The Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation and the Municipality of Carregal do Sal open the Aristides de Sousa Mendes Museum today. The date that marks the anniversary of the birth of the Portuguese consul who helped save Jews during the Second World War.
The opening event was attended by the President of the Republic of Portugal, the Minister of Culture and the Ambassador of Israel in Portugal. Family members of Aristides de Sousa Mendes and descendants of people who were saved by him were also present.
Portugal has four people who are Righteous among the Nations – and Aristides de Sousa Mendes is the best known of them all. The diplomat was working in Bordeaux in 1940 when he disobeyed orders from the Portuguese government and granted thousands of entry visas into Portugal to Jews of many nationalities who had to flee occupied France.
