The National Socialist Movement of Chile (Spanish: Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile) was a political movement in Chile, during the Presidential Republic Era, which initially supported the ideas of Adolf Hitler, although it later moved towards a more local form of fascism. They were commonly known as Nacistas.[1]
Development
The movement was formed in April 1932 by General Diaz Valderrama, Carlos Keller (the main ideologue of the group) and Jorge González von Marées, who became leader. The party initially followed the ideas of Nazism closely, stressing antisemitism. It received financial support from the German population of Chile and soon built up a membership of 20,000 people. The movement stressed what it saw as the need for one-party rule, corporatism and solidarity between classes, and soon set up its own paramilitary wing, the Tropas Nacistas de Asalto.[2]
However support for Hitler was later abandoned, with González von Marées claiming by the late 1930s that the use of the name 'National Socialist' had been an error on his part. Antisemitism was also scaled back, with a more domestic form of fascism being offered instead.[2] Indeed, the main ideological inspiration claimed by the group was Diego Portales and the choice of name had to an extent been inspired by the success the Nazis were enjoying in Europe and a desire to tap into their, at the time, high reputation.[1] Initial contact with the NSDAP/AO eventually ended when that group criticised the Nacistas for their lack of commitment to antisemitism.[1] Individual members (most notably, Miguel Serrano) continued to look to Adolf Hitler.
Of the former members of the party only Jorge Prat gained much influence. Publishing a weekly paper, Estanquero, between 1949 and 1954, he served as a cabinet minister in Carlos Ibáñez del Campo's government and attempted to run for President of Chile in 1964.[6]
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