Propaganda and cultural reconquest: The German scientific associations and the impact of the Great War on the sciences, Argentina, 1914-1930

DIEGO BALLESTERO, SUSANA V. GARCÍA E IRINA PODGORNY

Lisboa

Jornada; Guerra e Propaganda no Século XX; 2013

Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

The Great War and its aftermath, indeed, would impact on Argentine scientific and educational institutions, an aspect that even today was not extensively treated by historiography. In this paper we summarize some of the conflicts related to the tensions between Argentine and German scientists, living in Argentina, and enrolled in German cultural propaganda. In a context that was favorable to French culture and British interests, the ?Deutsche Wissenschaftliche Verein? (Association of German Scientists) of Buenos Aires, through its publications, argued that the history of science and education in Argentina were inextricably linked to German culture. We examine the reactions of Argentinan scientists, nucleated at the Sociedad Argentina de Ciencias Naturales, to the German cultural and political agenda in Argentina. We refer to the activities and initiatives promoted by German scientific societies during and after the Great War, when they attempted at the scientific and ?cultural reconquest? of these territories. In particular, we refer to the role and networks of Robert Lehmann-Nitsche, who lived in Argentina between 1897 and 1930 and was involved in several conflicts within the University of La Plata. Lehmann-Nitsche was part also of German anti-republican movements, concerned about the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles and the destiny of the "Deutschum".