What is the Portuguese Carnation Revolution?

Famous poster

Images in this video shows how the siege of Carmo Headquarters by the Armed Forces Movement took place. Salgueiro Maia leads the operation. The military is surrounded by thousands of people who supported the revolution. There was eminent danger as no one knew how the government forces would react. Marcelo Caetano and two ministers of his cabinet were inside. The siege began at 12:30 and at 16:30 Marcelo Caetano announced that he would surrender. An hour later, General Spinola entered the Carmo Headquarters to negotiate the surrender of the Government. The Carmo Headquarters hoisted the white flag. At 19:30 Marcelo Caetano surrenders. Victory!

In a nutshell:

- A bloodless coup occurred on 25th April 1974 which ended the repressive and dictatorial leadership of the country.
- The longest dictatorship in Europe, the Estado Novo, had prevailed for almost 50 years - The old regime, or Estado Novo was founded in 1933. It was led by António de Oliveira Salazar, Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. Then Marcelo Caetano took over.
- Just past midnight tanks moved into Lisbon and took control of television, radio centers and the airport. Troops armed with machine guns stormed the barracks where the Prime Minister and two of his ministers had taken refuge. Spontaneous demonstrations filled the streets. Thousands of civilians mingled with the soldiers, the newly formed MFA - Movement of Armed Forces - despite orders to stay inside.They shouted O Povo unido, jamais será vencido! This means The united people will never be defeated.
- General António de Spínola received the surrender of prime minister Marcelo Caetano. Caetano spent the rest of his life in exile in Brazil.
- A famous poster of April 25th- a blond kid with curly hair puts a red carnation in the barrel of a gun held by a military. The kid was three years old and his name is Diogo Bandeira Freire. Today he lives in the UK and married an English woman. He never voted in Portugal.