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Latin America in WWII

Directions: Go through steps 1-6 to learn more!

2021

Latin America

1

Countries in Latin America are all of the countries in these maps. They are often overlooked in the Allied war effort. As we will see, the war reached practically every country in Latin America and their support played a role in the success of winning the war.

Resources, Location & Trade

2

Latin America was extremely important in the World War for these three reasons. Let's find out why:

#1

Natural Resources:

Latin America was rich in natural resources that are needed in war. These had to be denied to the enemy. The resources included metals like gold and platinum which are extremely valuable and rubber for making parts for all types of vehicles.

#2

Location:

The Location of Latin American countries gave the Axis powers easy route to the United States through the Panama canal to Africa or from Brazil to Africa where Italy and Germany were engaged in fighting.

#3

Trade!

Central & South American countries made a lot of money selling their goods to the U.S. and Great Britain. German U-boats (under-boats or submarines) were attacking U.S. and later Brazilian ships and disrupting this trade.

Propaganda spreads!

3

The Axis powers tried to use radio shows, advertisements and movies to get Latin American countries on their side. Many resisted this!

#1

German propaganda in the U.S.:

Hilde Krüger was one of many German spies who came to Los Angeles to spread pro-Nazi messages in Hollywood, the Propaganda center of the world. She then became involved with the Mexican government during World War II. The Axis powers flooded the Latin American countries with movies, radio programs, and propaganda to convince them of the benefits of the Axis power beliefs.

#2

Resistance!

A network of German-American and Jewish-American spies worked together to spoil any of Hitler's plots to build a Nazi base in the U.S. Hitler planned to take over Hollywood to produce Nazi movies and propaganda. The U.S. spies leaked this information to Hollywood studio owners & executives, who began to produce more anti-Nazi movies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sfJxdytYn4

#3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKO0T_1rL48

Disney

Disney cartoon movies were becoming wildly popular around the world by the late 1930s. Disney made the following two movies to help persuade Central and Southern American countries to support the Allied powers in WWII.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwbFB7Ietk

Guatemala

4

#1

After Pearl Harbor, many Latin American nations showed their support by declaring war on Japan and the other Axis powers. On January 1, 1942, twenty-six nations signed the “Declaration of the United Nations.”It was an agreement among all the nations that signed to send their resources in the war against the Axis powers, and to promise that no nation would try to seek a separate peace with any Axis nation. Eight Latin American nations were among the first to sign: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

#2

In Actualidad, a Guatemalan newspaper, many pictures and political cartoons showed the state of the war from a pro-ally (supporting the Allies) stance. In one article, there is a map showing vital trade routes for the allies.

Mexico

5

#1

La Voz de Chihuahua

a special issue of “Continental Solidarity (in support of)”newspaper was ordered by Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho in 1941. The special edition showed the gradual movement of the Mexican government towards a pro-U.S. position. Mexico's support of the United States was critical for the Allied win in WWII.

#2

Mexico was one of two Latin American countries, the other being Brazil, that sent troops to war. The 201st Squadron, known as “The Aztec Eagles,” supported U.S. Air Force missions.

#3

Mexico offered other means of support to the U.S. through programs such as the Bracero Program. The Bracero Program was an agreement between the governments of Mexico and the U.S.

The Bracero program allowed young Mexican men work in the U.S. as farm labor due to worries that a lack of farm labor would lead to food shortages during the war. The Bracero program saved the food and farms in many U.S. states.

El Salvador

6

#1

One of the first:

Long before the U.S. entered WWII in 1941, El Salvador was printing newspapers with its support of democracy. It pledged to print its paper as long as the war raged.

#2

During World War II, El Salvador saved about 40,000 Jewish people from Central Europe, mostly from Hungary, by providing them false Salvadoran passports and political asylum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ag3M-cvlQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZfRyOSkA9g&list=PLsVsuxD80mEGMe4NA9rh9BgA9ArHi6k5W

#3

Panama Canal!

El Salvador did not send soldiers to fight over seas. However, it did continue building the Panama Canal for large U.S. Warships to be able to pass through as a shortcut to the War in the Pacific with Japan.

Brazil

7

#1

Brazilian president Vargas told Germany he would remain independent, although he was tempted by fascism (total government control and strong military). When the German Uboats began to attack Brazilian trade ships and kill Brazilian citizens. Brazil prepared its army, navy, and air force for war on the side of the U.S. and the Allies

#2

Hitler apparently said that Brazil would enter the war when he sees a snake smoking a pipe. When Brazilian troops entered the war, they wore a shoulder patch, featuring a snake smoking a pipe, and were called the Fighting Cobras. These troops helped to defeat the Axis powers in Italy.

#3

Effects of the War

Brazil supplied many natural resources for the war including rubber. When Brazil entered the war it was given new technology, clothing, and weapons. The new technology gained through fighting in WWII helped Brazil become the most powerful and richest country in South America. With Brazil's support, the United Nations was created.

Sources

Sources

Sources: https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2018/08/good-neighbors-stories-from-latin-america-in-world-war-ii/

https://omniatlas.com/maps/south-america/19450420/

https://www.coha.org/fascism-now-the-legacy-of-world-war-ii-in-todays-latin-america/

https://www.wlrn.org/show/latin-america-report/2018-11-12/tango-war-why-america-had-to-win-latin-america-to-win-world-war-ii

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