“Undesirable” Poles in Portugal before the Second World War (1933-1939)

This article analyzes the presence of Poles in Portugal immediately before the Second World War, evaluating how the Estado Novo regime perceived their entry into the country, in a context of strong political and social instability in Europe. Using police and diplomatic sources, the negative view that the Portuguese government had of these foreigners is demonstrated, linking them to the commission of various crimes and classifying them as political and social “undesirables”.

Keywords:
Poles; Undesirables; Portugal; Estado Novo