| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 4,000 [1] [2] to 8,900[ citation needed ] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Maracay | |
| Languages | |
| Predominantly in Spanish, minority speak Polish and/or Yiddish | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholicism, minority are Orthodox and Judaism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Poles, Polish Brazilians, Polish Americans, Polish Canadians |
Polish Venezuelans (Polish : Polscy Wenezuelczycy, Spanish : polaco-venezolanos) are Venezuelan citizens of full or partial Polish ancestry. The Polish colony in Venezuela is well dispersed throughout the country, but most of the Poles and their descendants live in big cities like Caracas, Maracaibo and Valencia.
In the 1630s, there were ideas being proposed between Duke Jacob Kettler and the King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, John II Casimir Vasa for Polish colonization of Venezuela. Polish ships had explored settlements within the Caribbean and tried on four occasions to establish a colony on the nearby island of Tobago, however the attempt of a colony failed and all plans to establish a colony in Venezuela faltered. [3] In 1787, Polish King Stanisław August Poniatowski hosted future Venezuelan military leader and revolutionary, Francisco de Miranda for a few days in Kaniów (in present-day Ukraine) while Miranda was traveling Europe. [3] During the Venezuelan War of Independence, several Polish officers served and fought for Venezuelan independence against Spanish troops. One Polish officer, Izydor Borowski fought for Venezuelan independence and was promoted to general by Simón Bolívar. [3] Soon after Venezuela obtained independence, small numbers of Poles immigrated to Venezuela, many of them scientists, clergy, architects and engineers. [3]
Polish immigration to Venezuela occurred in three stages, the first during World War II, when Polish citizens of Jewish origin were fleeing the Holocaust.[ citation needed ]
The second happened immediately after the war (years 1946–1948), when the Poles of Jewish origin who survived the war joined their relatives already established in Venezuela. In addition, many Polish soldiers who had fought in Britain, Germany and Italy or were prisoners in Nazi camps migrated to Venezuela. Others migrated also after the war from Europe (not from Jewish origins) escaping the Soviets and ended being successful architects, engineers, businessmen and extraordinary human beings. Many escape to Germany at the end of the war and waited for two or three years to get documents and travel permits to move to Latin America, many came to Venezuela during the period of 1948 - 1952.
The next wave of Polish immigration to Venezuela took place between 1957 and 1958 when a few hundred Polish citizens primarily of Jewish origin arrived. There were others who escaped from Poland during a communist crackdown (1947–1956). [4] [5]
As for their profession and employment, the largest group among Poles in Venezuela is constituted by representatives of small family business. There are a considerable number of musicians, academics and doctors. Teodoro Petkoff Malec is a Venezuelan politician, ex-guerrilla, journalist and economist. One of the most prominent politicians on the left in Venezuela, Petkoff began as a communist but gravitated towards liberalism in the 1990s. The governor of Miranda state, Henrique Capriles Radonski, film director Jonathan Jakubowicz, and the writer Luis Zelkowicz are of Polish origin. In the sports world, Jimy Szymanski is a representative of Venezuela in tennis. Ilan Chester is a singer and composer. Mariano Kossowski founded Promar TV in Barquisimeto, Lara State . Nina Novak prima ballerina is a dance national prize of 1996, Harry Abend, is a national prize winning sculptor, and Maria Magdalena and Andrzej Antczak are recognized archaeologists. Andres Gluski is CEO of AES. Ángel Rosenblat was a philologist, essayist and hispanist. Mieczysław Detyniecki is a painter. David Smolansky, politician, Voluntad Popular, former mayor of El Hatillo, Miranda State. Franco de Peña, film director. Gerardo Gerulewicz, pianist and composer. Two Polish Venezuelans have achieved considerable success in the Miss Venezuela. In 1996, Miss Venezuela for Miss World pageant was Ana Cepinska who then get the third place in the Miss World 1996 pageant in India. In 2003 one of the 10 finalists of Miss Venezuela was Francys Sudnicka, who later represented Poland in the Miss Universe 2006 (did not place) and Miss Earth 2006 (semi-finalist) pageants. [4] Marius Sznajderman is a painter, printmaker and scenic designer. Eduardo Krulig, plastic surgeon. Pynchas Brener, former rabbi of Caracas, actual ambassador of Venezuela in Israel. Waclaw Zalewski was engaged as architect by Universidad de los Andes and MIT. The project "Polish Diaspora in Numbers /Polonia w Liczbach Wspolnota Polska" on Facebook is made by Monica Puerta de Pieslak, a Venezuelan.
The Polish diaspora comprises Poles and people of Polish heritage or origin who live outside Poland. The Polish diaspora is also known in modern Polish as Polonia, the name for Poland in Latin and many Romance languages.
Francys Sudnicka is a Polish-Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder.
Polish Brazilians refers to Brazilians of full or partial Polish ancestry who are aware of such ancestry and remain connected, to some degree, to Polish culture, or Polish-born people permanently residing in Brazil. Also, a Polish Brazilian may have one Polish parent.
The history of the Jews in Venezuela dates to the middle of the 17th century, when records suggest that groups of marranos lived in Tucacas, Caracas and Maracaibo. The Jewish community, however, did not become established in Venezuela until the middle of the 19th century. Since Hugo Chávez took power in 1999, tension has existed between the government and Jewish population, which has seen large numbers emigrating. Today, the majority of Venezuelan Jews live in Israel, while modern-day Venezuela continues to host a modest Jewish population.
Polish Argentines are Argentine citizens of full or partial Polish ancestry or Poland-born people who reside in Argentina. Poland was the fourth largest net migrants contributor after Italy, Spain and Germany. Although it is hard to give an exact number of Polish immigrants to Argentina, as those who immigrated before 1919 carried German, Austrian or Russian passports, it is estimated that between 1921 and 1976, 169,335 Poles permanently settled in the country. Today there are 2 million Argentines of Polish descent. The Polish minority in Argentina is both one of the most significant minorities in Argentina and one of the largest groups of Polish diaspora.
European Venezuelans or White Venezuelans are Venezuelan citizens who self-identify in the national census as white, tracing their heritage to European ethnic groups. According to the official census report, although "white" literally involves external issues such as light skin, shape and color of hair and eyes, among others, the term "white" has been used in different ways in different historical periods and places, and so its precise definition is somewhat confusing.
Miss Polonia is a national beauty pageant in Poland to select the official ambassador of Poland at the Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss Grand International, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Charm pageants. This pageant is the oldest beauty pageant in Poland.
Spanish expeditions led by Columbus and Alonso de Ojeda reached the coast of present-day Venezuela in 1498 and 1499. The first colonial exploitation was of the pearl oysters of the "Pearl Islands". Spain established its first permanent South American settlement in the present-day city of Cumaná in 1502, and in 1577 Caracas became the capital of the Province of Venezuela. There was also for a few years a German colony at Klein-Venedig.
Polish Chileans include immigrants to Chile from Poland and their descendants who recognize their Polish ancestry.
Poland–Spain relations are cultural and political relations between Poland and Spain. Both nations are members of NATO, the European Union, OECD, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Spain has given full support to Poland's membership in the European Union and NATO.
A Polish Paraguayan is a Paraguayan-born person of full or partial Polish ancestry or a Polish-born citizen who resides in Paraguay. The peak of Polish immigration to Paraguay began during the 20th century, particularly after World War II when millions of Poles left their country and chose different countries where they could find a better quality of life. In South America, Paraguay was one of the main destinations.
Polaco is a Spanish derogatory term for a Catalan person. Its origins are not clear and all related theories are purely speculative, usually banking on the fact that the same word is also used to refer to the Polish people. The name appears across all Spain, though in particular in Madrid and in the regions neighboring Catalonia. Rarely present in literary language, it forms part of the slang vocabulary; its best-known usage is during sport competitions. In Catalonia the term is accepted and at times used once its derogatory flavor is wiped out or reversed, such as when telling Catalans from other Spaniards. In Poland the term is generally unknown.
Colombia–Poland relations are the diplomatic relations between Colombia and Poland. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Cuba–Poland relations are the diplomatic relations between Cuba and Poland. Both nations are members of the United Nations.
Poland–Venezuela relations refers to the bilateral relations between Poland and Venezuela.
Polish Colombians are Colombian citizens of full or partial Polish ancestry, or Polish-born person residing in Colombia. Most of the Polish immigrants that fled from the Holocaust to Colombia were Polish Jews.
Maciej Tadeusz Ziętara is a Polish translator, civil servant and diplomat, serving as Poland Ambassador to Colombia (2012–2016) and Mexico (2018–2024).
Luiseth Emiliana Materán Bolaño is a Venezuelan actress, journalist, tv host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was appointed as Miss Universe Venezuela 2021. She represented the state of Miranda at the Miss Venezuela 2020 pageant and represented Venezuela in Miss Universe 2021 in Eilat, Israel. In 2022, she represented Venezuela at Miss Grand International 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia where she placed 3rd Runner Up.
Selene Alejandra Delgado Delgado is a Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Supranational Venezuela 2023. She also represented Miranda at the Miss Venezuela 2021 where was the 4th runner-up. Delgado represented Venezuela at the Miss Supranational 2023 pageant in Poland.
Polish Peruvians are Peruvian-born citizens who are of fully or partially of Polish descent, whose ancestors were Poles who emigrated to Peru as part of the Polish diaspora or Polish-born people in Peru.
