Neutral Nations of WW2: Portugal
- 6 years ago
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When WW2 broke out Portugal remained neutral and unlike in WW1 actually stayed Neutral throughout the whole war. Salazar was in a very precarious position however. Portugal had been a long-time ally of Britain that dated back to 1373. When the war started they upheld the treaty but claimed that since the British didn't ask for assistance, they did not need to honor that alliance at that moment. Unlike the case with Ireland, the British government was content with this decision. They viewed that if Portugal joined the allies, then Spain would join the Axis powers. How true that was is hard to say. Portugal was very vulnerable to British naval power (particularly in its colonies). Making the wrong move would risk Portugal's independence whether Britain stepped in to seize the Azores, Germany stepped in to secure the Portuguese mines necessary for the war effort, or Spain took advantage of the confusion to reassert control over Portugal, even though that threat wasn't likely to materialize. If anything, Salazar's neutrality was more sincere than Franco's, He enforced an embargo on either side's activities in Portuguese territory and banning Portuguese citizens from assisting one side or the other. Some Portuguese in the colonies did join the war though. Around 200 men from the Indian possessions joined the Indian army and six hundred were part of the Blue Division, a mix of Iberians that were sent to join the German army on the eastern front.
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Want to watch more Neutrals of WW2? Click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLURsyoSxdtCyGq5GSJdhOWFzBTzRIVVCQ
When WW2 broke out Portugal remained neutral and unlike in WW1 actually stayed Neutral throughout the whole war. Salazar was in a very precarious position however. Portugal had been a long-time ally of Britain that dated back to 1373. When the war started they upheld the treaty but claimed that since the British didn't ask for assistance, they did not need to honor that alliance at that moment. Unlike the case with Ireland, the British government was content with this decision. They viewed that if Portugal joined the allies, then Spain would join the Axis powers. How true that was is hard to say. Portugal was very vulnerable to British naval power (particularly in its colonies). Making the wrong move would risk Portugal's independence whether Britain stepped in to seize the Azores, Germany stepped in to secure the Portuguese mines necessary for the war effort, or Spain took advantage of the confusion to reassert control over Portugal, even though that threat wasn't likely to materialize. If anything, Salazar's neutrality was more sincere than Franco's, He enforced an embargo on either side's activities in Portuguese territory and banning Portuguese citizens from assisting one side or the other. Some Portuguese in the colonies did join the war though. Around 200 men from the Indian possessions joined the Indian army and six hundred were part of the Blue Division, a mix of Iberians that were sent to join the German army on the eastern front.