Gilberto Bosques Saldívar
Encyclopedia
Gilberto Bosques Saldívar (b. Chiautla, Puebla
, 20 July 1892 – 4 July 1995) was a Mexican
career diplomat and before that a combatant in the Mexican Revolution
and a leftist legislator. As a consul in Nazi-occupied France, Bosques took initiative to rescue tens of thousands of Jews
and Spanish Republican exiles from being deported to Nazi Germany
or Spain, but his heroism remained unknown to the world at large for some sixty years, until several years after his death at the age of 102 (not 103, as sometimes reported). For about two decades after World War II, Bosques served as Mexico's ambassador to several countries. Since 2003, international recognition has been accruing to him. In 1944, he described his efforts thus: "I followed the policy of my country, of material and moral support to the heroic defenders of the Spanish Republic
, the stalwart paladins of the struggle against Hitler
, Mussolini
, Franco
, Petain
, and Laval
."
Bosques has been called the "Mexican Schindler" in allusion to Oskar Schindler
, the German industrialist whose rescue of several hundred Jews during World War II has been chronicled by the Australian author, Thomas Kenneally, whose account (Schindler's Ark) was the basis for the film, Schindler's List
.
There is a new documentary film out by Lillian Lieberman about Gilberto Bosques' rescue efforts called "Visa To Paradise".
, southwest of Mexico City. At the age of 17, he took up arms in the Mexican Revolution
under the command of Aquiles Serdán Alatriste, the first martyr of the Revolution. Bosques organized and led the National Congress of Pedagogic (Primer Congreso Nacional Pedagógico), besides beginning to collaborate as a journalist with several newspapers and publications.
He went on to serve as a state legislator in Puebla and as a federal deputy
on two occasions: 1922-1923 and again in 1934-1937. In the latter period, he belonged to a block of legislators supporting the new president, general Lázaro Cárdenas
.
In 1938, he was the director of the government owned newspaper, El Nacional
.
, initially as Mexico's Consul General. Fleeing the German occupation of Paris in May 1940 Bosques was instructed by his government to organize a consulate to represent Mexico in Vichy France
, which he set up in Marseilles. Once Nazi Germany had occupied France and entrusted much of the governance of the country to Vichy France
, he directed consular employees to issue a visa
to anybody wanting to flee to Mexico. Over time, under his auspices visas were issued to approximately 40,000 people, mostly Jews and Spaniards. The Spaniards rescued were refugees from the Franco regime after the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War
. Bosques rented a castle and a summer holiday camp in Marseilles to house refugees under the protection of what he maintained was Mexican territory under international law . In 1943, Bosques, his family, and 40 consular staff members were arrested by the Gestapo and detained in Germany for a year. He was released under an agreement between the German and Mexican governments.
", Bosques — who was both a personal friend of Fidel Castro
and the diplomatic representative of a neutral country trusted by the United States
, the Soviet Union
and Cuba
, worked to facilitate communications between the disputants and bring Cuba into agreement with the "face-saving" agreements worked out between the two nuclear powers . Bosques Saldívar died just days short of his 103rd birthday. Many accounts of his heroism written since his death erroneously report his age at death as 103 years.
Bosques's feat in saving nearly 40,000 people from execution by the Nazis or the Franco dictatorship went unrecognized even among specialists in the history of rescuers of Jews until after 2000, and especially the year 2008. At an award ceremony held in Beverly Hills, California
, on 13 November 2008, the United States organization, the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) gave him the Courage to Care Award, created in 1987 to honor rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust Era. But this was not the first major posthumous recognition given to him. He was memorialized in Vienna
on 4 June 2003 by having a street in the 22nd district named after him: the Gilberto-Bosques-Promenade. More recently, in 2007 a photographic exhibition in his honor was mounted at the Jewish and Holocaust History Museum in the Condesa neighborhood in Mexico city. In 2008 this exhibition traveled to Xalapa, Veracruz.
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, 20 July 1892 – 4 July 1995) was a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
career diplomat and before that a combatant in the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
and a leftist legislator. As a consul in Nazi-occupied France, Bosques took initiative to rescue tens of thousands of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and Spanish Republican exiles from being deported to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
or Spain, but his heroism remained unknown to the world at large for some sixty years, until several years after his death at the age of 102 (not 103, as sometimes reported). For about two decades after World War II, Bosques served as Mexico's ambassador to several countries. Since 2003, international recognition has been accruing to him. In 1944, he described his efforts thus: "I followed the policy of my country, of material and moral support to the heroic defenders of the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
, the stalwart paladins of the struggle against Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
, and Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
."
Bosques has been called the "Mexican Schindler" in allusion to Oskar Schindler
Oskar Schindler
Oskar Schindler was an ethnic German industrialist born in Moravia. He is credited with saving over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories, which were located in what is now Poland and the Czech Republic respectively.He is the subject of the...
, the German industrialist whose rescue of several hundred Jews during World War II has been chronicled by the Australian author, Thomas Kenneally, whose account (Schindler's Ark) was the basis for the film, Schindler's List
Schindler's List
Schindler's List is a 1993 American film about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg, and based on the novel Schindler's Ark...
.
There is a new documentary film out by Lillian Lieberman about Gilberto Bosques' rescue efforts called "Visa To Paradise".
Early years
Gilberto Bosques Saldívar was born in Chiautla, a mountain village in southern portion of the state of PueblaPuebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, southwest of Mexico City. At the age of 17, he took up arms in the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
under the command of Aquiles Serdán Alatriste, the first martyr of the Revolution. Bosques organized and led the National Congress of Pedagogic (Primer Congreso Nacional Pedagógico), besides beginning to collaborate as a journalist with several newspapers and publications.
He went on to serve as a state legislator in Puebla and as a federal deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
on two occasions: 1922-1923 and again in 1934-1937. In the latter period, he belonged to a block of legislators supporting the new president, general Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
.
In 1938, he was the director of the government owned newspaper, El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
.
Mexican consul in France during World War II
Bosques was stationed in France from 1939–1943, coinciding with most of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, initially as Mexico's Consul General. Fleeing the German occupation of Paris in May 1940 Bosques was instructed by his government to organize a consulate to represent Mexico in Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
, which he set up in Marseilles. Once Nazi Germany had occupied France and entrusted much of the governance of the country to Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
, he directed consular employees to issue a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
to anybody wanting to flee to Mexico. Over time, under his auspices visas were issued to approximately 40,000 people, mostly Jews and Spaniards. The Spaniards rescued were refugees from the Franco regime after the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. Bosques rented a castle and a summer holiday camp in Marseilles to house refugees under the protection of what he maintained was Mexican territory under international law . In 1943, Bosques, his family, and 40 consular staff members were arrested by the Gestapo and detained in Germany for a year. He was released under an agreement between the German and Mexican governments.
Post-World War II
In the decades after his release from German captivity, he served as Ambassador of Mexico in Portugal, Finland, Sweden and Cuba. In 1962, during the "Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
", Bosques — who was both a personal friend of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and the diplomatic representative of a neutral country trusted by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, worked to facilitate communications between the disputants and bring Cuba into agreement with the "face-saving" agreements worked out between the two nuclear powers . Bosques Saldívar died just days short of his 103rd birthday. Many accounts of his heroism written since his death erroneously report his age at death as 103 years.
Bosques's feat in saving nearly 40,000 people from execution by the Nazis or the Franco dictatorship went unrecognized even among specialists in the history of rescuers of Jews until after 2000, and especially the year 2008. At an award ceremony held in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, on 13 November 2008, the United States organization, the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
(ADL) gave him the Courage to Care Award, created in 1987 to honor rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust Era. But this was not the first major posthumous recognition given to him. He was memorialized in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on 4 June 2003 by having a street in the 22nd district named after him: the Gilberto-Bosques-Promenade. More recently, in 2007 a photographic exhibition in his honor was mounted at the Jewish and Holocaust History Museum in the Condesa neighborhood in Mexico city. In 2008 this exhibition traveled to Xalapa, Veracruz.