Encyclopaedia Judaica
Jews in Portugal 05: 1933-1945
Jewish refugees in the 1930s - transit visas and
consular protection
from: Portugal; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 13
presented by Michael Palomino (2008)
<Holocaust Period.
[1930s: Thousands of Jewish
refugees coming under liberal visa policy]
At the outbreak of World War II, Portugal had an organized
Jewish community of about 380 Portuguese nationals, in
addition to another 650 Jews, many of whom were refugees
from Central Europe, who were granted "resident" status. The
Jewish community was headed by Moses *Amzalak, a personal
friend and associate of President Salazar. After the fall of
France, Portugal adopted a most liberal visa policy under
which thousands of refugees, including a large proportion of
Jews, were allowed to enter the country as immigrants. This
policy however, excluded those of Russian origin or birth.
[Transit visas 1941-1944 -
rescue operations not realized - Portuguese consular
protection for Jews abroad - protection for Hungarian Jews
in 1944]
Starting late in 1940, and particularly from the Spring of
1941, Portuguese immigration policy became increasingly
stringent as a result of the limited sailings from
Portuguese ports. During the second half of the war,
Portugal agreed to grant entry visas as part of various
rescue operations, on the condition that its territory be
used only for transit purposes. For reasons outside
Portugal's control, these plans were never realized. During
this period, however, Portugal saved all of its 245 Jewish
citizens and those Jews in occupied countries to whom it
granted consular protection, forcing the Germans to return
part of their confiscated property.
Portugal joined the other neutral countries in saving
Hungarian Jews (see *Hungary, Holocaust) in late 1944, by
granting them her protection. Throughout the war Lisbon
served as a base for the operations of Jewish organizations
in and beyond the Iberian Peninsula.
[H.A.]> (col. 925)
Sources
|
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: Portugal, vol. 13,
col. 919-920 |
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: Portugal, vol. 13,
col. 921-922 |
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: Portugal, vol. 13,
col. 923-924 |
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: Portugal, vol. 13,
col. 925-926 |
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