PIDE
PIDE stands for
Polícia Internacional de Defesa do Estado and was the main tool of reppression used by the Portuguese Fascist Regime, the
Estado Novo.\nAlthough the name PIDE was only used from 1945 to 1969, the whole network of secret polices using during the 50 years of the Fascist Regime are commonly known as PIDE.
The PVDE
The origins if the PIDE trace back to 1933, year of the instauration of the Estado Novo. Under direct orders from Salazar himself, the PVDE (Policia de Vigilância e de Defesa do estado) was created, with 2 main sections:
- Social and Political Defence section, which was used to prevent and repress crimes of political and social nature (see Censorship)
- International Section, which was used to control the entrance of immigrants, to expel undesired immigrants and to take care of counter-espionage and/or international espionage
In 1936, the Prision of Tarrafal was created in the Portuguese colony of Cape Verde. This prision, under direct control of the PVDE, was the destiny of the political prisioners which were considered dangerous by the regime. Throughout the almost 50 years of the Estado Novo, 32 people lost their lives in the Tarrafal, which was known by its severe methods of torture.
In 1936 with the beginning of the Spanish Civil War and in 1937 with the attempt against Salazar's life, the PVDE started focusing in its battle against Communism and the underground Portuguese Communist Party. During this pre-World War II period, several Italian and German advisors came to Portugal, to help the PVDE to adopt a model similar to the Gestapo.
During World War II, the PVDE knew its most intense period of activity. Lisbon was the European centre of espionage and one of the favourite exile destinies. Writers such as Ian Fleming (the creator of James Bond) and other famous personalities such as the Dukes of Windsor or the Spanish Royal Family were exiled in Lisbon. Several German officers who plotted against Hitler met with the British Secret Services in Lisbon, to trade information. The famous report that made the allies know of the V2 tests in Peenemunde was even known as the "Lisbon Report".\nSeveral American reports called Lisbon "The Capital of Espionage". However, the PVDE always mantained a neutrality stance towards foreign espioange activity, as long as no one intervained in the Portuguese Internal Policies.
The PIDE
In 1945, the PVDE was dissolved and replaced by the PIDE. Unlike the PVDE, which seeked inspiration in the Gestapo, the PIDE followed the Scotland Yard model.\nAs a section of the Policia Judiciária (Investigation Police), the PIDE had full powers to investigate, detain and arrest any one who was thought to plot against the State.\nThe PIDE had two main functions:
- Administrative functions (which included functions related to the migration services)
- Criminal Repression functions
To many authors, the PIDE is considered as being one of the most functional and effective secret services in history. Using a wide network of cells, which were spread thrughout Portugal and its overseas territories, the PIDE had infiltrated agents in almost every underground movement, such as the Portuguese Communist Party or other Independentist Movements acting in
Angola or
Mozambique. The PIDE encouraged citizens to denounce suspicious activities, through monetary and prestige prizes. This resulted in a super-effective espionage service which was able to fully control almost every aspect of the Portuguese daily life. Thousands of Portuguese were arrested and tortured in the PIDE prisions.
The PIDE intensified its actions during the Portuguese Colonial War.
The DGS
In 1969, Marcello Caetano renamed the PIDE to DGS (
Direcção Geral de Segurança). The death of Salazar and the ascension of Caetano brought some atempts of democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgences against the censorship. This resulted in a decrease of the violence used by the PIDE and a consequent reduction of effectiveness.
