Portuguese Diplomats Who Aided Jews and Other Refugees
See also Rescue in the Holocaust by Diplomats
These are the Portuguese diplomats who were aiding or rescuing Jews throughout Europe. Of these, only Dr. Aristedes de Sousa Mendes and Dr. Carlos Almeida Afonseca de Sampayo Garrido have been honored as Righteous Persons by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, and the State of Israel. There are only three individuals from Portugal who are presently honored by Yad Vashem.
Alberto da Veiga Simoes, Portuguese Ambassador to Berlin, 1938-40
The Portuguese Ambassador to Berlin Veiga Simoes granted visas to Jews in Berlin and to other consulates in Germany without prior authorization from the Portuguese Foreign Ministry or the Portuguese police. For his unauthorized activities, he was reprimanded by Portuguese dictator Salazar. Veiga Simoes then appealed to Salazar to liberalize the Foreign Ministry’s visa policy. In particular, Veiga Simoes was interested in protecting German Jews who were from the upper classes. He approved the issuing of visas to a number of Jews by the Portuguese consulate in Hamburg. Veiga Simoes was also highly critical of the German and Nazi regimes. For his openly anti-German stance, he was relieved of his position as ambassador and was recalled to Lisbon. On his return, he was investigated by the Portuguese Foreign Ministry. Veiga Simoes was removed from the diplomatic service after his return to Portugal. He was reinstated in February 1946.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 135-141. Veiga Simoes to Alazar, Berlin, March 29, 1937, AMNE 3o. P. A-11, M-34. Telegram of Salazar to Veiga Simoes, December 21, 1938, AMNE 2o. P. A-43, M-38. Veiga Simoes to Salazar, Berlin, January 14, 1939, AMNE 2o. P. A-43, M-38-A. (Cited in Milgram, 1999.)]
Caeiro da Mata, Portuguese Ambassador to Vichy, 1942?
Caeiro da Mata, the Portuguese Ambassador to Vichy, worked with the Portuguese Consul General António Alves, who headed the consulate in Paris, to save Jews from deportation at the hands of the Nazis. Mata, in a report to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, stated “No Portuguese Jew has been found in detention in a concentration camp. No Jew has been deported to the East, and no Jew has been required to wear the [yellow] patch like the rest of the Jews.” Portuguese dictator Antonio Salazar and the Portuguese Foreign Ministry eventually approved the Consul’s protection of Jews who held Portuguese nationality.
[Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244. Report from António Alves to Foreign Ministry, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40. Report from Consul General in Paris, António Alves to Foreign Ministry, “The Question of the Portuguese Levantine Jews in France,” January 1943, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40, pp. 5, 14.]
António Alves, Portuguese Consul General in Paris, 1942
António Alves was the Portuguese Consul General in Paris after the German occupation of France. A report generated by Alves demonstrated his intentions and actions to help save the Jews from persecution and deportation. He coordinated his activities to save Jews with the Portuguese ambassador in Vichy, Caeiro da Mata. Alves successfully was able to have Portuguese and other Jews released from detention. These Jewish refugees had been rounded up in November 1942 and taken to the internment camp in Drancy. He also managed to have Portuguese Jews released from concentration camps in the occupied French zones. Portuguese dictator Antonio Salazar and the Portuguese Foreign Ministry eventually approved the Consul’s protection of Jews who held Portuguese nationality.
[Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244. Report from António Alves to Foreign Ministry, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40. Report from Consul General in Paris, António Alves to Foreign Ministry, “The Question of the Portuguese Levantine Jews in France,” January 1943, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40, pp. 5, 14.]
José Luis Archer, Portuguese Consul General in Paris, 1940-41
In the first two years of the Nazi occupation of Paris, Portuguese Consul General José Luis Archer frequently protested the Foreign Ministry’s lack of concern for the welfare of Portuguese Jews in Paris. For Archer’s actions to help Jews, the Portuguese dictator Antonio Salazar sought to have him replaced.
[Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244. Melo, António. “O processo dos portugueses levantinos.” Publico, (November 10, 1998), p. 28.]
Alfredo Casanova, Portuguese Consul in Genoa, Italy, 1940-41?
Portuguese Consul Alfredo Casanova, stationed in Genoa, criticized Portuguese dictator Oliveira Salazar for his policy against protecting Jews in Nazi controlled areas. In a letter to Salazar, Casanova argued that issuing irregular visas to Jews should be seen as praiseworthy and an act of humanity, and should not be condemned. Casanova defended the action of Honorary Consul Magno in Milan who had issued visas to help Jews escape the Nazis. Casanova himself had issued irregular visas to a group of nuns during the Spanish Civil War. In reprisal, in November 1941, Salazar relieved Casanova of his post in Genoa, Italy, and replaced him with a Consul Second Class.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 152-154. Alfredo Casanova to Oliveira Salazar, Genoa, June 19, 1941, G.A. Magno file, YVA, M31/3459. (Cited in Milgram, 1999).]
Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Portuguese Consul General in Bordeaux, France, June 1940
Aristides De Sousa Mendes was the Consul General for Portugal in Bordeaux, France. Between June 17 and 19, 1940, he issued more than 30,000 life-saving Portuguese visas. Ten thousand were for Jews and 20,000 were for other refugees. Mendes saved the entire royal Habsburg family, including the crown prince and Empress Zita. In addition, he saved the entire Belgian cabinet in exile. Mendes personally conducted hundreds of Jewish refugees across a border checkpoint on the Spanish frontier. All of his life saving activities were done against the orders and policies of Portugal. He was fired by his government and lost all of his property. He died in poverty in Lisbon in 1954. In November of 1995, Portugal posthumously restored his career and awarded him a special medal for saving lives. De Sousa Mendes was declared Righteous Among the Nations by the State of Israel in 1967.
Carlos de Liz-Texeira Branquinho, Portuguese Chargé d’Affaires in Budapest, 1944-45
Carlos de Liz-Texeira Branquinho was the Portuguese Chargé d’Affaires in Budapest in 1944 and obtained permission from the Portuguese government to issue safe conducts to all persons who had relatives in Portugal, Brazil, or the Portuguese colonies. Each safe conduct was personally signed by Branquinho. After the Arrow Cross and Nazis retook the city on October 15, 1944, there was a great demand for these documents. Branquinho was authorized to issue 500 safe conducts, but in actual fact issued more than 800. Soon, the Portuguese mission established several safe houses to shelter the 800 protected Jews. Despite constant raids by the Arrow Cross, the Portuguese houses remained relatively safe throughout the war. He also established an office of the Portuguese Red Cross at the Portuguese legation to care for Jewish refugees.
Pinto Ferreira, Portuguese Consul General in Vichy/Marseilles, France, 1943?
Pinto Ferreira, the Portuguese Consul General in Vichy stationed in Marseilles, protected Jews who were registered with the consulate. Ferreira argued strongly for the protection of these Jews. Portuguese dictator Salazar later approved the repatriation of the Portuguese Jews.
[Cable from Pinto Ferreira in Vichy to Salazar, March 18, 1943, AHD, 2o P. A. 50, M. 40. Cable from Salazar, March 27, 1943, AHD, 2o. P. A. 50, M. 40. Cited in Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244.]
Dr. Carlos Almeida Afonseca de Sampayo Garrido, Ambassador Plenipotentiary for Portugal in Budapest, 1944
Dr. Garrido helped large numbers of Hungarian Jews who came to the Portuguese diplomatic mission in 1944 seeking Portuguese protection. Along with Branquinho, his successor, he rented houses and apartments to shelter and protect refugees from deportation and murder. He was instrumental in establishing the policy for the protection of Portuguese Jews in Hungary. In May 1944, he was reposted to Switzerland and on several occasions intervened on behalf of Jews from his post in Switzerland. Dr. Sampayo Garrido was honored by Yad Vahsem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, as a Righteous Person.
Carvalho da Silva, Vice Consul for Portugal in Paris, France, 1943
In August 1943, a Portuguese Vice Consul stationed in Paris, Carvalho da Silva, personally intervened on behalf of 40 Portuguese Jews who were at the deportation center of Drancy, France. He convinced the Gestapo to free them and personally accompanied the group through the border crossing of France into Spain. He rescued a second group of about 100 Jews, and also accompanied them on their border crossing into Spain. In addition, the Turkish Consul General in Paris, Bedii Arbel, made reference to a Portuguese diplomat in a report to the Turkish embassy on 13 August, 1943, Document no. 30-6127. In the letter it states “According to investigations made here, the Italians have excused their Jews from such regulations. Among the neutral countries, the Consulate of Portugal has advised its Jewish citizens not to obey the orders in this respect.” [Shaw, Stanford J. Turkey and the Holocaust: Turkey’s Role in Rescuing Turkish and European Jewry from Nazi Persecution, 1933-1945. (New York: New York University Press, 1993), pp. 85-86.]
Rui Vieira Lisboa, Portuguese Consul in Toulouse, France, 1943
In November 1943, Rui Vieira Lisboa, the Portuguese consul in Toulouse, France, asked Portuguese dictator Antonio Salazar for permission to evacuate Jews from southern France. He was granted permission and 47 Jewish refugees made their way to the Spanish border.
[Letter from Rui Vieira Lisboa to Salazar, October 11, 1943, AHD, 2o. P. A. 50, M. 40. Rui Vieira Lisboa to Pinto Ferreira (Vichy), July 27, 1944, AHD, 2o. P. A. 50, M. 40. Cited in Milgram, Avraham. “The Bounds of Neutrality: Portugal and the Repatriation of its Jewish Nationals.” Yad Vashem Studies, 31 (2003), pp. 201-244.]
Giuseppe Agenore Magno, Honorary Consul for Portugal in Milan, Italy, 1941
Giuseppe Agenore Magno was appointed Honorary Consul for Portugal to Milan, Italy, in 1934. He issued unauthorized visas to Jewish refugees in Milan. He was reprimanded and removed from office by the Portuguese Foreign Ministry for issuing these visas. Magno, in spite of being relieved of his position, stayed at his posted and operated the consulate until he died on February 5, 1947.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 151-153.]
Henry de la Cruz, Portuguese Diplomat in Spain
Gyula Gulden, Portuguese (?) Honorary (?) Consul General, Budapest, Hungary, 1944-45 (?)
[Acting/Honorary] Consul General Gyula Gulden was the managing director of the Herend Porcelain Factory in Budapest. He handled, processed and distributed safe-conduct papers signed by the Portuguese Chargé d’Affaires in Budapest. [Lévai, 1948, pp. 407-408.]
Count Ferenc Pongrácz, Acting Diplomat for Portugal in Budapest, Hungary, 1944-45
Count Ferrenc Pongrácz was a Hungarian civilian. In 1944, Count Pongrácz volunteered to represent the Portuguese legation in Budapest, Hungary, as the acting Chargé d’Affaires. Pongrácz energetically acted to protect the Jews in the Portuguese protected houses. He signed many Portuguese protective passes so that the Arrow Cross would not be able to dispute the legality of the Portuguese documents. Pongrácz often acted in the absence of Portuguese Chargé d’Affaires Carlos Branquinho and Consul General Gulden. Pongrácz also signed a number of petitions to protect Jews in Budapest. [Lévai, 1948, p. 408.]
Portuguese Consul in Antwerp, Belgium, 1941
In February 1941, the Portuguese International Police informed the Portuguese Foreign Ministry that the consulate in Antwerp was granting unauthorized visas and passports to foreigners, disregarding policy of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 154. Letter from the PVDE to the General Director of Economic and Consular Affairs of the MNE, Lisbon, February 21, 1941, AMNE, 2o. P. A-44, M-152. (Cited in Milgram, 1999).]
Portuguese Consul in Bucharest, Romania, 1941
In February 1941, the Portuguese International Police informed the Portuguese Foreign Ministry that the consulate in Bucharest was granting unauthorized visas and passports to foreigners, disregarding policy of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 154. Letter from the PVDE to the General Director of Economic and Consular Affairs of the MNE, Lisbon, February 21, 1941, AMNE, 2o. P. A-44, M-152. (Cited in Milgram, 1999).]
Portuguese Consul in Budapest, Hungary, 1941
In February 1941, the Portuguese International Police informed the Portuguese Foreign Ministry that the consulate in Budapest was granting unauthorized visas and passports to foreigners, disregarding policy of the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 154. Letter from the PVDE to the General Director of Economic and Consular Affairs of the MNE, Lisbon, February 21, 1941, AMNE, 2o. P. A-44, M-152. (Cited in Milgram, 1999).]
Portuguese Consul General in Hamburg, Germany
The Portuguese Consul General in Hamburg granted visas to Jews on his own initiative and with the approval of the Portuguese ambassador in Berlin, Veiga Simoes. In addition, the Consul General in Hamburg established direct contact with the civil governors of the Portuguese possession of the Azores and Madeira to enable Jews to land. The Consul General in Hamburg bypassed the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, the police and the Salazar administration.
[Milgram, Avraham. “Portugal, the Consuls, and the Jewish Refugees, 1938-1941.” Yad Vashem Studies, 27 (1999), pp. 123-155. Confidential letter of Paulo Cumano to the Secretary-General of the MNE, Lisbon, April 11, 1939, AMNE 2o. P. A-43, M-38-A. The consul addressed the Civil Governor of Ponta Delgada asking for authorization for 28 Jewish families to land. (Cited in Milgram, 1999).]
Honorary Portuguese Consul in Nice, France, 1940-1941
The honorary Portuguese consul in Nice, 1940-1941, helped Jewish refugee Hecht.
[Oral history testimony by Hecht.]
Employees/Volunteers who Worked for the Portuguese Legation
Dr. Ferenc Bartha, Special Section, Portuguese Legation in Budapest, 1944-45
Applications and petitions for Portuguese protective passes were handled by Dr. Ferenc Bartha of the Special Section of the Portuguese legation in Budapest, located on Duna Street. Bartha was a well-known Hungarian lawyer. Bartha worked under the Portuguese Chargé. Bartha also did his utmost to protect Jews in Budapest. On one occasion, he intervened to liberate Jews from the Kistarcsa internment camp. On a number of occasions, he protected Jews during Arrow Cross raids. [Braham, 1981, p. 1094. Lévai, 1948, p. 408.]
Dr. Sàndor Brody, Manager of Portuguese Protective Houses, Budapest, 1944-45
Dr. Sàndor Brody managed the Portuguese protected houses in Budapest, Hungary. Between 500-800 Jews were protected under his supervision. [Lévai, 1948, p. 408.]
Updated November 4, 2017