Portuguese fascism-history and insignia

[CIANO]

Hi,

It is my intention with this thread to let you know the history of the Portuguese Fascism. I am quite sure that most of you don't know the history of the Fascism in Portugal.

I also will share with you some insignia and uniforms that are present in my collection.
Today most of these items are now rare, and not easy to find....even in Portugal...

BRIEF HISTORY

After WW1, Portugal, as most of the European Countries had a lot economic/social problems, with many street fightings between political parties, causing tremendous instability.

On May 28th of 1926 a group of right wing Military Officers with a "Coup d'Etat" took power, and restablished the Order and a dictactorship in the country.

Until 1933, although the dictactorship installed, the left wing (Communists,Socialists,Republicans,Anarchists) had made several attempts of uprisings trying to kick out the Military Dictatorship, but without success.
1931 was the year with more uprisings.

By 1932, the Communists start to loose influence,as they were persecuted, and many were deported and exiled to the Portuguese Colonies.
Others flee to Spain, where before and during the Spanish Civil War tryed with the help of Spanish Communists ruled by the Soviets, to raise a Communist Revolution in Portugal.....

In 1933 was aproved the New Constitution and was installed the "ESTADO NOVO" a sort of Fascism inspired in the Italian Fascism, but adapted to the Portuguese reality.
In their essence the ESTADO NOVO, was more a CONSERVATIVE NATIONALIST,ANTICOMUNIST,CATHOLIC regime, than a trully Fascism, with all their rituals.
Their leader was DR.ANTONIO OLIVEIRA SALAZAR, and ruled the Portuguese Government from 1932, until 1968.
In 1968 Salazar severly ill was replaced by Prof.Marcello Caetano

The "Estado Novo" ended up on April 25th 1974.


SALAZAR BIOGRAPHY

Salazar was born in April 28th 1889 and died on July 27th 1970.
During the Military dictactorship he was the Finantial Minister between 1928-1932, and was invited by General Carmona, to led the Government in July 1932,which he accepted, taking the control of the destinity of Portugal, until 1968.

Here it is the man: DR. SALAZAR

TO BE CONTINUED WITH THE NEXT EPISODE: PORTUGUESE FASCIST ORGANIZATIONS

[CIANO]

Hi,

From my private collection: The official photo/portrait of Salazar from 1938.

[CIANO]

The photos' signature from 1938

[CIANO]

Hi,

PORTUGUESE FASCISTS ORGANIZATIONS

1-UNIÃO NACIONAL-NATIONAL UNION

Although Salazar was completely against all political parties, as they were,according to him,responsable for all social/economic chaos before the Revolution of 1926, Salazar allowed in July 1930 to found the UNIAO NACIONAL.

The UN was not a classic party, but rather a organization that had the objective to gather all supporters of the ESTADO NOVO, including some of the small Fascist Factions, more radical, and close to the Italian Fascism and NS Germany.(Liga 28 Maio,Acção Escolar Vanguarda,Nacionais Sindicalistas).
Including all these Fascists groups in the "same family", was crucial, as Salazar avoided more confronts....



In 44 years of existence the UN, had only four official Meetings/Congresses.
The first was in 1934, and the last was in 1956.


Herewith two small distintives of the UN:

One is for supporters, and the other is for participants in the 2nd and last Party Congress, that was held in 1956

[CIANO]

Hi,

2) MOVIMENTO NACIONAL SINDICALISTA (MNS)

They were the "BLUE SHIRTS"
This movement was the most radical.Was a trully Fascist Movement that was inspired in the Italian Fascism and in the National Socialist Germany.
The movement started in 1932 and their leader was Dr.ROLAO PRETO.
They were essentialy a radical right wing Youth Movement, and although they respected Salazar very often they had disagreed with him, considering that Salazar was not "enough Fascist".
They had many street fightings with the reds, and the numbers of supporters increased a lot, even reaching the same number of adepts as the UNIAO NACIONAL, the "official party" of the regime.
Salazar aware of this menace, and worried, as the aim of the National Sindicalists was to take power through a Revolution, Salazar persecuted them,forbidding their meetings, by closing their Newspaper "REVOLUTION" and all their Political headquarters.
In 1934, Rolao Preto the leader of the MNS,was imprisioned and exiled to Spain.

In the photo DR.ROLAO PRETO, with the party Armband.(Feb.1933)

[CIANO]

THE BLUE SHIRTS OF THE MNS, with the Leader Rolao Preto after a meeting (Febbruary 18th 1933)

[CIANO]

A painture from the same photo...members from the MNS with armbands...

[CIANO]

The original armband weared by the members of the MNS

[CIANO]

Back of the armband


to be continued....

[CIANO]

Hi,

Here I am back to the thread, to continue the history of the Portuguese Fascist Organizations.

3) AEV-ACÇÃO ESCOLAR VANGUARDA-

By the end of 1933, taking profit of some MNS dissidents, Salazar formed the AEV, a Fascist Organization loyal to the Salazar Government.The objective of Salazar was with this organization (AEV) to avoid the growth of the MNS (Movement National Sindicalist) of Rolao Preto, by using the same methods and rituals of the MNS.The AEV was mainly formed by young Students from different Universities.They were violent and fiercely Anti Comunists.

With the expulsion of Rolao Preto to Spain, in 1934, Salazar started to have control in most of the radical Portuguese Fascists Organizations, by giving them more space of action,but always under control,and with the condition of to be loyal to his Government.

Herewith a short video about the Portuguese Fascism-You will see the AEV members marching (with overseas cap and in black uniform)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojt6wEeLg9U

photo: Salazar with some members of the AEV.

[Dennis S]

Very interesting indeed. I have a tin scarf clasp that depicts the Sacred Heart probably for Requettes(Spanish Catholic Nationalist from Naravese Provence)) in the center flanked by the Italian Fascist, German Nazi, Spanish Nationalist and Portuguese flags

[CIANO]

Originally Posted by Dennis S

Very interesting indeed. I have a tin scarf clasp that depicts the Sacred Heart probably for Requettes(Spanish Catholic Nationalist from Naravese Provence)) in the center flanked by the Italian Fascist, German Nazi, Spanish Nationalist and Portuguese flags

Hi Dennis,

Thank you for your intervention.
Many people doesn't know but Portugal had a very important role in the Spanish Nationalist Victory.
Later in this thread, I will dedicate a special chapter to the Portuguese Intervention in the Spanish Civil War.
I will show you some photos and a couple of items that I have in my collection.

cheers

Luis

[CIANO]

Hi,

The AEV (Acção Escolar Vanguarda), formed in 1934 was the first Youth Organization under Salazar control and somehow replaced the more virulent National Sindicalists.
The AEV was a volunteer organization and by 1936, has lost some influence.

In Spain, in February 1936 the Popular Front (a coalition of Socialists and Communists), won the Spanish Elections.
With these unexpected news in Spain, Salazar, affraid that the Spanish Revolution could spread to Portugal, created in 1936 the most important Organizations during the Portuguese Fascism:

MP-MOCIDADE PORTUGUESA (YOUTH MOVEMENT)
LP-LEGIÃO PORTUGUESA (MILITIA PARA MILITARY)

These two organizations would last until the end of the Regime in 1974....

MP-Mocidade Portuguesa, the Portuguese youth movement on the contrary of the AEV was obligatory to all youngers that were in school.
The movement was almost a copy of the Italian GIL, and the Hitler Jugend HJ.

The LP was the Militia, created in August 1936, and many of the Portuguese Fascists integrated this Para Military Force.They were ostensively supporters of the Axis Victory during WW2.

to be continued...




TO BE CONTINUED...

[CIANO]

Hi,

THE PORTUGUESE ROLE DURING THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR 1936-1939

With the victory of the left forces during the Spanish Elections in 1936, Salazar knew that with their victory, the Portuguese Communists exiled in Spain, would soon or later try to bring the Spanish Revolution to Portugal.
In fact the Spanish Government helped the Portuguese Anti Fascists giving them shelter and guns in order to arm the undeground forces that were in Portugal preparing the right moment to sublevate against Salazar Regime...

Salazar aware of the Spanish danger, created in 1936 the MP (Portuguese Fascist Youth) and the LP (Portuguese Legion, the Fascist Militia).
These forces were indoctrinated in the Fascist way, and were strongly Anti Comunists.
The counter measures against the underground Communist Forces were increased and many of them were caught and sent to the Concentration Camp (Tarrafal) in Cape Verde Islands, at the time a Portuguese Colony.


When Franco's uprising took place on July 18th, 1936, the Portuguese Government immediately took measures to support Franco Nationalists troops.

One of the first steps was to create a special section in a Radio Station (Radio Clube Portugues)-the RCP, to help the Nationalists troops, spreading and difunding the good news.They also informed the Nationalists about the Spanish Republicans developments.
The leader in charge of the Radio Propaganda was the a military Captain Jorge Botelho Moniz.
This station played a very important role specially in the beggining of the War, when all Radios in Spain were still in hands of the Republican Forces...
So you can immagine how was important the RCP for Franco's Troops, specially in the first days/weeks of the war, when the informations were very contradictory.

In the photo the headquarters of the RCP-RADIO CLUBE PORTUGUES, 15 km far from Lisbon, where the news for the Nationalist troops were prepared and sent, by Botelho Moniz.

[CIANO]

A RCA VICTOR-the Radio from which many times my grandfather a Nationalist supporter, heard the latest news from the RCP about the Spanish Civil War.
The radio was bought with the purpose to follow the Spanish Civil War...