O General Sem-Medo - The Fearless General

[Pamc]

Hi !!

This is my first attempt at a post-1900 timeline

The POD is that Humberto Delgado, not believing the results of the '58 Presidential Elections makes a coup, with the support of the people and most of the military, resentful of the authoritarism and the great influence of the secret Police.

The coup is successful and Humberto becomes president and a new constitution is drafted the next year.
Later on this will radically change the Portuguese Colonial War, because Humberto in the 60's will recognize the usellessness of sticking to the colonies and creates a sort of Portuguese Commonwealth, with a independent Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau as members. The remaining colonies will become Autonomous Regions like OTL Madeira. Cabinda will have a referendum to see if it wants to join Angola or wants to be a Autonomous Region in Portugal.

What do you think?

 

[abc123]

Intresting. Subscribed.

 

[Pamc]

037771

There is so much I left out that you will read the TL

 

[abc123]

037771

There is so much I left out that you will read the TL

BTW, good luck with your first post1900 TL.

 

[Archangel]

Subscribed, Pamc!

Loook forward to see a TL based on Humberto Delgado!

 

[abc123]

BUMP! BUMP!

 

[Pamc]

10 May 1958

BREAKING NEWS
​

Earlier today, General Humberto Delgado stated, in an interview at the Chave d'Ouro café, that in the event that he becomes President of our nation he will sack the Prime-minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. This act of bold defiance as lead to an increase in the popular support for the independent candidate.
Americo Thomaz, after knowing of the statement, released a letter confirming that when we as won he will mantain Antonio de Oliveira Salazar as prime-minister.

9 August 1958

Américo Tomaz as won the election
​

It's confirmed, Américo Tomaz is the new President of Portugal with 52,6 percent of the votes.
General Delgado, who had only 25 %, as released a public congratulation to the new president and is currently attending a meeting with other generals from the Portuguese Army. The intent of this meeting is unknown but it's rumoured that it's to rearrange positions due to the leadership change.

11 August 1958
General meeting, Sintra

Humberto Delgado rises from is chair and starts speaking to the assembled generals from all branches of the Portuguese Military - My friends, it's evident that this farse they call elections were rigged against me. I suspect it was the treacherous PIDE who was behind this. They are getting to much power... We have to fight the communist threat but we also can't live under a dictator, that uses a secret police to assasinate and torture adversaries. We must put an end to this madness. We must free Portugal of this oppressive regime. The people are with us. They are tired of living under the chains of this tyranical system. (now shouting) It's time to restore the glory of Portugal and it's people !!

 

[miguelrj]

(now shouting) It's time to restore the glory of Portugal and it's people !![/FONT]

Bravo!

Let's hope he handpicked the right crowd or they would arrest him immediatly.
A high profile reunion of the leader of the opposition with other generals... PIDE must have its hears there. He'd better already have a well sketched plan to take over the country because the clock is ticking for him.

 

[abc123]

I was under impression that you will use that he will give different interview where he won't say that he will sack Salazar as POD.

 

[miguelrj]

I was under impression that you will use that he will give different interview where he won't say that he will sack Salazar as POD.

He was running against the candidate supported by the single party. He had zero chances of winning fair and square in the ballot anyway.

 

[abc123]

He was running against the candidate supported by the single party. He had zero chances of winning fair and square in the ballot anyway.

True.
But, can Delgado convince his colleagues in HQ that they have to make a coup against Salazar? After all, Salazar is allready 30 years on power, a sort of institution...

 

[tonsofun]

I know nothing of this subject. But I can't wait to see what happens. It will be nice to see Portugal do better than they did in OTL.

 

[miguelrj]

True.
But, can Delgado convince his colleagues in HQ that they have to make a coup against Salazar? After all, Salazar is allready 30 years on power, a sort of institution...

Hardly if he's talking with the wrong crowd.
Hopefully he at least hinted this to some of those Generals.

And again regarding Humberto Delgado's OTL ballsy statement... I was surprised he was so ballsy and had no real Plan B. ITTL he apparently has one.

 

[Archangel]

He needs to get the support of all liberal-conservatives and conservatives to topple Salazar. For example enlisting the support of the previous President (which IIRC should be under PIDE surveillance). He might even get some monarchist support if he is open to a referendum about the type of regime. The left will support him by default inspite of Delgado being a man of the right.
It's also important that he gets unofficial support from the US and other western nations, something he can get since he was a military attache in the US.

Keep up the good work, Pamc!

 

[abc123]

He needs to get the support of all liberal-conservatives and conservatives to topple Salazar. For example enlisting the support of the previous President (which IIRC should be under PIDE surveillance). He might even get some monarchist support if he is open to a referendum about the type of regime. The left will support him by default inspite of Delgado being a man of the right.
It's also important that he gets unofficial support from the US and other western nations, something he can get since he was a military attache in the US.

Keep up the good work, Pamc!

Yes, I agree.
If he promises a referendum about monarchy he could get the support of conservatives-monarchists. Liberals will support him by default, leftist too.

Pamc, BUMP!

 

[miguelrj]

He needs to get the support of all liberal-conservatives and conservatives to topple Salazar. For example enlisting the support of the previous President (which IIRC should be under PIDE surveillance). He might even get some monarchist support if he is open to a referendum about the type of regime. The left will support him by default inspite of Delgado being a man of the right.
It's also important that he gets unofficial support from the US and other western nations, something he can get since he was a military attache in the US.

Keep up the good work, Pamc!

Spot on. The General had the right profile to gather that support.

Additionally, I'm glad ITTL he chose to run for elections too. The campaign allowed him to introduce both himself and his political views to the population and to stir up the pot, conquering a loyal base.
I can see the population flooding the streets of Lisbon in support of this revolution like during OTL Carnation Revolution.

Regarding monarchy and the referendum: it's a good idea to hint that to flirt with the monarchists but he should nonetheless state that he's a republican so that he won't alienate the republicans.

 

[abc123]

Spot on. The General had the right profile to gather that support.

Additionally, I'm glad ITTL he chose to run for elections too. The campaign allowed him to introduce both himself and his political views to the population and to stir up the pot, conquering a loyal base.
I can see the population flooding the streets of Lisbon in support of this revolution like during OTL Carnation Revolution.

Regarding monarchy and the referendum: it's a good idea to hint that to flirt with the monarchists but he should nonetheless state that he's a republican so that he won't alienate the republicans.

Well, IMO a fair referendum about republic-monarchy issue is a good thing, it can allow that population has the right to choose and it won't alienate anybody and it will help to put that question ad acta once for all.

But, I doubt that Delgado's coup/election in may 1958 is enough to prevent african uprisings in colonies, because the most of rebel groups/parties is formed about in 1959/60.

He would have to be VERY quick in reforms to accomplish that.

 

[miguelrj]

But, I doubt that Delgado's coup/election in may 1958 is enough to prevent african uprisings in colonies, because the most of rebel groups/parties is formed about in 1959/60.

He would have to be VERY quick in reforms to accomplish that.

I'm more confident that he could prevent large-scale insurgency.
Those movements started out as illegal political parties. The war only started in '61 in Angola and Guinea and in '64 in Mozambique... when the Salazar regime offered zero negotiations.
ITTL the independentist parties have good chances of being legalized and will have other choices other than outright war.

 

[abc123]

I'm more confident that he could prevent large-scale insurgency.
Those movements started out as illegal political parties. The war only started in '61 in Angola and Guinea and in '64 in Mozambique... when the Salazar regime offered zero negotiations.
ITTL the independentist parties have good chances of being legalized and will have other choices other than outright war.

About Guinea, Guinea is IMO irrelevant for Portugal, since there's no important natural riches, so it can be given independence right away, but it is important simbolicly, because then all other colonies will want it too.
Some period of about 10 years of federation with Portugal ( a sort of Portuguese Union), and then referendum about independence is the right way...

Even after independence Portugal should offer to Angola and Mozambique some cooperation in "Potuguese Commonwealth". Tricky question is: If Angola ( definitly the most important colony ) asks for Cabinda as a concession for joining to the Commonwealth. What should Portugal do then?

IMO, Portugal should keep Cabinda ( as "independent", overseas province or in federation with Portugal ) never mind about Angola.

 

[Pamc]

Thanks for all the endorsement


U.S Embassy in Lisbon

The Ambassador sat in is office chair when suddenly a knock on the door awaked him from his thinking trance. It was the servant and it brought something:
- What's that you bring ?
- Ambassador, it's a letter from an General, General Humberto Delgado
The ambassador picked the letter up and opened it. It was handwritten in a perfect calligraphy. It's message was simple. A revolution was going to happen, and the general requested support from the USA, and speaking how this revolt was inevitable and would reflect good on the U.S to help topple another dictator.
The ambassador quickly wrote a reply and sent it to Sintra, where the generals were meeting, saying that the U.S would not defend the current regime

Sintra

When the reply letter arrived they all spoke to the general and he in turn explained the plan. After that he was as the generals to join him as he went to the Army camp in Lisbon, where they would meet with the main troops, the ones that would take Lisbon itself, when suddenly a knock on the door. It was the PIDE