Portugal and Spain. vulnerable and without anywhere else to turn. Stefan and his family seemed destined to fall into the Nazis murderous hands. Portugal. neutral throughout World War II. had closed its borders to Jewish refugees. It was only the actions taken by an exceedingly courageous diplomat. Aristides de Sousa Mendes. the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux. which permitted the Rozenfelds. along with tens of thousands of other refugees. to successfully flee the Nazis. Despite a government directive strictly prohibiting the issuing of visas to Jews. Sousa Mendes instructed his viceconsuls to issue Portuguese visas to anyone who petitioned for one. regardless of nationality or religion. Yet. in saving as many as 30.000 lives. Sousa Mendes sacrificed his own career and livelihood.
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refugees visas