Forgotten Soldiers

Forgotten Soldiers

In the 1961 Portugal, governed by the dictator Salazar, started a war in one of his colony, Angola. Soon problems emerge also in the others African Colonies, Guiné Bissau and Mozambique, the war quickly expanded on the three fronts. This bloody war, that was going to be named Portuguese Colonial War, ended only in the 1974 when the Portuguese regimen fall down.  While in the rest of Europe the youth was fighting for their rights and for a new society, in Portugal an entire generation of men between 18 and 30 years old was receiving a mandatory call to go to the war. During the postcolonial war, in the three fronts (Angola, Mozambique and Guiné Bissau) the number of men sent was 149 thousand (the Portugal population is 10 millions including elders, women and children); 8289 died on the fields and 15507 report injuries; in these statistics are not counted all the ones that later suffered of PTSD.  For the ones injured the worst still have had to come. In fact back to Portugal, the regimen first and the Portuguese govern after the 1974 didn’t want to show  the population the effect of the war. The people injured were hidden and segregated in military hospitals where only few people was able to access and also after they was dismissed several fundamental rights wasn’t recognized. The Portuguese Govern recognized the PTSD as disease only in 1999, 25 years after the end of the war. The Portuguese veterans represent the long-­‐term effect of the war. Forgotten by  society, hidden by the authority their physical and psychological trauma have become every year more acute.

 

by contributor Tommaso Rada

In the 1961 Portugal, governed by the dictator Salazar, started a war in one of his colony, Angola. Soon problems emerge also in the others African Colonies, Guiné Bissau and Mozambique, the war quickly expanded on the three fronts. This bloody war, that was going to be named Portuguese Colonial War, ended only in the 1974 when the Portuguese regimen fall down.  While in the rest of Europe the youth was fighting for their rights and for a new society, in Portugal an entire generation of men between 18 and 30 years old was receiving a mandatory call to go to the war. During the postcolonial war, in the three fronts (Angola, Mozambique and Guiné Bissau) the number of men sent was 149 thousand (the Portugal population is 10 millions including elders, women and children); 8289 died on the fields and 15507 report injuries; in these statistics are not counted all the ones that later suffered of PTSD.  For the ones injured the worst still have had to come. In fact back to Portugal, the regimen first and the Portuguese govern after the 1974 didn’t want to show  the population the effect of the war. The people injured were hidden and segregated in military hospitals where only few people was able to access and also after they was dismissed several fundamental rights wasn’t recognized. The Portuguese Govern recognized the PTSD as disease only in 1999, 25 years after the end of the war. The Portuguese veterans represent the long-­‐term effect of the war. Forgotten by  society, hidden by the authority their physical and psychological trauma have become every year more acute.

 

The hand of Mr Albino showing his soldier identification Mr Porta rest in front of his house. he became bling during the war in Guine Bissau. A veteran of the Portuguese Colonial War and his grandson walk at the ADFA ( Army Force Disable soldiers Association) assembly. The association was created after the fall of the Portuguese dictarship to defend the rights of the injured soldiers. Mr Abilio changing his clothes. He refuses the help of his wife to show his indipence. He lost his legs during the war in Angola. A Portuguese veteran that lost his legs during the war in Guiné Bisau shows his tattoo he made during the war. Portuguese Veterans of the colonial war enter to the general assembly of ADFA, the association that defend the right of disable soldiers. A Portuguese Veterans in the Colonial War Museum. During an event in Porto, a Portuguese Veterans stands in front of his picture shot during the war. Mr Adelio sat close to the picture of his sons, he became blind after an explosion during the war in Angola. A moment during the annual assembly of the Disable veterans association. Mr Abilio on the right and Mr Mario on the left. Mr Abilio lost his legs during the war in Angola while Mr Mario that suffer of a sever PTSD. A Portuguese Veterans look for his friends names on a memorial wall at the colonial war museum. The prothesis of Mr Fortuna, he lost his arms in Guine Bissau. Mr Fortuna walk in the garden of the disable veterans association, he lost his arms in Guine Bissau. Mr Albino change his prothesis. The Portuguese state is actually paying for the prothesis but only for basic models and it don't pay for any kind of training for the veterans to get use to the new limb. Mr Silvério Jorge Rodrigues shave himself. A hand bomb explodes in his hands during the war in Guine Bissau. Mr Adelio enter in the swimming pool. He lost his legs during the war in Angola. Letters written by soldiers during the Portuguese colonial war. Mr Albino tries his new prothesis. The Portuguese state is actually paying for the prothesis but only for basic models and it don't pay for any kind of training for the veterans to get use to the new limb. Mr Arlindo fought for the Portuguese Army in Angola. He suffered of a severe PSTD that has been recognized only some years ago.He get divorced from his wife and his son and daughter avoid any contact with him for 15 years. Portuguese veterans of the colonial war at the annual State celebrations. During this day the disable veterans refuse to use their prothesis to remember to the Portuguese authorities what they are suffering. The tombstone of a dead soldier in a cemetery in Mozambique. Mr Abilio preparing himself for a bath. He refuses the help of his wife to show his indipence. He lost his legs during the war in Angola. Mr Silvério Jorge Rodrigues in his garden. a hand bomb explodes in his hands during the war in Guine Bissau. The Portugues Soldiers cemetery in Pemba, Mozambique Veterans of the Portuguese Colonial War stand in front of the list of the death soldiers present in the colonial war museum.