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Why Did Brazil Deploy Troops To Europe During World War II?
They were the only South American nation to do so
When people talk about World War II they rarely mention South America. For the most part, the nations of South America avoided the horrors of humanity’s bloodiest war and instead chose to sit on the sidelines. A wise choice that I’m sure many nations wish they could have chosen. But while most of the continent decided to avoid war at all costs, Brazil decided to eschew neutrality in favor of joining in on the Allied side.
So why did Brazil enter World War II when its neighbors did not? Their support was more than simply a declaration of war, they deployed troops to battlefields thousands of miles away from their home. Why did Brazil deploy troops to Europe during World War II?
Neutral at first
Before Brazil entered the war, there was a concerted effort from both Germany and the United States to woo Brazil to join the war. At first, Brazil rebuffed the overtures from both sides and was perfectly happy trading with both. There were economic benefits to remaining neutral and being able to trade with warring parties.
The United States tried to convince Brazil to join on their side by offering to help them build out their domestic steel industry. The…
