100th Anniversary of the Portugues Communist Party

[The39thStep]

The CP has begun a year long celebration of its centennial in Portugal from March 6th - "100 years, 100 actions". Banned for half its life the PCP holds quite a unique position in Portugal. Its very much respected for its role in fighting fascism and the revolution and receives main stream press coverage in a fairly balanced way. . However, its role in the critical stages of the Portuguese revolution came under heavy criticism from those to the left of the CP whilst at the same time it faced a violent armed onslaught in 1975/6 from reactionary forces backed by the Catholic church and conservatives. It also faced relentless opposition and maneuvering from the Socialist Party. The revolution in Portugal has been described as Europe's last, it was neither a smooth transition from dictatorship to social democracy or a classical attempt at workers revolution. It was flawed patchy chaotic and polarised. Most of the left outside of the CP didn't really survive the post revolutionary period ( the highest vote for left of CP actually came in the last ten years) but the CP did. At its height, it only ever received 19% of the vote and it now around the 6-7% mark but it's probably the biggest Communist Party left in Europe. The Council next door to my area is CP controlled and the county to the north of the Algarve where I am, Alentejo, has a significant CP presence. The PCP holds a very large national annual festival 'Festa do Avante' which attracts huge crowds for two days of music, art and culture.

The Portuguese revolution is a fascinating read the best book in English imo is A People's History of the Portuguese Revolution

There will be some interesting archive stuff that will pop up ( most of it will be in Portuguese but there is some that is either translated to English or that has English subs). I'll try and keep this going to see if there is any interest.



Here's some clips to set the scene. ( In case anyone wonders the Portuguese constitution even in the State of Emergency allows free speech and political activity provided it is risk assessed in line with covid health advice)

100 years 100 actions

www.pcp.pt

 

[Serge Forward]

Tanks for the memories.

 

[The39thStep]

Tanks for the memories.

I'm interested in all aspects of the Portuguese revolution. As I said very few of the left groups outside of the CP survived in any meaningful way and can authentically claim any direct lineage to the revolutionary struggle itself. That's what makes the CP fascinating.
The revolution and the overthrow of Caetano , Salazars successor, was actually started by tanks and armoured vehicles in the revolt by the MFA where the PCP had some support. The degree of state surveillance and repression by the state meant that quite simply without that coup there would have been no revolution and little if any reform .In the two years that followed there was a genuine revolutionary struggle with thousands of workers committees set up, neighbourhood councils and huge land reform. Many of these competing with at some times in opposition to the pace and direction of the PCP. In the same two years there was also attempted right wing coups, a right wing bombing campaign and counter revolutionary violence mainly but not exclusively directed against the PCP. In my opinion, the role of the PCP has many problems but it safe to say that as the best organised group on the left ,despite repression, they played a key if tactically questionable role in that period. You can dismiss them as tankies , as did the socialist party and the counter revolutionary forces but it's hard to dismiss their contribution to the fight against fascism. I'll try and come back to some of the other left groups and workers organisations that arose in the revolutionary period but please feel free to contribute.

 

[zahir]

Tanks for the memories.

 

[hitmouse]

I don't know that much about Portugal, but what I know about the story of Rádio Renascença is fascinating - going from official Catholic church mouthpiece to self-managed revolutionary radio station is a pretty unique story. I think it was also Portugal where there was that golf course that was taken over by the workers who declared that it was free to use for everyone except anyone who'd been a member of the golf club.

 

[zahir]

The Portuguese revolution is a fascinating read the best book in English imo is A People's History of the Portuguese Revolution

An interview with the author: The Legacy of the Portuguese Revolution

e2a: she also wrote a book on the role of the PCP. From the preface (in Portuguese):
História do PCP na Revolução dos Cravos

 

[steeplejack]

The CP has begun a year long celebration of its centennial in Portugal from March 6th - "100 years, 100 actions". Banned for half its life the PCP holds quite a unique position in Portugal. Its very much respected for its role in fighting fascism and the revolution and receives main stream press coverage in a fairly balanced way. . However, its role in the critical stages of the Portuguese revolution came under heavy criticism from those to the left of the CP whilst at the same time it faced a violent armed onslaught in 1975/6 from reactionary forces backed by the Catholic church and conservatives. It also faced relentless opposition and maneuvering from the Socialist Party. The revolution in Portugal has been described as Europe's last, it was neither a smooth transition from dictatorship to social democracy or a classical attempt at workers revolution. It was flawed patchy chaotic and polarised. Most of the left outside of the CP didn't really survive the post revolutionary period ( the highest vote for left of CP actually came in the last ten years) but the CP did. At its height, it only ever received 19% of the vote and it now around the 6-7% mark but it's probably the biggest Communist Party left in Europe. The Council next door to my area is CP controlled and the county to the north of the Algarve where I am, Alentejo, has a significant CP presence. The PCP holds a very large national annual festival 'Festa do Avante' which attracts huge crowds for two days of music, art and culture.

The Portuguese revolution is a fascinating read the best book in English imo is A People's History of the Portuguese Revolution

There will be some interesting archive stuff that will pop up ( most of it will be in Portuguese but there is some that is either translated to English or that has English subs). I'll try and keep this going to see if there is any interest.

Thanks for this introduction, definitely interested in learning more. Did notice a significant Communist visual presence in Madeira (!!) when on holiday there a few years ago. Quite incongruous seeing wealthy English straw-hat MCC membership type sitting having a coffee near to a very large Communist party mural.

 

[JimW]

Hundred years for the Chinese Communist Party too, they never amounted to much.

 

[chilango]

I'm interested in all aspects of the Portuguese revolution. As I said very few of the left groups outside of the CP survived in any meaningful way and can authentically claim any direct lineage to the revolutionary struggle itself. That's what makes the CP fascinating.
The revolution and the overthrow of Caetano , Salazars successor, was actually started by tanks and armoured vehicles in the revolt by the MFA where the PCP had some support. The degree of state surveillance and repression by the state meant that quite simply without that coup there would have been no revolution and little if any reform .In the two years that followed there was a genuine revolutionary struggle with thousands of workers committees set up, neighbourhood councils and huge land reform. Many of these competing with at some times in opposition to the pace and direction of the PCP. In the same two years there was also attempted right wing coups, a right wing bombing campaign and counter revolutionary violence mainly but not exclusively directed against the PCP. In my opinion, the role of the PCP has many problems but it safe to say that as the best organised group on the left ,despite repression, they played a key if tactically questionable role in that period. You can dismiss them as tankies , as did the socialist party and the counter revolutionary forces but it's hard to dismiss their contribution to the fight against fascism. I'll try and come back to some of the other left groups and workers organisations that arose in the revolutionary period but please feel free to contribute.

Don't some of the groups that formed the BE trace their lineage from groups active during the revolution?

I'll go Google in a mo!

 

[chilango]

Don't some of the groups that formed the BE trace their lineage from groups active during the revolution?

I'll go Google in a mo!

Yeah.

The UDP and the MDP.

The MRRP are sorta still around right?

(well 20 years ago in Porto they were..)

My fave book on the revolution:

Portugal: the impossible revolution? - Phil Mailer

Phil Mailer of Solidarity's excellent history and analysis of the Portuguese Revolution from 1974-1976.

libcom.org

 

[chilango]

I think I've still got a PCP poster and/or an MFA one from the revolutionary period somewhere, I hope!

 

[Superdupastupor]

Lembrem-se sempre: os calados são roubados.



Viva Liberdade! Viva Portugal!

 

[The39thStep]

Don't some of the groups that formed the BE trace their lineage from groups active during the revolution?

I'll go Google in a mo!

Yes you are correct , UDP were very small in the revolution and as far as I am aware ended up in bed with the PCP before eventually being one of the original groupings in the formation of Bloc Esquerda. The Maoists were probaly bigger than the Trot/Alt left grouplets that burst on the scene in the mid 70s and one of those ended up in Bloc Esquerder as well. I read somewhere that MRRP if they exist are 'clandestine' but that might be google translations term.

I think the point I'm making is that the PCP survived pretty much intact. It was only ten years ago that Bloc Esquerda took off and they are a longway off their roots tbh.

The Mailer piece is a good contribution as is this by Peter Robinson on workers councils http://oro.open.ac.uk/19940/1/pdf115.pdf

 

[The39thStep]

Thanks for this introduction, definitely interested in learning more. Did notice a significant Communist visual presence in Madeira (!!) when on holiday there a few years ago. Quite incongruous seeing wealthy English straw-hat MCC membership type sitting having a coffee near to a very large Communist party mural.

Yes i know when I first moved in here there was a whole street of PCP posters outside the first supermarket i went in . Turned out they got 10% of the vote.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

The CP has begun a year long celebration of its centennial in Portugal from March 6th - "100 years, 100 actions". Banned for half its life the PCP holds quite a unique position in Portugal. Its very much respected for its role in fighting fascism and the revolution and receives main stream press coverage in a fairly balanced way. . However, its role in the critical stages of the Portuguese revolution came under heavy criticism from those to the left of the CP whilst at the same time it faced a violent armed onslaught in 1975/6 from reactionary forces backed by the Catholic church and conservatives. It also faced relentless opposition and maneuvering from the Socialist Party. The revolution in Portugal has been described as Europe's last, it was neither a smooth transition from dictatorship to social democracy or a classical attempt at workers revolution. It was flawed patchy chaotic and polarised. Most of the left outside of the CP didn't really survive the post revolutionary period ( the highest vote for left of CP actually came in the last ten years) but the CP did. At its height, it only ever received 19% of the vote and it now around the 6-7% mark but it's probably the biggest Communist Party left in Europe. The Council next door to my area is CP controlled and the county to the north of the Algarve where I am, Alentejo, has a significant CP presence. The PCP holds a very large national annual festival 'Festa do Avante' which attracts huge crowds for two days of music, art and culture.

The Portuguese revolution is a fascinating read the best book in English imo is A People's History of the Portuguese Revolution

There will be some interesting archive stuff that will pop up ( most of it will be in Portuguese but there is some that is either translated to English or that has English subs). I'll try and keep this going to see if there is any interest.



Here's some clips to set the scene. ( In case anyone wonders the Portuguese constitution even in the State of Emergency allows free speech and political activity provided it is risk assessed in line with covid health advice)

100 years 100 actions

www.pcp.pt

From what I've read about the Portugese revolution it was partially the likes of the communist party who fucked everything up, along with the fact that too many people wanted mere reforms.

But it was the Leninists who hijacked and ruined the popular assemblies, which actually put people off participating in them.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

From what I recall the left in Portugal, including the trade unions, were totally dominated by anarchism before Salazar took power. When the Communist Party was formed all it succeeded in doing at the start was to divide the working class movement. They refused to support the insurrection against the military and then later refused to support a general strike. Both those two events came to nought, so maybe they were right, or maybe their lack of involvement meant an inevitable lack of success.

 

[The39thStep]

From what I've read about the Portugese revolution it was partially the likes of the communist party who fucked everything up, along with the fact that too many people wanted mere reforms.

But it was the Leninists who hijacked and ruined the popular assemblies, which actually put people off participating in them.

Yes the criticism from those to the left of the PCP was that the PCP held back a revolutionary tide. The issue of whether too many people wanted mere reforms is an interesting one. If you look at the reforms that the army , and then even the Socialist Party offered they were extremely radical compared to the previous regime precisely due to the high levels of militancy . One of the biggest fears of the USA ( and to the UK and EU (then EEC) was that the Portuguese revolution could tip over to Spain and to Greece. there was also a strong counterrevolutionary side ( financed in part by the Spanish ruling class and the States) that attempted a coup and inflicted a campaign of terror on the PCP and its supporters. There were whole swathes of neighbourhood assemblies that didn't have PCP leadership, in fact the PCP were often ambivalent on the assemblies, one minute reacting to their own rank and file the next to manouvering with the MFA .One of the criticisms that could be made was where the left of the PCP had influence in those is that they generally didn't see organising at the point of production as key, they saw the assemblies as a direct route to the armed seizure of power.

 

[The39thStep]

From what I recall the left in Portugal, including the trade unions, were totally dominated by anarchism before Salazar took power. When the Communist Party was formed all it succeeded in doing at the start was to divide the working class movement. They refused to support the insurrection against the military and then later refused to support a general strike. Both those two events came to nought, so maybe they were right, or maybe their lack of involvement meant an inevitable lack of success.

I think it's fair to say that the establishment of Communist Parties inspired by the Russian revolution did have a negative impact on anarchism and syndicalism as an influence in many countries. The early CP ( formed in 1921) and the anarchist influenced CGT couldn't come to an agreement as to how to fight fascism ( the first fascist organisation in Portugal appeared in 1924 and by 1926 with Salazars seizure of power the PCP, the anarchists and the CGT were banned .

I'm not sure what happened to anarchism as a movement in Portugal tbh during the years of the New State. I know there was an assassination attempt on Salazar by an anarchist but by the time we get to 1974 and the revolution I haven't come across many references. Whereas the PCP despite having its leadership and membership jailed and tortured ( the central committee of the PCP when it was legalised in the 1974 revolution had 300 years of jail sentences between them ) survived and played a key ( for better or worse) role.

 

[Serge Forward]

Yeah.

The UDP and the MDP.

The MRRP are sorta still around right?

(well 20 years ago in Porto they were..)

My fave book on the revolution:

Portugal: the impossible revolution? - Phil Mailer

Phil Mailer of Solidarity's excellent history and analysis of the Portuguese Revolution from 1974-1976.

libcom.org

Yeah, that's a great book.

 

[Serge Forward]

I'm interested in all aspects of the Portuguese revolution. As I said very few of the left groups outside of the CP survived in any meaningful way and can authentically claim any direct lineage to the revolutionary struggle itself. That's what makes the CP fascinating.
The revolution and the overthrow of Caetano , Salazars successor, was actually started by tanks and armoured vehicles in the revolt by the MFA where the PCP had some support. The degree of state surveillance and repression by the state meant that quite simply without that coup there would have been no revolution and little if any reform .In the two years that followed there was a genuine revolutionary struggle with thousands of workers committees set up, neighbourhood councils and huge land reform. Many of these competing with at some times in opposition to the pace and direction of the PCP. In the same two years there was also attempted right wing coups, a right wing bombing campaign and counter revolutionary violence mainly but not exclusively directed against the PCP. In my opinion, the role of the PCP has many problems but it safe to say that as the best organised group on the left ,despite repression, they played a key if tactically questionable role in that period. You can dismiss them as tankies , as did the socialist party and the counter revolutionary forces but it's hard to dismiss their contribution to the fight against fascism. I'll try and come back to some of the other left groups and workers organisations that arose in the revolutionary period but please feel free to contribute.

Sorry for being sarky. Yes, it's interesting, and I do know a bit about the Portuguese revolution. Some interesting characters at that time too, soldiers radicalised by contact with the PAIGC, Frelimo and MPLA... such as Otelo de Carvalho for example.

 

[Serge Forward]

I think it's fair to say that the establishment of Communist Parties inspired by the Russian revolution did have a negative impact on anarchism and syndicalism as an influence in many countries. The early CP ( formed in 1921) and the anarchist influenced CGT couldn't come to an agreement as to how to fight fascism ( the first fascist organisation in Portugal appeared in 1924 and by 1926 with Salazars seizure of power the PCP, the anarchists and the CGT were banned .

I'm not sure what happened to anarchism as a movement in Portugal tbh during the years of the New State. I know there was an assassination attempt on Salazar by an anarchist but by the time we get to 1974 and the revolution I haven't come across many references. Whereas the PCP despite having its leadership and membership jailed and tortured ( the central committee of the PCP when it was legalised in the 1974 revolution had 300 years of jail sentences between them ) survived and played a key ( for better or worse) role.

The anarchist syndicalist A batalha was still around at the time of the revolution but according to Mailer's book, decades underground had left a rump organisation of old folk, so it's role was minimal. The CP, Maoism and Trots were in the ascendancy back then.

 

[The39thStep]

Despite the pandemic restrictions, the PCP are giving this a good go

 

[SpackleFrog]

I think it's fair to say that the establishment of Communist Parties inspired by the Russian revolution did have a negative impact on anarchism and syndicalism as an influence in many countries. The early CP ( formed in 1921) and the anarchist influenced CGT couldn't come to an agreement as to how to fight fascism ( the first fascist organisation in Portugal appeared in 1924 and by 1926 with Salazars seizure of power the PCP, the anarchists and the CGT were banned .

I'm not sure what happened to anarchism as a movement in Portugal tbh during the years of the New State. I know there was an assassination attempt on Salazar by an anarchist but by the time we get to 1974 and the revolution I haven't come across many references. Whereas the PCP despite having its leadership and membership jailed and tortured ( the central committee of the PCP when it was legalised in the 1974 revolution had 300 years of jail sentences between them ) survived and played a key ( for better or worse) role.

Fair to say the CP's weren't very helpful for the influence of socialism and communism either!

Not my area of expertise by any means but thank you for your informative points here, very interesting.

 

[The39thStep]

The PCP's version of their history. is somewhat full of classic historic mission/correct line proved right sort of stuff with very little in the way of self criticism but its nevertheless a fascinating story. I've taken most of this from the PCP so it's open to challenge.

Essentially the PCP was formed by members of the Portuguese Maximalist Society which in turn had been formed by a left split from the small Socialist Party ( apparently the SP was very influenced by Proudhon and was anti revolutionary) and anarcho syndicalists in 1921. It holds its first Congress in 1923 and affiliates to the Communist international. Like most of the Communist Parties formed across the world after the Russian revolution, it wasn't fully Bolshevised until a few years later. The day before the second congress there is a military coup within a year parliament is dissolved, municipal councils abolished, CGT banned the PCP HQ is shut down and the party is made illegal.

Salazars New State came into being in 1933 , he had previously been appointed Finance minister and then appointed Prime Minister by the regime. The New Sate could be summed up in a one liner as 'Everything for the State, nothing against the State', consisting of strengthening of the powers of the government, the abolition of political parties and the banning of unions, the maintenance of censorship, the strengthening of the police and the Armed Forces. Crucially to underpin the regime and to suppress opposition the State Surveillance and Defense Police (PVDE) was formed . The regime embarks on the development of monopoly capitalism; public limited companies which represent less than 5% of all Portuguese companies hold over 50% of the wealth, key finance and banks particularly benefit from the regime

In 1936 the regime opens Tarrafal Concentration Camp is created on April 23, 1936, on Santiago Island, one of the worst climatic zones in Cape Verde. 'Whoever comes to Tarrafal comes to die ' Said Manuel dos Reis, director of the camp . In fact, 32 anti-fascists were murdered in Tarrafal, including Bento Gonçalves. Bento Gonçalves, son of peasants, arsenalist worker and union leader, was General Secretary of the PCP between April 21, 1929 and September 11, 1942, when he died in the Concentration Camp of Tarrafal. His appointment in 1929 marks the shift of the PCP to that of a marxist -leninist party and its first shift to reorientation to being clandestine. In the years 1936 to 1938, the PCP works to establish an anti-fascist Popular Front. It also sets up the Revolutionary Organization of the Army, group. The PCPs working class activity was through supporting strikes and the unemployed. By 1934 Salazar had introduced the The National Labour Statute (inspired by Mussolini's Carta Del Lavoro) which decreed the illegalization of free unions. Strike action and demonstrations took place across all of Portugal much of it led by what was left of the anarcho syndicalists but the PCP led action in Marinha Grande verging on insurrection. Initially, early on the morning of 18 January, telephone and telegraph lines with nearby Leiria were cut. Roads were also blocked. The home of a glass factory owner, Emílio Galo, was bombed, as was the power station. At 05.00, armed strikers surrounded the GNR barracks, whose occupants surrendered, as well as taking the City Hall building and the post office. The strikers then apparently proclaimed the Soviet of Marinha Grande. The regime's response was brutal 100 strikers were arrested, with 45 being convicted and given prison sentences and heavy fines. Many of the Marinha Grande strikers were initially sent to Cunene in Angola and, subsequently, to the Tarrafal camp in Cape Verde when it opened in October 1936. Of the 32 prisoners who died in Tarrafal, two were from Marinha Grande, Augusto Costa and António Guerra, and the CGT leader Mário Castelhano also died there.One other striker from Marinha Grande died in the Azores and one in Leiria hospital .

In 1936 Salazar severed relations with the Spanish Republic and declared its support for Franco's fascist uprising. In September of the same year, in the struggle against the fascist purification in the Navy, the sailors of the warships Dão, Bartolomeu Dias and Afonso de Albuquerque, revolted, organized by the Revolutionary Organization of the Navy (ORA), revolt. 10 sailors were killed and 60 convicted and deported to Tarrafal .

The PCP by this stage is around 400 strong. The repression against the PCP and other anti fascists continued with arrests, torture leading to most of the central committee being taken out. Gonçalves death in particular in 1942 at Tarrafel is a big blow for the PCP however the subsequent period of reorganisation is of considerable interest and importance so this is a good place to pause for the next installment.

 

[chilango]

I dug some of my old diaries out...

 

[hitmouse]

The Libertarian Struggle archive is a decent primary source for contemporary English-language coverage of the revolution - for instance, the September '75 issue has a photo of typesetters at Republica setting up the first issue produced under workers' control, as well as a report.

 

[The39thStep]

The aftermath of crushing the Spanish Republic ( Spain shares the border with Portugal) , the start of WW2 and the ongoing anti communist activities of the New State which included the arrest and detainment of the PCPs central commitee made thelate 1930s andearly 40s a very difficult period for the PCP. The New Sate modelled on Mussolini's regime denied all possibilities for any democratic political activity. It fiercely repressed the smallest protest. It decreed the most modest complaints “illegal”.PIDE , the states secret police had a wave of informers and surveliance that promoted ' denúncia ' ; the complaint or denouncement extended far beyond those who were opposed to the regime to those who were overheard critising the regime. For the PCP accepting accepting fascist "laws" or trying to operate within them meant capitulating, abandoning the struggle. To continue to develop the struggle was "illegal". And any political organization that wanted to continue the struggle could only do so in hiding, that is, without knowledge of the fascist police. The reorganisation of the PCP in the early 1940s was to trasnform it into going undergroud and operation clandestinely in safe houses within Portugal .

The strategy was not intended to hide the activity of the PCP from the people, but rather to defend militants from repression.

In the Party cells (formed in factories, in companies, in villages, in schools, in barracks), communist militants lived like their fellow workers, who they organized and led in the daily struggles for bread and freedom and with which they developed ongoing political clarification efforts. They acted in "legality" (as it was said then). Only political activities were clandestine - since fascism did not just prohibit them, it persecuted them fiercely, to dismantle the Party's connection to the popular masses.

Photos of members who went clandestine.





clandestine press Clandestine house where Álvaro Cunhal lived, in 1960, after the escape from Peniche, in Achada, Mafra


Some spent up to 34 years leading a clandestine life .

There were hundreds of Party facilities (houses, printers) across the country. The houses were the safe haven for employees, defended with 'an art acquired over years of need and experience.' Conspiracy care was essential. The defense of clandestine houses, the choice of meeting places, the way of taking notes and transmitting messages, disguises, the complex processes of displacement ... no rule could be violated without serious risk. But these conspiracy rules were not enough, lucidity, boldness, cold-bloodedness, inventiveness and a lot of prudence were also necessary. In order not to reveal their identity in party contacts, illegal immigrants replaced their names with pseudonyms, had falsified documentation and often altered their physical appearance and documentation.

Conspiracy care was essential. The defense of clandestine houses, the choice of meeting places, the way of taking notes and transmitting messages, disguises, the complex processes of displacement ... no rule could be violated without serious risk. But these conspiracy rules were not enough, lucidity, boldness, cold-bloodedness, inventiveness and a lot of prudence were also necessary. In order not to reveal their identity in party contacts, illegal immigrants replaced their names with pseudonyms, had falsified documentation and often altered their physical appearance and documentation.

 

[The39thStep]

The Salazar regime believing that the PCP had been severely weakened internally released a number of key PCP members in the early 1940s from prisons. The effects of the war and the collaboration with Nazi Germany ( despite Portugals alleged neutrality Salazar played a very clever role in selling food, supplies, and very lucratively tungsten to the Nazis whilst offering the UK and USA access to the Azores ) led to food shortages, rationing and wages plummeting. There were hunger marches and at the end of 1941 strikes took place in Covilhã. At the same time, important student struggles were unleashed. In 1942 peasant struggles broke out against the sending of goods to Germany and at the end of this year, there was a great wave of strikes in Lisbon and its surroundings.



Queues for rationing

In 1943 50,000 workers participate in the movement, almost all of the industrial workers in Lisbon and the South Bank of the Tagus. Despite the repression, in May 1944, the PCP called for new strikes and demonstrations to be launched for bread and other basic necessities, with major struggles in the Lisbon and Baixo Ribatejo region. The defeat of fascism was widely celebrated, the PCP following its popular front strategy had helped built National Council for Anti-Fascist Unity - MUNAF in which communists, socialists, republicans, catholics, monarchists, liberals and other anti-fascists collaborated.

Thousands of people flood the streets of Lisbon and in downtown Lisbon demanding “free elections!”, The “release of political prisoners” and the “extinction of Tarrafal!”. In Almada, Cova da Piedade, and Barreiro thousands more parade through the streets shouting slogans. Setúbal, Évora, Santarém, Alenquer and Almeirim are also the stage for major demonstrations. Throughout the South Bank there are major work stoppages. In Moita, Amora, Torre da Marinha, Alhos Vedros and Seixal, many thousands of people take to the streets. This broad mass mobilization is accompanied by the shutdown of most factories, the abandonment of classes by thousands of students, and a large demonstration in front of the National Assembly. In Porto, protesters parade in front of the PVDE headquarters chanting slogans about the defeat of Nazi-fascism.





Demonstration celebrates in Lisbon the victory of the anti-Hitler coalition. Prevented from flying the flag of the USSR, some protesters symbolically raise their bare sticks

Salazar in an attempt to try and differentiate Portugal ( Salazar's regime tbf was never pro Nazi and always stressed its uniqueness to Portugal) from the defeat of European fascism and under pressure from democratic forces releases more PCP members and other anti fascists from Taraffel Prison. Although the PCP still had to organise clandestinely the immediate post war period saw some gains for the Portuguese working class and antifascists . Workers are able to impose the holding of union elections. in around 60 unions. Students also begin demanding the autonomy of their associations and their democratic management. We now get to the point where the PCPs Popular Front involvement in opposing the Salazar regime begins to develop a new phase so I'll come back to what the PCP say about that tomorrow.

 

[The39thStep]

Might be ploughing a lone furrow with this thread and its turning out to be a bigger job than I thought. However, it's one of my lockdown things I thought I'd do so onward and upwards.

Post war 2 sees the first legal movement of democratic opposition to the Salazar dictatorship created , the MUD - Movement for Democratic Unity, supported by clandestine action led by the National Council for Anti-Fascist Unity where the main opposition parties and forces, including the PCP, are represented. Very much in the popular front style of the PCP and heavily influence by the tactics and strategy of the Communist international. MUD commissions were created across the country, made up of communists, socialists, republicans, monarchists, Catholics and others, men and women without a party, whose sole objective was the organized and effective fight against fascism. MUDs youth section expanded quickly to 20,000 members.

MUD backed the election campaign of General Norton de Matos to the Presidency of the Republic in 1949 He and MUD insisted on three conditions : freedom of propaganda, honest registration and inspection of the vote by the Opposition . The Salazar regime refused these terms and the canditure was withdrawn.

NATOs admittance of the Salazar regime and the Cold war emboldend the regime to clamp down further on the opposition and PCP. In 1947 the first major post-war political trial was held, known as "the 109 trial", one of the defendants being Francisco Miguel, a survivor of the Tarrafal Concentration Camp, where he is sent again. In March 1949, Álvaro Cunhal, Militão Ribeiro, Sofia Ferreira and other communist militants were arrested. Militão Ribeiro dies in the Penitentiary, victim of mistreatment. Despite the enormous difficulties of this period, the struggle continues. Tthe National Democratic Movement (MND) tried to stand a candidate in 1951 Prof. Ruy Luís Gomes, one of its leaders, for the Presidency of the Republic. The campaign faced brutal repression and arrests with Gomes himself attcked and beaten at a rally.

The years 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1955 are years of great rise in peasant struggles in Alto and Baixo Alentejo and Ribatejo. Directed by the PCP, rural workers multiply strikes and protests against hunger and for better days. In 1953, 60,000 workers took part in the struggle, making a 20,000 strike. It is at the head of these struggles that Catarina Eufémia and Alfredo Lima, communist militants, are murdered.



Catarina Eufémia

May 19, 1954. In mid-harvest, some 2000 agricultural workers of Baleizão are on strike, demanding better wages. One of the owners callsthe GNR ( Police) , under the threat of weapons workers at this site are forced to resume working. Strikers from other farms come to the location but are surrounded by the armed Police. They manage to force a delegation of women to speak to the ranch.

Catarina was in that delegation. The leading police Officer, Carrajola, shouts at her "What do you want, brute!" Catarina replied: "What I want is bread to feed my children. I want peace. I'm hungry!". Then coldly, pulls away the feet of the son that Catarina brings to her lap and fires three shots. With a cry, Catarina falls with the child. Carrajola advances to the rest of the group, to kill again. But the women take refuge behind the agrarian, and the murderer unloads the weapon on the ground.

Catarina was 26 years old and a communist. He left three orphaned children. The fourth, which she carried in her womb, was murdered with her


Here is a list of PCP members killed by theSalazar regime over 48 years

Abílio de Sousa Marques (1937) • Agostinho da Silva Fineza (1963) • Albino António de Oliveira Carvalho (1941) • Alfredo Caldeira (1938) • Alfredo da Assunção Dinis “Alex” (1945) • Alfredo Dias Lima (1950) • Américo Gomes (1934) • Antenor da Costa Cruz (1948) • António Bandeira Cabrita (1936) • António Ferreira Soares (1942) • António Graciano Adângio (1962) • António Guerra (1948) • António Guedes de Oliveira e Silva (1941) • António de Jesus Branco (1942) • António Lopes de Almeida (1949) • António Mano Fernandes (1938) • António Militão Bessa Ribeiro (1950) • António Assunção Tavares (1951)• António Vicente (1937) • Armando Ramos (1934) • Armindo Almeida (1938) • Augusto Almeida Martins (1937) • Augusto da Costa (1937) • Augusto Duarte Reis (1938) • Aurélio Dias (1934) • Bento António Gonçalves ( 1942) • Cândido Alves Barja (1937) • Cândido Martins dos Santos Capilé (1961) • Carlos Alberto Rodrigues Pato (1950) • Carlos Norberto de Oliveira (1933) • Casimiro Júlio Ferreira (1941) • Catarina Eufémia (1954) • Damásio Martins Pereira (1942) • Domingos Pereira (1925) • Domingos Silva (1924) • Elvira Mendonça • Ernesto José Ribeiro (1941) • Estevão Giro (1962)• Fernando Alcobia (1939) • Francisca Maria Colaço (1967) • Francisco Cruz (1936) • Francisco Ferreira Marquês (1944) • Francisco José Esteves (1938) • Francisco José Pereira (1937) • Francisco do Nascimento Esteves (1938) • Francisco do Nascimento Gomes (1943) • Germano Vidigal (1945) • Gervásio Costa (1951) • Henrique Vale Domingos Fernandes (1942) • Hermínio de Oliveira Simões (1953) • Jacinto Estevão de Carvalho (1934) • Jacinto de Melo Faria Vilaça (1941) ) • Jaime da Fonseca e Sousa (1940) • João Ferreira de Abreu (1933) • João Lopes Dinis (1941) • Joaquim de Carvalho (1935)• Joaquim Lemos de Oliveira (1957) • Joaquim Lopes Martins (1933) • Joaquim Marreiros (1948) • Jorge da Silva Pinheiro (1924) • José Adelino dos Santos (1958) • José António Patuleia (1947) • José Dias Coelho (1961) ) • José Duarte (1938) • José Lopes da Silva (1937) • José Machado e Melo (1936) • José Marcelino (1936) • José Moreira (1950) • José Ruas Ferreira (1932) • José dos Santos Rocha (1938) • Júlio dos Santos Pinto (1934) • Luís António Firmino (1968) • Manuel Esteves de Carvalho (1934) • Manuel Francisco da Silva (1941) • Manuel João (1930) • Manuel Mário Ramos (1923)• Manuel Pestana Garcês (1936) • Manuel Fiúza da Silva Junior (1957) • Manuel Simão Junior (1946) • Manuel Tavares (1925) • Manuel Vieira Tomé (1934) • Óscar Fernando Gaspar (1942) • Paulo José Dias (1943) • Rafael Tobias Pinto da Silva (1937) • Raúl Alves (1958) • Rui Ricardo da Silva (1938) • Salvador da Cruz (1937) • Venceslau Ferreira Ramos (1950) • Vitor Agostinho Pedroso Leitão (1966)

 

[Sue]

The39thStep, thanks for posting all this. Really interesting.