Portuguese civilians or those of Portuguese descent also suffered the effects of World War II, either because they were in places where it was felt directly or because life put them in their path.

Among the women and men we meet in this chapter of history are emigrants in search of better living conditions, religious and aristocrats. There are people who believed that the country's neutrality could somehow protect them.




Know their stories:

Oliveira, José (and family)

    Civilian living in France Birth place – Sabachina (?) Birth date – 20/03/1900 Death date – 27/05/1944  Father – Mother – José Oliveira and his family died on May 27, 1944, during a Allied bombing that targeted the coastal … Read More

Graça, Manuel da

        Civilian living in France Birth place – Vila Nova de Ourém Birth date – 14/03/1908 Death date – 06/06/1944  Father – Mother – Manuel da Graça, born in Vila Nova de Ourém, central Portugal, was one of … Read More

Costa, Manuel José da

    Portuguese civilian living in France Birth place – Braga Birth date – 19/08/1896 Death date – 21/05/1940 Father –  Mother – Maria Augusta da Costa Manuel José da Costa (Manoel, according to French records) died on May 21, 1940, … Read More

Barretto, Glória D’Almada

    Civilian living in Hong Kong Birth place – Hong Kong Birth date – 10/07/1916 Death date – 24/02/2007  Father –  Mother – Daughter of Portuguese natives of Macau, Glória Barreto was born in July 10th in Kowloon and brought … Read More

Dias, Vincent Emanuel

  Civillian residing in Malacca Birth place – Malacca Birth date –  05/04/1890 Death date – 28/01/1953 Father – Emanuel Augustin Dias Mother –Antónia Donilda De Rosa Vincent Dias, was one of 17 accused of anti-Japan espionage, detained and tortured by the Japanese Kempeitai … Read More

Pereira, João Emílio

    Portuguese civilian living in France Birth place – Birth date – Death date –  Father –  Mother –  João Emílio Pereira was shot by the Germans on April 14, 1944, at the Weimar-Buchenwald camp. The information of his … Read More

Balbino, Jorge

    Civilian living in Belgium Birth place – Tournai, Bélgica Birth date – 20/01/1925 Death date –   Father – Joaquim Balbino Mother – Jorge Balbino was arrested by the Belgian authorities on December 2, 1945, accused of collaborating with the Germans, but … Read More

Pessa, Fernando

    Civilian living in the UK Birth place – Vera Cruz, Aveiro Birth date – 15/04/1902 Death date – 29/04/2002  Father –Adriano Luís de Oliveira Pessa Mother – Maria Betânia Catela de Miranda Pinto Fernando Pessa was the most popular broadcaster … Read More

Penedos, José Pereira dos

    Civil residente na Bélgica / Civilian living in Belgium Birth place –  Birth date –  Death date –   Father – Mother – José Pereira dos Penedos was arrested on November 23, 1944 by the Belgian authorities, accused of … Read More

Costa, Constâncio Roque da

    Civilian living in Belgium Birth place – Margão, Portuguese India Birth date – 1905 Death date –   Father – Bernardo Camilo Costa Mother –Maria Helena Costa Constâncio Roque da Costa was arrested on September 22, 1944 by the Belgian authorities, … Read More

Pires, Cândido

    Civilian living in Belgium Birth place – Quintas de S. Bartolomeu, Sabugal Birth date – 28/07/1906 Death date –   Father –Joaquim Pires Mother –Isabel Maria Cândido Pires was arrested by the Belgian authorities on March 13, 1945, accused … Read More

Araújo, Maria da Conceição Barbosa

    Civilian living in Belgium Birth place –  Birth date –  Death date  –   Father – Mother – Maria da Conceição Barbosa Araújo, Abbess of the Servite Order of Mary, was arrested by the Germans on June 6, 1944, … Read More

Mineiro, José Amorim

    Civilian living in France Birth place –  Birth date – 1913 Death date –  Father – Mother – José Amorim Mineiro was sentenced to death on 31 May 1945 by a French court in Ariége, accused of spying … Read More

Coelho, Norberto

    Civilian living in France Birth place – Vila Facaia, Leiria Birth date – 01/06/1906 Death date – 28/06/1944 Father –  Mother – Maria Avelina Coelho Norberto Coelho worked as a logger in France and lived in Campazieux, in the commune of St. … Read More

Barros, João Fernandes de

    Civilian living en France Birth place – Cabaços, Viana do Castelo Birth date – 26/04/1901 Death date – 28/06/1944 Father – Mother –  João Fernandes de Barros worked as a lumberjack for the Société d’Exploitations Forestières à Saint Yrieux, when on … Read More

Pereira, Manuel M.

    Civilian living in France Birth place – Braga Birth date – 07/03/1896 Death date – 26/06/1944 Father –  Mother –  Manuel Pereira was a bricklayer in Portugal, but he worked in agriculture in Saint André d’Allas, in the Dordogne, France, the … Read More

Neves, Manuel das

    Civilian living in France Birth place – São Simão de Litem, Leiria Birth date – 26/04/1905 Death date – 28/06/1944 Father –  Mother –  Manuel das Neves worked as a logger in France and lived in Campazieux, in the commune of … Read More