Having graduated in law, in the university of coimbra, in 1907, aristides unlike his father, who was a judge and his twin brother, who embarked in politics chooses to follow a consular career, mainly connected to administrative aspects, in particular the. He was dismissed from the diplomatic service and was denied retirement and severance benefits. The guardian reports that his final wish was that his name be restored. After filling posts in various capitals including the united states and europe, he was posted to bordeaux, france, as the portuguese consulgeneral. The views expressed here are his own unless otherwise noted. The book begins with mendes s childhood, family, and career. Por isso, e distinguido duas vezes por leopoldo iii, rei da belgica, onde o fez oficial da ordem e comendador da ordem da coroa. Yet he is reported to have saved 30,000 people during the holocaust from occupied france. However, mendes had a keen sense of right and wrong, coupled with solid christian values.
Aug 04, 2016 portugals schindler is remembered, decades after his lifesaving deeds. We use cookies to offer you a better experience, personalize content, tailor advertising, provide social media features, and better understand the use of our services. They were jews and nonjews, public figures and private citizens, most with passports but many without. Sousa mendes, souza dantas, and the flight of polish. News people profiles sousa mendes saved more lives than schindler so why isnt he a household name too. Between june 16 and 23, 1940, he frantically issued portuguese visas free of charge, to over 30,000 refugees seeking to escape the nazi terror, 12,000 of whom were jews.
Portugals schindler is remembered, decades after his lifesaving deeds. The strain caused the fracturing of his family, and in 1954 sousa mendes died in poverty and obscurity. With the nazi invasion of france came an order from portugal. With god against man, documentary by semyon pinkhasov u. He was a portuguese diplomat who served his country for 30 years. We saw the movie with a different english title, disobedience. Born into an aristocratic portuguese family, mendes chose a diplomatic career for himself. He was a portuguese diplomat who served his country for 30. Sousa mendes, portugals consul in bordeaux when germany. Jun 17, 20 simon wiesenthal center october 20th, 1986. The sousa mendes visa recipients came from fortynine countries and all walks of life. Sousa mendes saved more lives than schindler so why isnt he. Portugals schindler is remembered, decades after his lifesaving.
The book begins with mendess childhood, family, and career. Apr 08, 2011 the strain caused the fracturing of his family, and in 1954 sousa mendes died in poverty and obscurity. Two other portuguese diplomats, carlos sampaio garrido and alberto teixeira branquinho, acted in a limited way along similar lines. In portugal, a protector of a people is honored the new. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. In addition, we learn about portugals neutral policy of the time. Sousa mendes saved more people than schindler but died a pariah. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. His children rebel against his acting at variance with. Aristides sousa mendes a sua vida em filme imagens.
Today, mendes s name is engraved in gold in the pantheon of the righteous among the nations. Sousa mendes, with god against men the international. Sousa mendes saved more people than schindler but died a. Holocaust savior, sousa mendes, commemorated on the anniversary of his death. With the nazi invasion of france came an order from portugal that no jews or dissidents. Foreword jaime gama minister of state and of foreign affairs september 2000. A group of about 50 people gathered in late june in the sunny courtyard of the portuguese consulate in bordeaux, france. He issued visas to 30,000 refugees, the majority of whom were jews fleeing the nazis, helping them to avoid certain death. His disobedience again angered the portuguese government. Following the occupation of france in the summer of 1940, foreign consulates were faced with large numbers of jews, desperately trying to obtain visas in order to leave nazi dominated territories. In portugal, a protector of a people is honored the new york times. In addition, we learn about portugals neutral policy of. Portugals schindler is remembered, decades after his. Five sousa mendes visa recipients and their families were on hand to welcome the president, and representatives of the sousa mendes foundation.
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