UNFOUNDED FEARS, INFLATED HOPES, PASSIONATE MEMORIES: JEWISH SELF-DEFENCE IN 1960s ARGENTINA

In late 1963, the Argentine Foreign Ministry expressed its concern to Israeli diplomats about several matters "that might disturb relations between the two countries." Specifically, it referred to "military training" that Jewish youth were receiving in camps in the province of Buenos Aires under the supervision of Israeli instructors. The Argentine authorities' concern was caused by the formation of Jewish self-defence groups in the Argentine capital determined to confront the provocations of anti-Semitic, nationalist right-wing bullies. Based on both diplomatic documents and a series of interviews with former members of Jewish self-defence groups, this article analyses the establishment, structure, recruitment methods, training and activities of these organizations. Our main argument is that the concern of Argentine authorities was exaggerated, as well as were the fears of Jewish-Argentines of a possible pogrom, following the kidnapping of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Argentina.