A Good Man in Evil Times: The Story of Aristides De Sousa Mendes - the Unknown Hero Who Saved Countless Lives in World War II: Aristides De Sousa ... Hero Who Saved Countless Lives in WWII - Softcover

Fralon, Jose-Alain

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140286705 ISBN 13: 9780140286700

Publisher: Penguin, 2001

Synopsis

Early in 1940, thousands of refugees fleeing the invading Nazi armies poured into Bordeaux. Their only hope of salvation was to continue their journey to neutral countries like Spain and Portugal. But Franco and Salazar, not wanting to offend Hitler, instructed their embassies and consulates not to issue visas. Enter an exceptional man: Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux. Over a period of six months, he defied Salazar's orders and signed thousands of visas, thus rescuing their recipients, many of them Jews, from a terrible fate at the hands of the Nazis. He was disgraced and ended his days destitute, but Sousa Mendes has earned himself a place in the pantheon of truly just men.

About this title

Synopsis:

Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese aristocrat who became the consul at Bordeaux shortly before World War II. Gradually more and more requests for asylum and for visas to portugal arrive at his office until the floodgates are opened onto a mass exodus of Jews and people with mixed nationality. Mendes must pass every request through his superiors before allowing the refugees passage - a lengthy process. Mendes soon realises, as the request become more and more urgent, that he has no time to waste. People will die without his help, so he starts to stamp visas before he has recieved approval. Then comes a document from Salazar's government stating that Jews and people without fixed nationality should be refused access to Portugal. Mendes, believing that he has no time to lose in hisflight for their lives, acommodates all that he can on the floors of his quarters and signs and signs. He signs visas 24 hours a day - undoubtedly saving thousands of lives - until the frontiers are finally blocked by France.

About the Author:

Jose-Alain Fralon works as a journalist for Le Monde in Paris.

Translated by Peter Graham.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0140286705
• ISBN 13: 9780140286700
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208