Records Relating to Aristides De Sousa Mendes P... | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

This Record Group comprises documents and artifacts related to humanitarian-rescue activity of a Portugal Consul General to Bordeaux in 1938 – 1940.

In defiance to the official directives of the Portuguese government, Aristides De Sousa Mendes was issuing transit visas through Spain to Portugal. Exercising his diplomatic status and supported by the Portugues diplomatic staff and his family members, Aristides De Sousa Mendes granted over a thousand (it is believed so) transit visas to the largely to Jewish refugees in France.

The peak of his rescuing activity to a decade after June 17, 1940. Being recalled to Portugal, he stood disciplinary investigation and as a result he was relieved from his diplomatic post, demoted in pension-rank and by the state of affairs isolated from public life.

This Record Group is subdivided onto the following collections,

RG-95.01,Aristides de Sousa Mendes, professional and family life

RG-95.02, Identification documents with exittransit visas issued by De Sousa Mendes RG-95.03, Recipients of the visas, personal stories RG-95.04, Rehabilitation and reconciliation, tribute and commemoration, documents and periodicals