1. WWII: Military role of Brazil Jordan Grimaldi Period 3

2. Army ➔ Brazil’s Foreign Minister Rio Blanco pushed for strong foreign relations with the US; economic ties to Germany ➔ Neutral with US (as of September 1939) ➔ Allied powers ➔ Brazil agrees to construction of air force bases for US ➔ Brazilian Expeditionary Force ◆ 1st infantry (land forces) ◆ June-August 1944: Brazil and Allied forces invade Italy; advance beyond Rome, take Florence

3. Navy ➔ largest Navy in Latin America ➔ supported by US Navy ➔ many naval bases established in Northeast Brazil ◆ HQ for Allied Command in Atlantic South ➔ actively participated in fighting German U-Boats in South Atlantic and Caribbean ➔ Battle of the Atlantic: 32 Brazilian merchant vessels sunk

4. Air Force ➔ Brazilian School of Aviation founded (1914); organized under Minister of War to train men for the Brazilian army/navy ➔ remained a low-key operation for several years; no units formed ➔ 1941: Air Ministry combined with National Air Mail ➔ US and Germany fight over Brazil for an ally; US wins and gives equipment/money to Brazilian Air Force ➔ Brazil declared war on the Axis ◆ Brazilian troop to 350th Fighter Group USAAF; employed as fighter-bombers; heavy casualties

5. Lend-Lease Act ➔ Lend-Lease Act (March 11, 1941): US provides military aid to foreign nations during WWII ➔ US rewards Brazil for breaking of relations with Axis powers by doubling amount of Lend-Lease Act to them ➔ Brazil used this agreement to modernize its armed forces and be a strong Ally for the US ➔ maritime blockade of Atlantic Ocean by Axis powers to American countries negatively impacts Brazil ◆ many Brazilian vessels attacked and sunk

6. Lend-Lease Act

7. Review Questions 1.The Brazilian Army led military campaigns with the Allied Powers in what European country? 2.True or False: The US established air force bases in Brazil. 3.How did the US reward Brazil for breaking relations with the Axis Powers?

8. Bibliography ➔ http://classroom.synonym.com/brazilian-involvement- wwii-12185.html http://classroom.synonym.com/brazilian-involvement- wwii-12185.html ➔ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Navy#Second_Wo rld_War_.281942.E2.80.931945.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Navy#Second_Wo rld_War_.281942.E2.80.931945.29 ➔ http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aurevie w/1986/jul-aug/daab.html http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aurevie w/1986/jul-aug/daab.html ➔ http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease- act http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/lend-lease- act ➔ http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Brazil/Participation/i ndex.html http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Brazil/Participation/i ndex.html