The «Mocidade Portuguesa»: projects and instauration of a paramilitary youth organization (1930-1940)

Abstract

Amongst the state agencies that the «Estado Novo» set up to obtain a minimum of consensus, the «Mocidade Portuguesa», a national youth movement with compulsory membership for youngsters from 7 to 14 years, easily counts as the largest organization. This article describes the early history of this youth movement, analysing the fate of earlier projects as well. The «Mocidade Portuguesa» was set up in 1936 as a result of continuing pressure from the more radical members of the dictatorship's ruling elite to dynamize the process of consolidation of the regime. Up to 1940, youth leaders tried to model the organization according to German lines, but as protests of the catholic church increased, the outlines of the youth movement were smoothened and references to the Hitler youth were abolished.