PORTUGAL

and the
SECOND WORLD WAR
INTRODUCTION
With this presentation, I intend, briefly and succinctly, to make
known the role of Portugal in the Second World War, also
analyzing the social, political and economic consequences.
SECOND WORLD WAR

Coupled with a major economic crisis that shook the world, European
dictatorial regimes unleashed an aggressive expansionist policy that threatened
peace between nations. When on 1 September 1939 the German army invaded
Poland, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. This gave rise to the
outbreak of World War II (1939/45).
 SECOND WORLD WAR

World War II was a global military conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945,
involving most of the world's nations organized into two opposing military
alliances: the Allies and the Axis.

Allies:
Axis:
 France
 Germany
 England
 Italy
 USSR
 Japan
 USA
Marked by a significant number of attacks
against civilians, this was the deadliest
conflict in human history, resulting in
between 50 and over 70 million deaths.
 PORTUGAL POSITION
During World War II Portugal was under the Estado Novo regime, under the
government of António de Oliveira Salazar. Officially, Portugal declared
neutrality in 1939 and maintained it until the end of hostilities. The main
objective of this position was to preserve the colonies.

Portugal benefited economically from this neutral position. We can highlight the
sale of tungsten and use of Base of Lages.
PORTUGAL POSITION
The historian Irene Flunser Pimentel, author of the book “The
Jews in Portugal during World War II”, brings us a unique
research, based on previously unpublished documents that
reveal to us how our country was, thanks to its neutrality and
geographical location, an important platform for political
negotiations as well as information, trade, economic and
financial exchanges between the two sides.
 ARISTIDES DE SOUSA MENDES
In this period stood out a Portuguese, Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral and
Abranches better known as Aristides de Sousa Mendes, born on July 19, 1885 and
born in Cabanas de Viriato.
 ARISTIDES DE SOUSA MENDES
He was Consul of Portugal in Bordeaux in the year of the

invasion of France by Germany in World War II they

returned to their homelands. He even defied Salazar's express

orders .

The selfless act of Aristides de Sousa Mendes resulted in severe punishment. Not

only was he dismissed from his position as consul, he was immediately demoted to

the lower category and sentenced to one year of inactivity.

 HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
In this period in Portugal, the violation of human rights was felt through:

Sales of tungsten to Axis and Allied countries;

Portugal has become a bridge of espionage;

Permission for use of the Lages Base by the Allies;

Obligation to attend / join the movements of the regime, the Portuguese Youth and
the Portuguese Legion, inspired by the fascist and Nazi organizations.

Support given to Franco;

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
Censorship and control at the level of newspapers, magazines and books.

Coercion exercised by the regime on people with different

opinions, namely control / surveillance through the PIDE
(International State Defense Police).

Violent repression of the people who criticized the regime.

Many of these people were arrested in Tarrafal prison under
inhumane conditions.

Propagande of State Values: God, Fatherland and Family.

CONCLUSION
We can conclude that the position of neutrality adopted by Portugal
during the Second World War eventually brought us economic
benefits.
At the social level, there were human rights violations, but we cannot
fail to highlight the important role played by Aristides de Sousa
Mendes towards those fleeing the persecution of the Nazi regime.
 “UNDER THE SKY”

In order to keep his memory alive

and not to be forgotten, director
Nicholas Oulman rescued the story
of seven Jewish people that passed
through Portugal during World War
II.

“Under the sky” recovers the

reports of seven Jews temporary
refuge in Portugal, where they were
persecuted by the Nazi regime
during Second World War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=4YOLMvD1Ys4&feature=emb_title
ATIVIDADE: KAHOOT

https://create.kahoot.it/details/duplicate-of-second-world-
war/b45edbb2-f12f-46b5-b17b-de34bb947acb
WEBGRAPHY

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Allied-Powers-international-alliance
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
• https://www.janusonline.pt/arquivo/1999_2000/1999_2000_1_36.html
• https://www.natgeo.pt/historia/aristides-de-sousa-mendes-o-heroi-sem-capa
 THE END

Made by:
-Inês Oliveira