A Caribbean Refuge: The Dominican Republic’s Role in the Global History of the Holocaust

Oshaira Pichardo Gonzalez

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: MA.HOLOCAUSTGENOCIDE

Faculty Research Mentor: Goldberg, Adara

Abstract:

When the history of the Holocaust is told, it is most often centered on Europe, leaving other important global responses largely overlooked. This research project explores a lesser-known chapter of Holocaust history: the role of the Dominican Republic as one of the only countries to openly offer refuge to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. At a time when most nations closed their borders, the Dominican Republic’s decision stands out as both unusual and deeply complex.

This study examines the country’s participation in the 1938 Evian Conference and the creation of the Sosúa settlement, where Jewish refugees were granted land and the chance to rebuild their lives in the Dominican Republic. This research investigates why the Dominican government extended this offer. While humanitarian concern played a role, the decision was also shaped by political interests, racial ideology, and a desire to improve the nation’s international image following internal violence.

In addition, this research will highlight the lived experiences of Jewish refugees in Sosúa and consider the lasting cultural and economic impact of their presence in the region. Ultimately, this project argues that the Dominican Republic’s involvement reveals both humanitarian possibilities and moral contradictions during a period marked by global inaction.