Slovene Diaspora

Mass migration from Europe to the "New World" in search of a better life is neither a new phenomenon nor confined to a few countries. However, it was a particular feature of Slovenia's experience during the 20^th century, reflecting the country's tumultuous history during that period. This article will explore the Slovene diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Argentina.

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The forces driving Slovenians from their homeland

European post-WWII migrants on their way to their new countries

Before World War I, Slovenia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At war's end, the majority of Slovenia joined the short-lived Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes while its most western region was ceded to Italy. This region suffered severe ethnic suppression within Fascist Italy for the next 20 years. During World War II, Slovenia was occupied by Axis forces and divided among Nazi Germany, Italy, and Hungary, and the local population suffered greatly. Thereafter it became one of the six constituent republics of the new Socialist (Communist) Yugoslavia, finally achieving independence in 1991. All this occurred within the span of one human lifetime.

Faced with this turmoil, many Slovenes looked to migrate abroad. Their reasons for leaving their homeland were many and sometimes overlapped. Many searched for better economic opportunities. Others sought to escape from political and cultural suppression. For later emigrants, it was often a case of family reunification.

Whatever the reasons, significant Slovene communities have been established in key destination countries, especially across the Americas and in Australia. Today there is an estimated 500,000 people of Slovenian descent living overseas who directly acknowledge their Slovenian identity. But this number is only a fraction of those people outside Slovenia who have a dormant or unknown Slovenian connection. Perhaps you are one of them.

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Slovenians in the United States

A Slovenian presence in the North American colonies can be traced back to the late 17^th century but it was from the mid-19^th century onwards that significant numbers of Slovene immigrants arrived. They were typically recruited by immigration agents in their homeland. Most ended up working in the mining, steel, and construction industries. According to the 1910 US Census, there were already around 183,000 persons in the United States whose mother tongue was Slovene. Most of these immigrants were single young men and relatively poorly educated. They would have planned to return home when their financial situation allowed. Often that did not happen. They mainly settled in the industrial regions of the Midwest and Northeast.

Advertisement for Slovene cultural event in a Cleveland newspaper

At this time, immigrants of "Slav" origin faced considerable discrimination. In response, "fraternal benefit" organizations emerged and, along with Slovene ethnic churches, became a cornerstone of Slovenians trying to adjust to their new country while preserving a link to their Slovene heritage. These organizations provided practical benefits, like workers' insurance, as well as a forum for sharing social and cultural life, language, and information with fellow Slovenians. They usually built meeting halls and "national homes" to provide their communities with a physical presence . The largest of these was in Cleveland.

Between 1918 and 1945, Slovene migrants included more professional and skilled workers. After World War II, both the number and type of Slovenian migrants to the United States changed even more significantly. Many Slovenians, like others from Eastern and Southern Europe, had been displaced by the war. These migrants were couples and family groups who saw their move to the United States as a permanent one. Their arrival also created some strong ideological rivalries within the community. Slovenians already in the United States tended to support the political leanings of the new Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. On the other hand, the new post-War arrivals generally were strongly anti-Communist.

Today there are anywhere from 300,000 to upwards of 600,000 Americans of Slovene origin in the USA. Up to 90% of these are not original immigrants but their descendants. The highest concentration of Slovenians is still found in Ohio, where Cleveland has been nicknamed "the capital of Slovenian America". Other states with significant Slovenian populations include Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, and California.

Slovenians in Canada

Migrant workers, lumber and horse teams, Duncan Creek, The Yukon, Canada

The first Slovenians arrived in Canada as early as the mid-19^th century as missionaries. More substantial Slovene migration to Canada began in the early 20^th century, when many young men left their homeland to work in Canadian mining, logging, and farming industries which were suffering from labor shortages. According to the 1921 Canadian Census, there were already "2,405 persons in Canada of Slovenian origin". This number is almost certainly an underestimate as the census form of the time only gave immigrants the option of nominating their "country of origin". This meant that Slovenians would have been lumped in with other ethnic groups from the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Most of these immigrants did not plan to remain, despite the availability of government policies that offered low prices on land to immigrant settlers. Those that did stay mainly settled in the rural areas of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. They faced harsh conditions and discrimination which encouraged the formation of tight Slovene communities with their own churches, clubs, newspapers, and mutual aid societies. The most vibrant Slovene community was in the mining district of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where in 1933, the first independent Slovenian benefit society (Bled Mutual Benefit Society, named after Slovenia's most famous lake) was established.

Many more Slovenians left for Canada after World War II. Some of them were political refugees who had fought for the independence of Slovenia during the war, while others were economic migrants. Displaced Persons accepted by Canada under their Refugee Program were required to sign a contract committing them to work at a place selected by the Canadian authorities for one year. Thus were had no control over where they were sent and dispersed across the country. On completion of their contract period, they mostly settled in urban areas where they joined the existing Slovenian communities or established new ones.

In the two decades after the World War II wave, the Slovenians that arrived in Canada were mainly driven by family reunion It also included more professionals and skilled workers. There was a further burst of Slovenian migration to Canada in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Slovenia declared its independence. Once again this group consisted mainly of family members of previous immigrants who wanted to reunite with their relatives or spouses in Canada. They tended to integrate more easily into the Canadian mainstream culture than their predecessors. Many maintain their Slovenian identity and heritage.

There are an estimated 40,000 Canadians of Slovene origin today, with the highest concentration still found in Ontario. Other provinces with significant Slovenian populations include British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec.

Slovenians in Australia

The aftermath of World War II provided the impetus for large-scale migration to Australia from Slovenia. There had already been a small number of ethnic Slovenians, mainly mariners, and traders, who found themselves in Australia going back to the 19^th century.

However, in the decades from the late 1940s onwards, the opportunity to start a new life far away from war-ravaged Europe and free of the newly established Communist regime in Yugoslavia proved a powerful lure to tens of thousands of Slovenians. Denied permission to leave Yugoslavia legally many still managed to slip across heavily guarded borders into Italy and Austria. They usually ended up in Red Cross refugee camps, looking for a new country that would take them. Australia, with its relatively less onerous immigration requirements compared to our potential destinations like Canada, was a popular choice.

Migrants at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp, early 1950s. Australian authorities were keen to showcase how well migrants were housed and fed to encourage more refugees and displaced persons to chose Australia as their preferred destination

On arrival, Slovenian migrants were housed in government-managed "reception centers", which had usually been converted from defense facilities, or in purpose-built hostels. The largest facility was the former Bonegilla Army Camp on the New South Wales-Victoria border. Altogether over 300,000 people (all nationalities) entered Australia via Bonegilla between 1947 and 1971.

At these camps, Slovenian migrants were offered English lessons and trades training, as well as basic accommodation, food, and other life necessities while they were assessed for employment opportunities. They undertook to remain in the employment found for them by the Government for a period of two years and their continued residence in Australia was subject to this undertaking. Men generally were expected to work as laborers and unskilled workers, and women as domestics, nurses, and typists. Professional qualifications and technical skills were ignored. At the end of their bonded period, migrants effectively became permanent residents with the normal rights of Australian citizens to live and work where they chose.

Dubbed "New Australians", Slovenians like other migrants were strongly encouraged to assimilate into established Australian society, eschewing their own language and culture. When these migrants took up Australian citizenship they were described as having been "naturalized". Discrimination was common, even if it was mostly low-level derogatory comments about their accents, social interests, and food preferences. These all seemed very alien to the majority population who were still steeped in everything British.

The level of Slovenian migration to Australia dropped sharply after the mid-1970s. By then 30-plus years of large-scale migration had completely changed the face of the country. First recognition, then the celebration of "multicultural" Australia replaced any thought of forcing Slovenian migrants to assimilate. Today the Slovenian community in Australia retains links to its former homeland through a range of social associations, sporting and cultural clubs, as well as a small number of Slovene community Catholic Churches.

Slovenians in Argentina

Slovenians first arrived in Argentina in the mid-19^th century, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between Argentina and Austria-Hungary which led to a steady stream of farmer immigrants from Europe. By the first decades of the 20^th century, Argentina had become rich, ranking among the world's 10th wealthiest states per capita by 1913. Its economy was powered by agribusiness and ranching, making it the world's leading exporter of corn, flax, and meat at the time. Argentina boomed further when oil was discovered, starting in 1907 in Patagonia and then later in 1918 around Plaza Huincul in the Province of Neuquén, about 1,200 km southwest of the capital, Buenos Aires. This attracted foreign workers, eager to take advantage of the jobs and money the oil boom promised.

By the 1920s Argentina had become a magnet for immigrants especially from Spain, Portugal, and Italy due to those countries' long-standing historic, cultural, and linguistic ties. Italian migrants included those from the western (Primorska) region of Slovenia, which at that time was part of Italy. These Slovenians were lured to Argentina by both push and pull factors. Argentina promised better jobs and higher wages, while also allowing them to escape the fascist Italian regime which was actively suppressing all aspects of Slovene politics, culture, and economic life. (See also: Slovene genealogy)

Carlos (Karol) Jakin far left, who migrated to Argentina from Slovenia in 1929. Taken at his house in Bahia Blanca, 1958 with his Argentine wife, Gregoria, and other family members.

Some Slovenians eventually returned to their homeland when they have saved enough money. Others stayed, integrating into the Argentine community and even changing their names to their Spanish-language equivalent. The Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, and its surrounds were a favored location for these settlers.

Within a few decades, Argentina's fortunes had waned rapidly. The Great Depression severely dented international trade on which Argentina's prosperity had depended. Argentina's response, based on promoting industrial self-sufficiency, backfired spectacularly. Combined with serious political instability Argentina was unable to recover its former status as a leading economy.

With new opportunities arising elsewhere in the New World, Argentina was no longer a drawcard and European migration slowed to a trickle. Today, according to the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are around 30,000 people of Slovenian origin living in Argentina.

Explore more about Slovene diaspora

MyHeritage has a variety of resources where you can begin your Slovenia research. For example, there are more than 1 million individuals born in Slovenia in tens of thousands of family trees created by MyHeritage members.

Beyond MyHeritage, other Slovene-specific genealogical resources include:

• Peter Hawlina, a prominent Slovene genealogist, has written an excellent introduction to assist family historians located outside Slovenia with researching their Slovenian roots.
• Slovenian Genealogy Society International, Inc SGSI is a US-based non-profit whose stated goal is to help its members make use of their information to perform their own genealogy research.  Includes multiple searchable databases providing information on individual Slovene surnames.
• Canadian Slovenian Historical Society is a non-profit that aims to record and preserve the history of Canadian Slovenians. Material available is still somewhat limited but it does include a history of Slovene migration to Canada, articles on various aspects of the Slovene experience in Canada as well as an archive of relevant publications which are available to download.
• Slovenians in Australia, includes contributions by a diverse team and aims to promote the contribution made by post-WWII migrant Slovenians to Australia. The website includes reminisces by individual Slovenian migrants, as well as a comprehensive list of useful links for further research.
• Online Archive of the Arolsen Archives is an amazing resource providing access to historical documents and personal files on “victims of Nazi persecution. This includes Slovenes impacted by the Nazi occupation of their country. It provides access to scanned copies of original files, including photographs, of "Displaced Persons" who left Slovenia in the years immediately after WWII and who were processed by the International Refugee Organization (IRO).  Fully searchable by name or topic.

Authors template (click twice to edit)

See also

• Slovene surnames

References