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Junqueira dos Reis

José Junqueira dos Reis

A brigadier called in to command the forces loyal to the regime on 25 April 1974, he gave orders to open fire at the Ribeira das Naus and on Rua do Arsenal, and his own men disobeyed.

Revolutionbrigadiersecond-in-command of the Lisbon Military Regioncommander of the forces loyal to the government on 25 April 1974
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Biography

A brigadier and second-in-command of the Lisbon Military Region, he was called in at 06:30 on 25 April 1974 to command the forces loyal to the government.23 He left Ajuda with the regime’s counter-offensive, whose command post was at the Lanceiros 2 barracks.2 At 09:35 he arrived at the Terreiro do Paço with tanks, riflemen from the 1st Infantry Regiment and Military Police.13

On Avenida da Ribeira das Naus, when Salgueiro Maia came forward with a white handkerchief, he ordered Officer Cadet Fernando Sottomayor to open fire on him. Sottomayor refused and was placed under arrest; the tank gunners refused too, and the troops went over to the side of the MFA.1 On Rua do Arsenal he again ordered them to fire and was again disobeyed; exasperated, he punched Lieutenant Alfredo Assunção three times.13

At one in the afternoon he in turn tried to surround Salgueiro Maia’s column, which was surrounding the Carmo Barracks, with positions in Largo de Camões and the neighbouring streets.23 Between 14:00 and 15:00, with his forces broken up, he withdrew and ceased all resistance.23

Notes on the sources1
  • His full name, his dates of birth and death, and what happened to him after 25 April.

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Sources5
  1. 1Operação Viragem Histórica. Comissão Comemorativa 50 Anos 25 de Abril — consulted on 2 October 2026
  2. 2Movimentações do dia 25 de Abril. Associação 25 de Abril — consulted on 2 October 2026
  3. 3Cronologia do 25 de Abril, por Jofre Alves (blogue Abril de Novo, 2010), na Biblioteca Digital do CD25A. Centro de Documentação 25 de Abril – Universidade de Coimbra — consulted on 2 October 2026
  4. 4Salgueiro Maia. Comissão Comemorativa 50 Anos 25 de Abril — consulted on 2 October 2026
  5. 5Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas — pesquisa de cidadãos nacionais agraciados. Presidência da República — consulted on 4 October 2026Registo oficial das condecorações, com o grau e a data do alvará de cada pessoa agraciada (pesquisa por nome).

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