German Paraguayans

German Paraguayans
Total population
320,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Asunción, Itapúa Department and Boquerón Department.
Languages
Guaraní, German Hunsrik, Paraguayan Spanish, Plautdietsch
Religion
Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic and Protestantism), Judaism
Related ethnic groups
German diaspora, German Canadians, German-Chileans, German-Argentinians, German-Brazilian, German Uruguayan, German Americans, Russia Germans

The German minority in Paraguay came into existence with immigration during the industrial age. The "Nueva Germania" colony was founded in Paraguay in 1888; though regarded as a failure, it still exists despite being abandoned by many of its founders in the 1890s. Paraguay was a popular place for German leaders accused of war crimes to retreat after the second World War. There are large communities of German descendants living in the department of Guairá, in a town called (Colonia Independencia), the department of Itapúa, mainly in the Departmental Capital, Encarnación and the German towns of Obligado, Bella Vista and Hohenau. Some recent Brazilian immigrants to Paraguay also have German ancestry (Brasiguayos).[2] Notable Paraguayans of German descent include the former president of Paraguay Alfredo Stroessner.

  1. ^ "Establecerán nueva colonia de alemanes en Paraguay". ABC Color. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  2. ^ Smith, Tony (10 August 2003). "Paraguay Mennonites Find Success a Mixed Blessing". The New York Times.