Argentine Civic Legion
Encyclopedia
The Argentine Civic Legion (Legión Cívica Argentina, LCA) was a Argentine nationalist and fascist
militia. It was recognized as a political entity on 20 May 1931 and received juridical personality on 11 January 1932. In 1937, the Legion was succeeded and replaced by the Alliance of Nationalist Youth
. The Legion was formed by Argentine President
General José Félix Uriburu
officially as a reserve for Argentina's armed forces. The Legion's members were authorized to receive military training. The Legion declared itself to be made up of "patriotic men" who embodied "the spirit of the September revolution
and who morally and materially were ready to cooperate in the institutional reconstruction of the country". The Legion was the largest nationalist organization in Argentina in the early 1930s. The Legion is known to have committed acts of violence against its political opponents and tortured those that were captured.
The Legion was heavily influenced by fascism
, with its members utilizing the Roman salute
, wearing fascist-style uniforms, and marching in military formation. The Legion's declaration of principles attacked Marxism
and democracy
and declared support for the creation of a corporatist
state like that of Fascist Italy
. The Legion cooperated with the Argentine Fascist Party
, particularly in the Córdoba
region of Argentina. In Córdoba in 1935, the local Legion allied with the Argentine Fascist Party and Argentine Nationalist Action to form the Frente de Fuerzas Fascistas de Córdoba, which was replaced by the National Fascist Union
in 1936. In 1936, the Legion's leader General Juan Bautista Molina
reorganized the Legion to be based upon the organization of the Nazi Party. General Molina wanted an Argentina based on Nazi lines, presenting himself as an Argentine Hitler
, and having close relations with Nazi Germany
.
The Legion was violently anti-Semitic
, with its journal Combate issuing a "commandment" to its members: "War against the Jew
. Hatred towards the Jew. Death to the Jew."
The Legion had a student wing called the Nationalist Union of Secondary Students (Unión Nacionalista des Estudiantes Secundarios, UNES). Unlike other Argentine nationalist organizations of the time, the Legion had a women's section, while other nationalist groups excluded women from their organizations. The Legion's women section called Agrupación Femenina de la LCA promoted women to love the armed forces and respect for order, authority, and hierarchy in the home and school. These women were to provide aid to the poor to assist in establishing social peace.
The Legion's paramilitary
unit which caused controversy and resulted in the government enacting a law to disarm private armed forces.
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
militia. It was recognized as a political entity on 20 May 1931 and received juridical personality on 11 January 1932. In 1937, the Legion was succeeded and replaced by the Alliance of Nationalist Youth
Alliance of Nationalist Youth (Argentina)
The Alliance of Nationalist Youth was an Argentine Nacionalista and Nazi political party in Argentina formed in 1937 as the successor of the Argentine Civic Legion...
. The Legion was formed by Argentine President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
General José Félix Uriburu
José Félix Uriburu
General José Félix Benito Uriburu y Uriburu was the first de facto President of Argentina, achieved through a military coup, from September 6, 1930 to February 20, 1932.-Biography:...
officially as a reserve for Argentina's armed forces. The Legion's members were authorized to receive military training. The Legion declared itself to be made up of "patriotic men" who embodied "the spirit of the September revolution
1930 Argentine coup d'etat
The 1930 Argentine coup d'état also known as the September Revolution by supporters of it, involved the overthrow of the Argentine government of Hipólito Yrigoyen by forces loyal to General José Félix Uriburu...
and who morally and materially were ready to cooperate in the institutional reconstruction of the country". The Legion was the largest nationalist organization in Argentina in the early 1930s. The Legion is known to have committed acts of violence against its political opponents and tortured those that were captured.
The Legion was heavily influenced by fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, with its members utilizing the Roman salute
Roman salute
The Roman salute is a gesture in which the arm is held out forward straight, with palm down, and fingers touching. In some versions, the arm is raised upward at an angle; in others, it is held out parallel to the ground. The former is a well known symbol of fascism that is commonly perceived to be...
, wearing fascist-style uniforms, and marching in military formation. The Legion's declaration of principles attacked Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and declared support for the creation of a corporatist
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
state like that of Fascist Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
. The Legion cooperated with the Argentine Fascist Party
Argentine Fascist Party
The Argentine Fascist Party was a fascist political party in Argentina from 1932 until its official disbandment in 1936, when it was succeeded by the National Fascist Union...
, particularly in the Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
region of Argentina. In Córdoba in 1935, the local Legion allied with the Argentine Fascist Party and Argentine Nationalist Action to form the Frente de Fuerzas Fascistas de Córdoba, which was replaced by the National Fascist Union
National Fascist Union (Argentina)
The National Fascist Union was a fascist political party formed in Argentina in 1936, as the successor to the Argentine Fascist Party....
in 1936. In 1936, the Legion's leader General Juan Bautista Molina
Juan Bautista Molina
Brigadier General Juan Bautista Molina was an Argentine military commander and a pro-Nazi Argentine ultranationalist who led the Argentine Civic Legion and its successors, the Alliance of Nationalist Youth and its successor the Nationalist Liberation Alliance .Molina was involved in a number of...
reorganized the Legion to be based upon the organization of the Nazi Party. General Molina wanted an Argentina based on Nazi lines, presenting himself as an Argentine Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, and having close relations with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
The Legion was violently anti-Semitic
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, with its journal Combate issuing a "commandment" to its members: "War against the Jew
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
. Hatred towards the Jew. Death to the Jew."
The Legion had a student wing called the Nationalist Union of Secondary Students (Unión Nacionalista des Estudiantes Secundarios, UNES). Unlike other Argentine nationalist organizations of the time, the Legion had a women's section, while other nationalist groups excluded women from their organizations. The Legion's women section called Agrupación Femenina de la LCA promoted women to love the armed forces and respect for order, authority, and hierarchy in the home and school. These women were to provide aid to the poor to assist in establishing social peace.
The Legion's paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
unit which caused controversy and resulted in the government enacting a law to disarm private armed forces.