A Moral Legacy
Despite his heroic actions that saved the lives of thousands, Sousa Mendes faded into obscurity after his trial and was largely forgotten after his death. Before he died, though, he asked his children to fight to restore his good name, which they did.
Out of the tens of thousands of men, women, and children Sousa Mendes saved, most were ordinary people who simply wanted a chance to live free of war, hatred, and discrimination. However, many of them became notable individuals, and some were already notable. Among the people Sousa Mendes saved was Otto von Habsburg, the heir to the defunct Austrian throne and one of Hitler’s rivals. Sousa Mendes also granted visas to painter Salvador Dali, actor Robert Montgomery, and Curious George creators Hans and Margret Rey.
“Portrait photograph of Otto Habsburg-Lothringen,” The World of Habsburgs
In 1966, Israel recognized Sousa Mendes with the title of “Righteous Among The Nations”, a title given to non-Jews who risked their lives for Jews during WWII. In 1988, Portugal officially rescinded all charges against Sousa Mendes, and honored him for his courage.
In 2020, Sousa Mendes was granted National Pantheon honors by the Portuguese government, a prestigious distinction.
“Granting of National Pantheon honors to Aristides de Sousa Mendes,” Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, 19 Oct. 2021
“The posthumous rehabilitation of a Portuguese who Salazar punished for having saved thousands of Jews from the Nazi clutches,” Aristides de Sousa Mendes: Un Justo Contra a Corrente, Miriam Assor, Guerra e Paz, 2009
“Salvador Dalí,” Encyclopedia Britannica
“Aristides [de] Sousa Mendes, as a heroic historical figure, is part of Portugal’s national patrimony…a moral legacy for all, his heritage is for the whole of civil society and above all a virtuous example for future generations.” ~ Official statement from the Portuguese government
“Margret and H. A. Rey in Hamburg, Germany, May 1973,” The Times of Israel, 1973
Sousa Mendes’ heroism had a profound and lasting impact on the world. Many thousands of people had a chance to survive thanks to his actions. In fact, he has been credited with saving more refugees during the Holocaust than any other individual. Yet, his name is still largely unfamiliar to most people. Sousa Mendes serves as a remarkable inspiration for how he followed his conscience, stood up for people in need, and sacrificed his own future to save others.
Til van Perlstein, 21 Mar. 2019, Vimeo
“I am honored and humbled to be able to speak on behalf of not only the thousands and thousands of survivors saved by Aristides de Sousa Mendes, but for example, my two sons, my two granddaughters. Multiply [one of them] by 30,000, and you have an idea of how many lives Sousa Mendes actually saved.”
~ Leon, refugee saved by Sousa Mendes
Header image: “Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaking at the granting of National Pantheon honors to Aristides de Sousa Mendes,” Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, 2020
A website by Nico Allen
Created for the 2023 Lowell Milken Center for
Unsung Heroes Discovery Award Competition