Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Last Frontier - Lisbon During Wartime (1 of 3)

Portugal's neutrality made its capital, Lisbon, the gateway to freedom out of a predominantly Nazi-occupied Europe. Here, Jewish exiles, anti-Nazis and Gestapo Agents all rubbed elbows in the city of light that defied the wartime blackouts that were common in the rest of Europe.


Everything in Europe that could flee from the Germans came to Lisbon. 
All of these people stopped here, where the waves of the sea begin.
Milos Tsrnhanski


Lisbon was, for an overwhelming majority of refugees, a place of passage in their way to the United States or South America. Their concerns while waiting in Lisbon, revolved around their exit visa, the passport, the ticket that would grant them access to the boat or the airplane. Sometimes the political police(*) would intervene in the process, not always to facilitate the process. It was a dense and suspicious bureaucracy that welcomed the refugees in Lisbon, although it didn't prevent the most part of finding a way to leave in their way to freedom.

(*) Keep in mind Portugal was under Salazar's dictatorship for 48 years


A very interesting exhibition at the Terreiro do Paço Square West Pavilion

23 comments:

Sami said...

That must certainly be an interesting exhibition.

Halcyon said...

It does look interesting. Wish I could be there to see it in person.

Cezar and Léia said...

Muito interessante realmente.Eu adorei as valises vintages e o aparelho da ultima foto!Eu gostaria de visitar essa exposiçao!
Léia

Dina said...

Thank you, Lisbon.
This exhibition should go on the road, to Israel, to America.

orvokki said...

Fantastic images.
Good old time. Has to be interesting exhibition.
Familiar items, or I've seen them in the movies.

Sharon said...

Wow, this does look like a very powerful exhibition.

Sylvia K said...

A fascinating, superb exhibition, JM! It truly is like stepping back in time! Great captures!!

Karl said...

Interesting post JM!
And good pictures, as always!

TexWisGirl said...

truly an era worthy of remembering.

VP said...

Hard to forget Remarque's The Night in Lisbon. This seems a very interesting exhibition!

Lowell said...

Having taught American history and being a WWII buff, I find all of this extraordinarily interesting. I was a bit too young to serve myself, but many relatives and friends did. And I've read so much about Lisbon's role in being the place where freedom could possibly become a reality. Fantastic photos, JM!

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Recreation exhibits are always so fascinating. The closest thing to time travel.

Linda said...

Ooooh....I love vintage and this would be my type of exhibition! Your photos are lovely, JM!

LOLfromPasa said...

Wonderful photos and most interesting piece of history.

Babzy.B said...

very interesting indeed !

Stefan Jansson said...

It's a great exhibition. And your photos are equally good.

Jack said...

This is terrific, JM. I look forward to seeing the next two installments.

Last winter I read a new book called "Double Cross," which told the tale of 6 - 8 spies for the Allies during WWII, who had originally been spying for the Germans. Though most of the action was in Britain, several of the spies met with their German contacts in Lisbon.

Randy said...

Love that train poster.

Hilda said...

Absolutely fascinating! Looking forward to the rest of this series.

Kay said...

This looks like a window back in time. I can imagine Lisbon was an amazing crossroads during a terrible era.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Interesting story and old objects photographed beautfully as always.

Mersad said...

Amazing shots. You can feel the past life in them!

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Laura. M said...

Una interesante exposición!!