Transcript Brazilian Expeditionary Force (WWII)

The Brazilian Expedition
Force in Italy
Group 5: Constance Eldridge, Saury Mejia, Ben Soltis, Hailey Watts
Brazil after WWI
 Had vital need to establish a capable army
 Agreement with France to establish a French
Commission in Brazil known as the French Military
Mission
 Worked to improve Army schools, doctrine, and
equipment
 Commission’s mission terminated in 1939 with
outbreak of WWII
 Tenentismo – movement by officers who rebelled and
tried a coup to depose of Brazilian president in 1922
United States Interest
 Brazil had close proximity to
Northern Africa
 German navy was barricading the
North Atlantic
 Roosevelt visited Vargas in Brazil
 Discussed collaboration of Brazil would support allies during
WWII
 At time, Vargas still had bond with Germany, but no interest
in Nazi government
 Interested in Brazil’s export orientation. Possibility to
secure the support of the external powers during war
A Final Decision
 Vargas was semi-pro fascist and
torn on which side of the war to support
 Goal of Brazil, above all, was to develop their poor
infrastructure
 Lacking in energy plants, railroads, roads, and
industries
 U.S was financing the development of a Steel Mill
 Could act as the key to Brazil’s industrial production
both before and after war
Brazil’s weak Military
• There was no desire for Brazil to join the war.
• Weak Military
• Military was not prepared for battle
• Brazilian Navy protects Northeast coastline
Three divisions one goes to Italy
•Roosevelt meets
with Vargas
•Vargas needs
Roosevelt, Roosevelt
needs Vargas.
•Brazil Joins World
War II
•Need over want
Training Brazilian Military
•Unite States sets up
a base to train
Brazilian Military.
•Three phases of
training
•Brazil Training
•Then to Africa
•Then Italy
•Deployment
The BEF in Italy
•
First echelon arrives 16
July 1944
•
•
•
Morale, Fitness,
training, & equipment
problems
Initial fighting mostly
successful
Minister of War, Gen.
Eurico Gaspar Dutra
•
“The Smoking Snakes”
The Gothic Line & Winter of 1944-45
 Arrival of the rest of the
division
 General Mascarenhas de
Moraes
 Apennine Mountains
 Unfavorable terrain and
Position
 1st Fighter Group
Monte Castello
 Four unsuccessful assaults
 Operation encore
Victory in Italy
 On 2 May 1945, the last Germans troops surrendered
in Italy
 BEF Casualties
 KIA: 451
 MIA: 58
 WIA: 1,577
 Returned 13 Oct
Surrender of General Otto Fretter-Pico,
Commander of the German 148 Infantry Division
•Brazil decides to NOT remain in Italy for a longer
period.
•The United States provided all the transportation
for BEF’s return home.
•BEF returned home with 509 men less and 1, 577
wounded.
•The return of the BEF brought dynamic
transformations in the country.
•July 18th, 1945- BEF
members were given a
parade through the
streets of Rio de Janeiro.
•Immediately after parade
President Vargas
disbanded the BEF.
•Vargas promises to bring democracy back
•October 1945, military coup takes over
•Humberto Castelo Branco assumes power
•Became President after the 1964 coup
d'état.
•He wanted to prepare Brazil for a full
democratic regime.
•He appointed Economist Roberto
Campos as minister of Economy, who
developed a program for social changes,
economic stabilization, and
development.
•1965 Branco modified the constitution
•WWII brought change to
Brazil from an agriculture
economy to an industrial
economy.
•Brazil’s participation on
the Allied side helped to
integrate Brazil into the
International Scene.
•443 soldiers buried in
BEF cemetery in Pistoia,
Italy.
•In 60’s the bodies were
brought to the WWII
mausoleum and
monument in Rio de
Janeiro.
1942-Brazil declares war on Axis powers
1944-Brazilian Expeditionary Force sent to Italy
1945 - Vargas ousted in military coup
1951 - Vargas elected president, but faces stiff
opposition
1954 - Vargas commits suicide after military gives
him the options of resigning or being overthrown.
1956-61 - Juscelino Kubitschek is president, helping
Brazil achieve rapid economic growth.
Class Questions
1.
Do you think that it was a wise choice for Brazil to
agree to join the Allies in Italy?
2. Do you feel Brazil got short changed by the United
States based on all the materials they provided for
the United States with not much in return, despite
their status as an allied power?
Asumpção Penteado, Carlos José. "The Brazilian Participation in World War II."
Hype War. Hype War, Jan. 2006. Web. 1 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Brazil/Participation/index.html>.
Penteado, Carlos. "The Brazilian Participation in World War II." The Brazilian
Participation in World War II. N.p., 2006. Web. 29 Feb 2012.
Williamson, Mitch. "BRAZILIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE." War and Game. Wordpress,
n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2008. <http://warandgame.com/2008/10/13/
brazilian-expeditionary-force/>.