for all legal means to start a new life or become independent.

After all, the best way to demonstrate discontent with one’s government is to stop paying taxes and become independent in a geographic location.

Laws exist for everything, and the respect between every person is linked with our level of consciousness that leads us to think about the common good, to leave behind our individuality and assume a duty. However, to what extent are these norms necessary, such as prohibiting street sales, installing new ways of censorship, forbidding noises that may be considered annoying or not, or prohibiting dog walking without a leash in certain places? Prohibiting is not always the solution, but rather thinking about the underlying need that has different roots and not just exerting authority over those who are considered different.

In conclusion, Paraguay has a rich history of welcoming people from diverse backgrounds, and continues to offer opportunities for new immigrants to start a new life and contribute to the country’s development. It is important to respect and embrace the diversity that these immigrants bring, while also finding a balance between individual rights and the common good through just laws.