Juan Bautista Molina
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Juan Bautista Molina was an Argentine military commander and a pro-Nazi
Argentine ultranationalist who led the Argentine Civic Legion
(LCA) and its successors, the Alliance of Nationalist Youth
(AJN) and its successor the Nationalist Liberation Alliance
(ALN).
Molina was involved in a number of plots to overthrow the Argentine liberal government of Agustín Pedro Justo
in the 1930s. In order to contain Molina, President Justo appointed Molina as Argentina's military attaché
in Germany
in 1933 where Molina witnessed the Nazi regime that impressed him. Molina was promoted to brigadier general in 1937 and this was followed by his appointed as director general of the army engineers in 1938. Molina retired from army service in 1938 and devoted attention to his leadership of the AJN.
In 1935, Molina called for the dissolution of the three powers of the national government, the abolition of political parties, the establishment of a military dictatorship, the enacting of press censorship
, and actions to prevent "immorality", and changing the economic system to be led by guilds
and the creation of a "consultative board [to] unite" workers and employers. In 1943, Molina led street demonstrations led by nationalist protestors against the Castillo government for its promotion of Argentine neutrality in World War II
while Molina and his supporters were pro-Axis
. During the protest, Molina's supporters shouted violent anti-American, anti-British, and anti-Semitic slogans, saying "Death to the British pigs" and "Death to the Jews".
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Juan Bautista Molina was an Argentine military commander and a pro-Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Argentine ultranationalist who led the Argentine Civic Legion
Argentine Civic Legion
The Argentine Civic Legion 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...
(LCA) and its successors, 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...
(AJN) and its successor the Nationalist Liberation Alliance
Nationalist Liberation Alliance
The Nationalist Liberation Alliance was an Argentine Nacionalista and Nazi political party founded by Jordán Bruno Genta in 1943. It was a successor to the Alliance of Nationalist Youth led by Juan Bautista Molina who became the first leader of the party...
(ALN).
Molina was involved in a number of plots to overthrow the Argentine liberal government of Agustín Pedro Justo
Agustín Pedro Justo
General Agustín Pedro Justo Rolón was President of Argentina from February 20, 1932, to February 20, 1938...
in the 1930s. In order to contain Molina, President Justo appointed Molina as Argentina's military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in 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...
in 1933 where Molina witnessed the Nazi regime that impressed him. Molina was promoted to brigadier general in 1937 and this was followed by his appointed as director general of the army engineers in 1938. Molina retired from army service in 1938 and devoted attention to his leadership of the AJN.
In 1935, Molina called for the dissolution of the three powers of the national government, the abolition of political parties, the establishment of a military dictatorship, the enacting of press censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
, and actions to prevent "immorality", and changing the economic system to be led by guilds
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
and the creation of a "consultative board [to] unite" workers and employers. In 1943, Molina led street demonstrations led by nationalist protestors against the Castillo government for its promotion of Argentine neutrality in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
while Molina and his supporters were pro-Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. During the protest, Molina's supporters shouted violent anti-American, anti-British, and anti-Semitic slogans, saying "Death to the British pigs" and "Death to the Jews".