In 1824, a group of German immigrants settled in Rio Grande do Sul, initiating a process of immigration that continued until World War II. The physician Daniel Hillebrand, first director of the Colony of São Leopoldo, was part of this group. During the subsequent 125 years, other German doctors emigrated to the state - some graduates of medical school, others with partial studies only. Many played notable roles in the practice of medicine, reinforcing what the title calls integration. Yet their presence also generated conflicts. The article analyzes these processes of contributions and clashes, especially from the proclamation of the Republic through World War II.
Rio Grande do Sul; positivism; German immigration; foreign physicians; ethnic conflicts