Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas and Aracy de Carvalho defied Brazilian restrictions and helped Jewish refugees escape Nazi persecution in Europe.
Two Brazilians used their diplomatic positions to help Jews persecuted by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust.
Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas served as Brazil’s ambassador to France. Meanwhile, Aracy de Carvalho worked at the Brazilian consulate in Hamburg.
During that period, the government of Getúlio Vargas officially restricted the granting of visas to Jews interested in entering Brazil.
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Despite these directives, both adopted independent strategies to facilitate the escape of threatened refugees in Europe.
Secret circular restricted the entry of Jews into Brazil
In 1937, during the beginning of the Estado Novo, the Brazilian government issued the Secret Circular No. 1,127.
The document instructed embassies and consulates to limit the entry of Jews and other groups considered “undesirable.”
This migration policy remained active during part of the period between 1937 and 1945.
Only in 1940, after international diplomatic pressure, did the Brazilian government begin to relax some of these restrictions.
Brazilian ambassador expedited visa issuance in France
Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas built a long career and remained about 25 years as Brazil’s ambassador to France.
In 1940, after the German occupation, the Brazilian diplomatic representation was transferred from Paris to Vichy.
The city housed the French collaborationist government installed after the armistice with Nazi Germany.
Before the transfer, Souza Dantas intensified the granting of visas to Jews and other refugees trying to leave France.
Many documents were registered in Nansen Passports, issued by the League of Nations for refugees without recognized nationality.
In this way, hundreds of families obtained authorization to travel to Brazil during the advance of Nazi persecution.
Historical accounts indicate that the diplomat signed visas quickly to assist as many people as possible.
Gestapo conducted searches against the Brazilian diplomat
The movement caught the attention of the Gestapo, the secret police of the Nazi regime.
German agents conducted searches at the Brazilian embassy and at Souza Dantas’s official residence.
These actions violated the diplomatic immunity guaranteed by international conventions.
During the war, the ambassador was also detained by German authorities.
One version states that he remained imprisoned for approximately 14 months before participating in a prisoner exchange.
Another interpretation suggests that Itamaraty opened an administrative process due to the breach of Brazilian rules.
Researchers, however, still debate the exact circumstances surrounding these episodes.
Aracy de Carvalho removed identification from documents
Meanwhile, Aracy de Carvalho worked in the Passport Section of the Brazilian consulate in Hamburg.
Fluent in German since childhood, she began to lead the sector in 1938.
At the time, requests submitted by Jews were supposed to receive the letter “J”.
This identification practically prevented the approval of entry visas to Brazil.
According to historical accounts, Aracy refrained from inserting the mark on some of the documents sent to the consul-general.
Consequently, several requests were approved, allowing refugees to leave Germany and travel to Brazil.
Guimarães Rosa collaborated with the rescue of refugees
Aracy met the diplomat and writer João Guimarães Rosa while working in Hamburg.
The two worked together between 1938 and 1942 and began a relationship that later resulted in marriage.
Guimarães Rosa did not have the authority to grant visas. Even so, he helped refugees and protected the actions carried out by Aracy.
Researchers also attribute to the writer the transport of objects, the safekeeping of valuables, and the production of information to protect families.
Brazilians received international recognition
In 1942, after the diplomatic break between Brazil and Germany, Aracy and Guimarães Rosa were detained for approximately four months.
Subsequently, both left the country in a diplomatic exchange operation.
Souza Dantas died in 1954 and received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts.
The Yad Vashem, in Israel, included his name in the group of the Righteous Among the Nations.
Aracy also received the honor and became the only Brazilian woman recognized by the institution.
Her story became known by the nickname “Angel of Hamburg” and inspired the miniseries Passport to Freedom.
The stories of Aracy, Souza Dantas, and Guimarães Rosa remain among the main Brazilian examples of aid to the victims of Nazism.
In your opinion, would you have the courage to defy official orders to save persecuted people during a war? Leave your comment!
