The exhibition 1940. L’exil pour la vie [1940. Exile for life] opened today, in Bordeux, with the participation of the historian Cláudia Ninhos in the scientific curatorship team.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the German army’s offensive in northeastern France, which led to the exodus of millions of refugees who arrived in Gironde in hopes of escaping the war and finding a way out to asylum, the Aristides de Sousa Mendes Commission has commissioned this exhibition, curated by Cláudia Ninhos, Marie-Christine Volovitch-Tavarès, and Victor Pereira; the design was by the Rébus agency.

The exhibition recreates “the context and action of the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who signed thousands of visas in his name, thus disobeying his Government orders”, showcasing French and Portuguese archives, iconographic and audiovisual documents.

It is hosted by the Departmental Archives of Gironde, in Bordeaux, will be open until 31 December 2020, and can be visited free of charge from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Picture: Exhibition “1940. L’exil por la vie”. Credit: Victor Pereira.