Argentina's 1919 Tragic Week: The Birth of State Violence

In January 1919, Buenos Aires was shaken by a series of events that came to be known as the Tragic Week, or Semana Trágica. Sparked by a strike at the Vasena metalworking factory, the conflict erupted into a general strike, violent repression by police and military, and paramilitary attacks led by the Argentine Patriotic League. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the social tensions of early 20th-century Argentina — the influx of immigrant workers, the rise of anarchist and socialist movements, and the brutal response from the oligarchy. They discuss key figures like President Hipólito Yrigoyen, who hesitated then authorized force; Colonel Luis Dellepiane, the military man tasked with restoring order; and Manuel Carlés, the ultra-nationalist founder of the Patriotic League. The episode delves into the role of the Jewish community, with the pogrom-like attacks in the Once neighborhood, and the Legacy of Semana Trágica as a precursor to the state violence of the Dirty War. No episode has covered this seminal moment in Argentine labor history and its lasting impact on the nation's psyche.

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