Rio de Janeiro (RJ) – Promoted by the Army Directorate of Historical and Cultural Heritage (DPHCEx) in the auditorium of the Military School of Rio de Janeiro (CMRJ), during March 20-23, the 10th National Seminar on the participation of Brazil in World War II (X SENAB).
The event was opened by the PHCEx Director, Brigadier General Luciano Antonio Sibinel, and had as themes, “The FEB Health Service, Logistic Support and Religious Assistance”, and an exhibition of vehicles, documents and several materials used by the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) Pilots.
The Seminar had as part of its program a guided visit to the National Monument to the Dead of World War II (MNMSGM), occasion that was discussed the firm will of Marshal João Baptista Mascarenhas de Moraes to repatriate the remains of the Brazilian soldiers who died in the battlefields of Italy and details of the artistic pieces that compose the cultural space and the permanent exhibition of the FEB in the exhibition room.
Throughout the week the themes were deepened with lectures and debates about the medical care to those wounded in combat, the supply of the three mouths of war: the man, the weapons and the vehicles, and the religious support to the fighters in their journeys in Italy. CMRJ’s history and art teachers carried out activities with the students involving the themes. The Historic Archives and the Army Library were also present with their stands of institutional promotion, containing books and historic documents, to encourage the material and immaterial historic preservation.
On the last day of the Seminar two important books about the FEB were launched: “The Victories of the FEB: from the Serchio river valley to the Po river valley”, by Division General Édson Skora Rosty and Veteran Colonel Cláudio Skora Rosty. The work is dedicated to the description of the combats, supported by the testimonies of the “little soldiers”, and the book “Jornal Zé Carioca – Publicações da FEB na Segunda Guerra Mundial”, organized by Marcos Moretzohn Renault Coelho and with the collaboration of Silmar Küster de Paula Carvalho and Igor Luiz de Paula Gregório, which presents a compendium of issues of the Zé Carioca pamphlet containing the almost daily history of the Brazilian actions in Europe.
The event was attended by the Chief of the Department of Education and Culture of the Army, Army General Flavio Marcus Lancia Barbosa; Sub-Commander of Land Operations, Division General Edson Skora Rosty; President of the Historical, Geographical and Anthropological Institute of Ceará and Cultural Advisor of the 10th Military Region, Veteran Division General Júlio Lima Verde; Archbishop of the Military Ordinariate of Brazil, Dom Marcony Vinícius Ferreira; Coordinator of the Medical Post-Graduate program of Hospital Central do Exército, Veteran General de Brigada Médico Ivan da Costa Garcez Sobrinho; Veteran General de Brigada José de Oliveira Souza, representing the Military Club; President of the Brazilian Institute of Military Geography and History, Veteran Brigadier General Márcio Tadeu Bettega Bergo; Military History Advisor of DECEx, Veteran Brigadier General Carlos Augusto Ramires Teixeira and other military authorities, researchers, historians and civilians.
Northern Military Command inaugurates memorial in honor of the Pracinhas da Amazônia
Belém (PA) – As a way of valuing the bravery and courage of the ex-combatants of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB), the Northern Military Command (CMN) inaugurated the Memorial Pracinhas da Amazônia (Amazon Pioneers) on Thursday, March 23rd. The monument is located in the headquarters of the Integrated Headquarters (QGI), in the Campina neighborhood, in Belém.
The space is a fitting tribute to the sacrifice of more than seven hundred former FEB combatants from the Amazon region who fought for freedom and democracy during World War II, between 1939 and 1945.
“The CMN is very happy to have this opportunity that recognizes the work, effort, values, and competence of the Brazilian soldier. We, from the Amazon, had a great participation and therefore it is very fair to recognize the bravery of these comrades,” said the Military Commander of the North, Army General Costa Neves, who presided over the solemnity alongside the Commander of the 4th Naval District, Vice Admiral Capistrano.
One of the Pracinhas da Amazônia is Lieutenant José Santana Baltazar, 98 years old. The then soldier was part of the third group that went from Belem to Italy. “I have no words to thank for this moment, I feel honored to be here representing Brazil abroad”, said the ex-combatant.
The solemnity also had the presence of civil and military authorities, members of the Association of Reserve Officers (AORE), the Army Friends Society (SOAMEX), and family members of the Febians. One of them, the musician from Para, Salomão Habib, who honored the ceremony in honor of the memory of his father, Lieutenant Raimundo Dantas. “The CMN is to be congratulated for this gratitude and recognition to people who gave their lives, who fought for democracy and today have justice done with the remembrance of their names,” said the musician.