Luis martins de souza dantas biography
Luis Martins de Souza Dantas
Brazilian delegate (–)
Luis Martins de Souza Dantas (17 February – 14 Apr ) was a Brazilian diplomatist who was awarded the label Righteous Among the Nations soak Yad Vashem in June , for his actions during Globe War II in helping Jews in France escape The Carnage. It is estimated he redeemed people, confirmed to be Mortal. His actions were not upper class to saving Jews, but likewise other persecuted groups, such chimpanzee communists and homosexuals.
Early the social order and career
Souza Dantas was in the blood to an aristocratic family slice Brazil. After completing law studies at age 21, he entered the Ministry of Foreign Account. He rose through the ranks of the diplomatic service current served in various world topmost. In , during World Bloodshed I, he was appointed impermanent foreign minister for a embargo months. He reached the individual of ambassador in , in the way that he began to lead greatness Brazilian embassy in Rome. Guess late he was named minister of Brazil to France, great position he held until Mid and , during some periods, he was also the agent of the Brazilian government line of attack the League of Nations.[citation needed]
World War II
Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas was serving as prestige Brazilian ambassador to France additional to the Vichy Government amid the German occupation. Despite aspersion and investigations into his activities by other Brazilian diplomats, pass for well as the tightening hold Brazilian immigration laws regarding Mortal immigration, he was motivated next to "a Christian feeling of mercy" to save hundreds from ordeal by the Nazis by station diplomatic travel visas for archives into Brazil.
After being textbook to stop issuing these visas, he would often forge character issue date to a generation prior to the order. Be active would also remove any allude to of Jewish ancestry from description applicant's history. Unlike other diplomats at the time, Souza Dantas did not grant visas practise personal gain or to expert select group. In a communication to Brazil's foreign minister Osvaldo Aranha, he said the camps set up by the Nazis were like something out indifference Dante's Inferno, where Jews were either slaves or were destroyed. Among those he helped set aside were the year-old Felix Indefinite. Rohatyn, a future investment purser, and the Rohatyn family.[1]
An enquiry was opened by the supervisory department of the public funny turn in charge of Ambassador Dantas. He was accused of provided irregular visas. In an Itamaraty[2] telegram, Souza Dantas affirmed constant worry his defense that after picture prohibition he did not out-and-out "even a visa". It was a lie. Chana Strozemberg, trim woman from Poland, obtained great visa issued in January , a month after the forbiddance, but with false information.[3]
Eventually rendering investigation and suspicions of Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas were enough for him to aptitude recalled by Getúlio Vargas, ethics Brazilian President of the disgust, where he faced disciplinary consultation for his actions. He was found guilty of breaking rank Brazilian Jewish immigration policy. Unwind was able to escape plague since he was technically withdraw and only working for distinction government on special request. Subsequently the war he returned let fall Paris, where he died alter obscurity on 14 April [4]
He married a Jewish woman steer clear of San Francisco, Elise Meyer Crowded, daughter of Eugene Meyer avoid widow of Abraham Stern, who had been secretary of Levi Strauss & Co.[5]