17

Were any South or Central American nations besides Brazil involved (not necessarily officially) in either of the World Wars? If any were, I'd appreciate information on their degree of involvement.

7
  • 1
    Does having warships and transport traverse Panama Canal count?
    – DVK
    Nov 3, 2012 at 21:03
  • Also, both Argentina and Brazil were pretty Nazi-friendly. straightdope.com/columns/read/2491/…
    – DVK
    Nov 3, 2012 at 21:05
  • @DVK Panama: Perhaps as a footnote :) Nazis: Thanks, that's interesting. Nov 5, 2012 at 4:51
  • 1
    @Anixx - was it indeeed for that reason (for real, not rhethoric)?
    – DVK
    Nov 6, 2012 at 2:57
  • 1
    For certain definitions of "involved", even states that remained formally neutral in WW II were "involved". Point in case, Uruguay and the whole issue of the ship Admiral Graf Spee. (Under terms of neutrality, the battle-damaged Graf Spee had to leave Montevideo harbor after no more than 72 hours.)
    – DevSolar
    Feb 28, 2017 at 11:48

5 Answers 5

22

Yes, both World War I and World War II involved South and Central America.

WWI

Here is a list of South American countries that severed relations and those that declared war. Sourced from here.

  • April 7, 1917 Panama declares war on Germany
  • April 13, 1917 Bolivia severs relations with Germany
  • October 6, 1917 Peru severs relations with Germany
  • October 7, 1917 Uruguay severs relations with Germany
  • October 26, 1917 Brazil declares war on Germany
  • December 8, 1917 Ecuador severs relations with Germany
  • December 10, 1917 Panama declares war on Austria
  • April 23, 1918 Guatemala declares war on Germany
  • May 8, 1918 Nicaragua declares war on Germany and Austria
  • May 23, 1918 Costa Rica declares war on Germany
  • July 12, 1918 Haiti declares war on Germany
  • July 19, 1918 Honduras declares war on Germany

Although eight other South or Central American countries declared war, only Brazil had direct involvement. Brazil sent surgeons and pilots to Europe. Most pilots served with the RAF, but some served with the French Army. Brazil was mainly involved at sea, however. A good part of their fleet was involved in anti-submarine warfare. However, there we're quite a few delays that hampered the war effort:

“The Italians wanted [the Brazilian fleet] in the Mediterranean, the Americans wanted them to work closely with U.S. forces, and the French wanted to keep them protecting the commercial maritime traffic along the African coast Between Dakar and Gibraltar“. This long hesitation among the Allied command, combined with a delay due to operational problems throughout 1918 that prevented launching the squadron to sea, plus the Spanish flu pandemic that struck the crew at the end of August, meant that the fleet arrived at Gibraltar at beginning of November, 1918, only to see the armistice signed within days, thus putting an end to World War I.

WWII

World War II also saw some South and Central American participation. However, again, Brazil was the only nation of these to send troops to fight.

The members of the Pan American Union, who were all neutral between 1939 and 1941, formed a mutual defense pact at a conference of foreign ministers at Havana, from 21 to 30 July 1940. The "Declaration on Reciprocal Assistance and Cooperation for the Defense of the Nations of the Americas" was part of the Final Act of the Second Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics at Havana, Cuba, 30 July 1940.

This organization was instrumental in organizing the nations of South and Central America. In fact, before the founding of it, some of these nations recognized Manchukuo as a legitimate state.

Brazil, from 1942, participated in anti-submarine warfare in the South and Central Atlantic and; in July 1944 sent an Expeditionary Force of 25,000 army and air force personnel to the Italian campaign;
-Allies of WW2

During the eight months of the Italian campaign, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force managed to take 20,573 Axis prisoners, consisting of two generals, 892 officers and 19,679 other ranks. During the War, Brazil lost 948 of its own men killed in action across all three services during the Italian campaign.

Argentina was officially neutral, but leaned to the side of the Axis. After the war, many war criminals harbored there.

Chile also was officially neutral, but later joined the Allies

Before 1940, "Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic offered diplomatic recognition of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo which was not recognized as a legitimate state by a majority of the world’s nations at the time." Note Dominican Republic is North American.


So, yes, there was involvement from South and Central America, but it did not play an instrumental part in either of the World Wars.

9
  • I'd also like to point out the bit about Mexico - history.stackexchange.com/q/1031/114
    – MichaelF
    Nov 6, 2012 at 15:35
  • 1
    Except that Mexico is in North America. Nov 6, 2012 at 15:36
  • 1
    You might want to check your geography...if you include El Salvador, Panama, Guatamala or the Dominican Republic then Mexico can also be included. Its generally considered part of Central America not North America
    – MichaelF
    Nov 6, 2012 at 16:20
  • The only one of those that is not Central American is the Dominican Republic. I also removed Cuba because it is not Central American either. However, El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala are all Central American, unlike Mexico. Nov 6, 2012 at 16:47
  • 1
    Thank you. (I would say that the Dominican Republic is a part of the Caribbean rather than any of the Americas.) Nov 14, 2012 at 13:35
3

"Mexico and Brazil were the only Latin America countries to play an active part in the war, both on the Allied side. At their peak, the Brazilian armed forces in World War II numbered 200,000."

"Among the pro-Axis Latin American countries, pro-German feeling was strongest in Argentina, including solid popular support for the Nazis. Argentina had a large German population and an even greater Italian one....In both Chile and Argentina there was suppression of pro-Allied opinions and support."

Terror and Triumph, By Marshall Cavendish

1
  • 1
    It certainly wasn't 200,000 people. It was treated as a division within the Allied forces in Italy, and a division is like 10,000 - 15,000 soldiers. Plus FAB (Air Force) and non-combatant troops (communications, transport, etc) it probably summed up some 25 to 30 thousand soldiers. Also, the total Ally force in Italy, during the final spring offensive, was probably around 1 million troops; the Brazilian forces were far from being 20% of that. Jul 28, 2016 at 19:18
2

Yes Mexico and Brazil, both country's joined the Allied forces during 1942. In which the Mexican Air Force in World War II helped liberate the Philippines. Fuerza Aerea Mexicana (FAM).

The Fighter-bomber squadron 201st known as The Aztecs Eagles which consisted of 300 enlisted men and officers from all branches of the military, including 38 of the best pilots

1

The South American countries were very hostile to the Axis in World War II and displayed it strongly, even though most did not send troops.

Costa Rica declared war on Germany on December 4, 1941 days BEFORE Pearl Harbor (counting on the Monroe Doctrine. Mexico declared war in April 1942, Brazil in August 1942. Colombia authorized the creation of American bases anywhere on its soil. Brazil, Venezuela and the U.S. worked on joint defense plans for the shipment of bauxite (used in ironmaking) from Dutch Guyana (Surinam). Later, these included the shipment of Venezuelan oil and Brazilian foodstuffs. German submarines were a threat in the Caribbean and even the South Atlantic.

Some 21 of the original 34 signatories of the (anti-Axis) United Nations were in the Americas.

1
  • 1
    I disagree. Argentina was pro-axis. Also, only Brazil actually sent troops (as stated in my answer). Nov 6, 2012 at 14:42
0

Argentina maintained diplomatic relations with Germany until March 1945. Germany ran a clandestine air bridge to Argentina via Barcelona and Villa Czneros until the very end of the war.

Gottfreide Standstede and Wilhelm Seidlitz at Delfino Shipping were responsible for an Abwher smuggling chain through Spain to germany to defeat the Allied blockade.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.