Brazilian participation in the Second World War began on September 16, 1944, lasted seven months and aimed to liberate Italy.
Brazil’s entry into World War II
Conflicts with Germany
Brazil entered the Second World War, on the side of the Allies, after giving in to pressure from the North American government to end the period of neutrality adopted by President Getúlio Vargas.
Until 1937, Brazil maintained cordial relations with Germany, a situation that was broken the following year.
Even so, the country maintained neutrality. The situation would change in 1942, when Brazil broke off diplomatic relations with the Axis.
Thus, 19 Brazilian ships were attacked off the Brazilian coast by German forces, causing the death of 500 people.
US economic incentive: Brazil enters the war on the side of the Allies
There was intense popular pressure for Brazil to enter the war, and the government of Getúlio Vargas began to support the Allies.
Despite the Americans’ opposition, the Brazilian government wanted to send soldiers to the conflict.
Getúlio Vargas managed to get the American president, Franklin Roosevelt, to modernize the Armed Forces and grant loans to build a steel mill in the country.
This would be the National Steel Company (CSN), located in Volta Redonda/RJ.
In exchange, Brazil provided land in Rio Grande do Norte for the Americans to set up a military base. This was intended to be the take-off point for planes heading to Europe, and became known as the “Springboard of Victory”.
Until then, critics doubted the capacity of Brazil to participate in the conflict. They said that “ it would be easier for a snake to smoke than for the FEB to embark ”. For this reason, the symbol of the FEB (Brazilian Expeditionary Force) was a snake smoking a pipe.
The Brazilian contingent in the war
The declaration of war against Germany and Italy took place on August 31, 1942. The Brazilian Army, however, had a small contingent.
It was necessary to call up recruits and reservists, such as doctors, nurses and lawyers.
The decree that formed the FEB (Brazilian Expeditionary Force) was signed on August 9, 1943. The FEB joined the American Army and was trained by them in Italy.
The FEB contingent was made up of 25,445 thousand men to act exclusively in the war. Of these, 450 soldiers died and three thousand soldiers were injured during the Brazilian campaign.
The Brazilian contingent was divided into eight units:
- 1st Infantry Regiment, from Rio de Janeiro;
- 6th Infantry Regiment, from Caçapava, São Paulo;
- 11th Infantry Regiment, from São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais;
- Four artillery groups;
- 9th Engineering Battalion, Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul;
- 1st reconnaissance squadron;
- 1st Health Battalion;
- special troops and 67 nurses.
The newly created Brazilian Air Force (FAB) also participated in the conflict.
Under the motto of “ Senta a Pua ”, its main unit was the 1st Fighter Aviation Group (GAC), equipped with P47 Thunderbolt aircraft.
It was made up of 374 soldiers and 28 planes, of which 16 were shot down, five pilots were killed in combat and five were taken prisoner.
Battles that Brazil participated in during World War II
Brazilian soldiers arrived in Italy on July 16, 1944. Fighting alongside the US army, the Brazilians managed to expel the German army that was still resisting in northern Italy.
In September 1944, Brazilian soldiers took Massarosa, Camaiore and Monte Prano. In early 1945, they helped to capture strategic points such as Monte Castelo, Castelnuovo and Montese. The war ended in May 1945.
The bodies of the 454 soldiers killed during the conflict remained in the cemetery of Pistoia, Italy, until 1960. In October of that year, the remains were transferred to the National Monument to the Dead in World War II, located in Rio de Janeiro.
End of the War
After the signing of the German surrender, the FEB began to be demobilized in Italy.
The departure of the Brazilian contingent to Europe increased the internal contradictions of Getúlio Vargas’ government. After all, the Brazilians went to Europe to fight against a fascist dictatorship, but at home they lived under an anti-democratic regime.
Fearful that these now experienced soldiers could turn against the government, Vargas hurried to disband the military contingent.
Later generations would ridicule the efforts of the Brazilian soldiers, claiming that they went to fight in an unimportant place that had already been “forgotten” by the German Army.
However, since the end of the 90s, new scholars have been collecting new documents and giving Brazilian soldiers a worthy place in History.
Read more: D-Day
Curiosities
- At least one Brazilian was sent to a Nazi concentration camp . Major-Brigadier Othon Correia Netto had his fighter shot down during an attack on the Casarsa Bridge in Italy on March 26, 1945. Taken prisoner, he remained in a concentration camp in Germany until April 29.
- Brazilians faced temperatures of minus 20 degrees in the Apennines.
- Captain Alberto Martins Torres is considered the greatest pilot in the history of Brazilian aviation. He participated in 100 war missions in Italy and 76 patrol missions off the Brazilian coast.
- In recognition of the work carried out by Brazilians, several Italian cities named streets and squares after “Brazil”. In the city of Pistoia, the monument to the soldiers who fell in combat is still preserved.
