Argentine Patriotic League Liga Patriótica Argentina | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | LPA |
| Leader | Manuel Carlés [es;fr] |
| Founded | January 16, 1919 (1919-01-16) |
| Dissolved | 1931 |
| Succeeded by | Argentine Civic Legion |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Membership | 300,000+ (1920s) |
| Ideology | Nacionalismo Racism Antisemitism Radicalism[1] Economic liberalism[2] |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Colors | Light blue |
| Party flag | |
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TheArgentine Patriotic League (Spanish:Liga Patriótica Argentina) was aNacionalistaparamilitary group, officially created inBuenos Aires on January 16, 1919, during theTragic Week. Presided over byManuel Carlés, a professor at the Military College and theEscuela Superior de Guerra, it also counted among its members the deputySantiago G. O'Farrell (1861–1926). The League was merged into theArgentine Civic Legion in 1931.[3] The Argentine Patriotic League formed part of a largermovement of patriotic leagues active in Chile and Argentina during the early 20th century.
Composed of wealthy youth, the League assaulted workers' neighborhoods, including theJewishOnce neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It received military training from members of theArgentine Armed Forces, was subsidized by important members of theoligarchy, and supported by theChurch.[4] The League worked hand-in-hand with theBonaerense police forces in the repression of social movements. Some of its members were also members of theRadical Party.[4]
It quickly extended itself throughoutArgentina, on a nationalist,xenophobic,anti-Communist andanti-Semitic program. They attacked in particularCatalans (accused of beinganarchists) andJews (accused of beingBolsheviks).[4]
At its height in the early 1920s, the League's so-called brigades contained as many as 300,000 members throughout the country.[4] The League counted with the official support of the admiral and Minister of MarineManuel Domecq García.
The League participated to the events known asPatagonia rebelde orPatagonia Trágica (1921–1922), inRío Gallegos, during which 1,500 workers on strike were assassinated.
It also participated toJosé Félix Uriburu's 1930 military coup, which initiated theInfamous Decade.