Why was Portugal Neutral in World War 2?
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Date: 2023-12-16
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Comments and reviews: 29
-c1v5366
Portugal was smart in bot joining for two simple reasons. First, they didn't get near completly obliterated like most european countrys from both sides of the war did. Second, considering the fact that the portuguese were left by their -allies- to be butchered by the germans at the Battle of La Lys, and also the fact that Portugal gained almost nothing with their presence in WW1 (since the main european political and military Ally Powers didn't care about the sacrifices of the -lesser countrys-) and yet had a heavy price to pay, pretty much explains why they weren't interested in joining the WW2. So, in the end, Salazar was smarter by making shure Portugal was at peace at the same time they could make profit with the war, while the rest of Europe was drowned in flames and blood.
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Portugal was smart in bot joining for two simple reasons. First, they didn't get near completly obliterated like most european countrys from both sides of the war did. Second, considering the fact that the portuguese were left by their -allies- to be butchered by the germans at the Battle of La Lys, and also the fact that Portugal gained almost nothing with their presence in WW1 (since the main european political and military Ally Powers didn't care about the sacrifices of the -lesser countrys-) and yet had a heavy price to pay, pretty much explains why they weren't interested in joining the WW2. So, in the end, Salazar was smarter by making shure Portugal was at peace at the same time they could make profit with the war, while the rest of Europe was drowned in flames and blood.
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-khalidcabrero6204
You forgot protecting the Portuguese colonies. The Allies certainly had the naval projection to simply take the Azores and overseas colonies in Africa and Asia if Portugal went to the Axis. Portugal would have no way of recovering them, and neither Germany nor Spain would likely do it for them (nor have the capacity to. So there was guaranteed territorial loss. Which is also why Germany didn't press Portugal either. If they closed ports to allied shipping, the Allies would simply take the ports, and they'd be lost to both Portugal and Axis vessels. All loss, no gain.
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You forgot protecting the Portuguese colonies. The Allies certainly had the naval projection to simply take the Azores and overseas colonies in Africa and Asia if Portugal went to the Axis. Portugal would have no way of recovering them, and neither Germany nor Spain would likely do it for them (nor have the capacity to. So there was guaranteed territorial loss. Which is also why Germany didn't press Portugal either. If they closed ports to allied shipping, the Allies would simply take the ports, and they'd be lost to both Portugal and Axis vessels. All loss, no gain.
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-jpmtlhead39
And until mid 1943 was the main supplier of Tugnsten for Germany and the Allies at the same time.
But until the end of 1944 and 1945 only suppy the Allies.
PS: Despite since 1928 Portugal was a Far Right Dictatorship that last until 1974.
Salazar was a Master in Diplomacy.
But a Fascist Pig for his own people.
Who had is own bloody war 1961/1974 for the independence of the Portuguese African Colonies. A very Dearly One, in Man and resources.
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And until mid 1943 was the main supplier of Tugnsten for Germany and the Allies at the same time.
But until the end of 1944 and 1945 only suppy the Allies.
PS: Despite since 1928 Portugal was a Far Right Dictatorship that last until 1974.
Salazar was a Master in Diplomacy.
But a Fascist Pig for his own people.
Who had is own bloody war 1961/1974 for the independence of the Portuguese African Colonies. A very Dearly One, in Man and resources.
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knowledgia
This comment section is crawling with fascists and people (knowingly or unknowingly) whitewashing the portuguese fascist regime. A regime in which a few grew rich and fat while the common man lived in poverty, destitution, hunger, ignorance and fear. A regime that sent hundreds of thousands of young men to fight and die in a war against people fighting to liberate their countries from colonial occupation.
Viva o 25 de abril! Fascismo nunca mais!
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This comment section is crawling with fascists and people (knowingly or unknowingly) whitewashing the portuguese fascist regime. A regime in which a few grew rich and fat while the common man lived in poverty, destitution, hunger, ignorance and fear. A regime that sent hundreds of thousands of young men to fight and die in a war against people fighting to liberate their countries from colonial occupation.
Viva o 25 de abril! Fascismo nunca mais!
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-paulocosta4744
The Brits actually asked us to keep out without asking to keep out. This way, they wouldn't have to defend Gibraltar and the Mediterranean access, because, since Portugal would have to join the war on the British side, Spain would join with Germany. And Spain had actual plans to invade Portugal, they asked the Austrian painter to send in the Luftwaffe, and the Austrian painter said no. The Iberian Pact wasn't worth the paper it was signed on.
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The Brits actually asked us to keep out without asking to keep out. This way, they wouldn't have to defend Gibraltar and the Mediterranean access, because, since Portugal would have to join the war on the British side, Spain would join with Germany. And Spain had actual plans to invade Portugal, they asked the Austrian painter to send in the Luftwaffe, and the Austrian painter said no. The Iberian Pact wasn't worth the paper it was signed on.
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-scifoncra6376
Salazar never obtained power through a coup. Really bad look - research would've told you that the coup was made by the military. Salazar got into power through a very political way. After the coup, there were at least 3 leaders from the military (1 navy, 2 army) and only then did Salazar come into full power and establish his own brand of dictactorship right after the coup's National Dictactorship set up by the military.
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Salazar never obtained power through a coup. Really bad look - research would've told you that the coup was made by the military. Salazar got into power through a very political way. After the coup, there were at least 3 leaders from the military (1 navy, 2 army) and only then did Salazar come into full power and establish his own brand of dictactorship right after the coup's National Dictactorship set up by the military.
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-antonioramos4680
Salazar was a great admirer of Mussolini, and had good relations with Nazi Germany. It was never neutral. Also, Nazi Germany was never worried about Portugal and Spain, nor Britain for that matter. The only problem for Nazi Germany was always the Soviet Union. The Americans never really cared about Nazi Germany either. until the Soviet Union showed they could invade Berlin and leave them out of the deal.
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Salazar was a great admirer of Mussolini, and had good relations with Nazi Germany. It was never neutral. Also, Nazi Germany was never worried about Portugal and Spain, nor Britain for that matter. The only problem for Nazi Germany was always the Soviet Union. The Americans never really cared about Nazi Germany either. until the Soviet Union showed they could invade Berlin and leave them out of the deal.
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-Pyriin
Lesser known fact, is that portuguese embassador in france was moved by the jews situation, and against salazar orders, sign thousands of autorizations for jews to run away for portugal to safety.
The embassador was relieved of his dities and imprisioned for not folowing orders, but he saved thousands of lives in the process. A true hero
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Lesser known fact, is that portuguese embassador in france was moved by the jews situation, and against salazar orders, sign thousands of autorizations for jews to run away for portugal to safety.
The embassador was relieved of his dities and imprisioned for not folowing orders, but he saved thousands of lives in the process. A true hero
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-user-rd1xe8fc5x
Fun fact that a lot of people dont know is that the USA was about to invade the Azores during world war 2. It was actually Britain that stepped in and stopped the USA from invading and convinced Portugal to give the allies access to the azores. The threat was so real that the entire Portuguese army was stationed in the Azores.
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Fun fact that a lot of people dont know is that the USA was about to invade the Azores during world war 2. It was actually Britain that stepped in and stopped the USA from invading and convinced Portugal to give the allies access to the azores. The threat was so real that the entire Portuguese army was stationed in the Azores.
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-TheGbelcher
It sounds like Portugal remained neutral mainly because it didn-t matter.
Portugal was too weak to influence the outcome, so neither side wanted their help militarily.
When there-s limited upside to joining the winner and all of the downside in the world imaginable to choosing wrong. Neutrality is the only choice.
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It sounds like Portugal remained neutral mainly because it didn-t matter.
Portugal was too weak to influence the outcome, so neither side wanted their help militarily.
When there-s limited upside to joining the winner and all of the downside in the world imaginable to choosing wrong. Neutrality is the only choice.
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-baywesty
My parents are Portuguese and escaped the regime for France as the poverty and the mobilisations to atrocious useless wars in Africa raged. Even today, 50 years after the revolution, the scars are not fully healed in my family. The salazar / caetano regimes were awful and drown his subjects to the abyss.
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My parents are Portuguese and escaped the regime for France as the poverty and the mobilisations to atrocious useless wars in Africa raged. Even today, 50 years after the revolution, the scars are not fully healed in my family. The salazar / caetano regimes were awful and drown his subjects to the abyss.
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-angelosilva342
Short answer: it wasn't.
Slightly longer answer: Germans' boats restocking, Jewish gold storing, other shenanigans.
Moral of the story: no nation is truly -neutral- in a war. They just enable varying levels of going's on through their territory.
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Short answer: it wasn't.
Slightly longer answer: Germans' boats restocking, Jewish gold storing, other shenanigans.
Moral of the story: no nation is truly -neutral- in a war. They just enable varying levels of going's on through their territory.
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-GDandFTfan
As a Portuguese I look back in shame for my country not having had fought against Nazism. The only saving grace was the fact that a lot of refugees used Portugal to escape the war, which might had been more difficult without the neutrality stance in WWII.
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As a Portuguese I look back in shame for my country not having had fought against Nazism. The only saving grace was the fact that a lot of refugees used Portugal to escape the war, which might had been more difficult without the neutrality stance in WWII.
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-xyour
For me, Spain always follows in the footsteps of Portugal, so the dictator Franco did not join Germany, did not put its colonies at risk, the way that Portual was used in the first world war by the UK, created a no war zone, for business to everone.
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For me, Spain always follows in the footsteps of Portugal, so the dictator Franco did not join Germany, did not put its colonies at risk, the way that Portual was used in the first world war by the UK, created a no war zone, for business to everone.
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-rodri24
You are praising Salazar a lot, don't forget that Salazar was a dictator and imposed a lot of food (and other first-need produts) restrictions at that time - leading to a lot of people starvation - even with economical superavits.
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You are praising Salazar a lot, don't forget that Salazar was a dictator and imposed a lot of food (and other first-need produts) restrictions at that time - leading to a lot of people starvation - even with economical superavits.
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-UltraStormGamers
You forgot that Portugal had another wars to look for, like the ultramarine war, where my grandfather was obliged to fight against his will, he fought in Mozambique and then helped on the revolution in Portugal in 1974
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You forgot that Portugal had another wars to look for, like the ultramarine war, where my grandfather was obliged to fight against his will, he fought in Mozambique and then helped on the revolution in Portugal in 1974
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knowledgia
Its fun how england requests Portugal help cuz of the treaty of tordesillas
Meanwhile they parked their navy in front of lisbon, our capital, demanding some lands in africa or else they would attack, nice allies indeed
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Its fun how england requests Portugal help cuz of the treaty of tordesillas
Meanwhile they parked their navy in front of lisbon, our capital, demanding some lands in africa or else they would attack, nice allies indeed
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-user-cf1pr8jy3i
For those who want to understand Portugal's neutrality in WW II these are the most well spent 12 minutes in the internet, I'm really surprised. Conciseness, accuracy and coverage of multiple aspects. Well done.
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For those who want to understand Portugal's neutrality in WW II these are the most well spent 12 minutes in the internet, I'm really surprised. Conciseness, accuracy and coverage of multiple aspects. Well done.
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-nsdlsarn
Our Presidente Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was a great visioner and a great Politician, some today call him a -dictator-, look to our government today and compare what 8 years of socialism can damage all Country!
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Our Presidente Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was a great visioner and a great Politician, some today call him a -dictator-, look to our government today and compare what 8 years of socialism can damage all Country!
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-joshapple6905
Thailand was a neautral nation durring ww2. But nevertheless, Pleak Phibilsangkram wanted tto take parts of SE Asia for himself, calling ot the Thai Race. He also declared wqr on the US and UK.
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Thailand was a neautral nation durring ww2. But nevertheless, Pleak Phibilsangkram wanted tto take parts of SE Asia for himself, calling ot the Thai Race. He also declared wqr on the US and UK.
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-danhanqvist4237
-Neutrality- can mean different things. Spain's neutrality was friendly to the Axis; Portugal's -- largely because of its traditional relationship with Britain -- was friendly to the Allies.
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-Neutrality- can mean different things. Spain's neutrality was friendly to the Axis; Portugal's -- largely because of its traditional relationship with Britain -- was friendly to the Allies.
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-krisburke1712
very wise decisions. from my discussions with Portuguese people, they are proud of being neutral in WWII, if only those wise decisions were being made at this time as we edge toward WWIII
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very wise decisions. from my discussions with Portuguese people, they are proud of being neutral in WWII, if only those wise decisions were being made at this time as we edge toward WWIII
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knowledgia
Ireland had to be involved in the Boer wars and WW1 against its wishes. I am very sure that given the chance 99% of the Irish would not have chosen to be involved in these wars
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Ireland had to be involved in the Boer wars and WW1 against its wishes. I am very sure that given the chance 99% of the Irish would not have chosen to be involved in these wars
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-jeffv0id
Portugal did send a fleet on standby to Mozambique and was in the proces of declaring war on Japan after Japan's invasion of Timor. The war ended before the plan was enacted.
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Portugal did send a fleet on standby to Mozambique and was in the proces of declaring war on Japan after Japan's invasion of Timor. The war ended before the plan was enacted.
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-j. cr. 1207
Because Portugal was under it's own dictatorship and Salazar was a fascist dictator and nazi sympathizer playing a double game to keep himself in power. The simple answer.
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Because Portugal was under it's own dictatorship and Salazar was a fascist dictator and nazi sympathizer playing a double game to keep himself in power. The simple answer.
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-gabrielgomescunha
Also Portugal had a shitty small poorly equiped, poorly trained army with no resources to defend itself and could've been defeated in little time and effort
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Also Portugal had a shitty small poorly equiped, poorly trained army with no resources to defend itself and could've been defeated in little time and effort
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-madrigalv5302
whats upsetting about this is that our country gained a lot of money during this time, yet the people were starving because we were living in a dictatorship
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whats upsetting about this is that our country gained a lot of money during this time, yet the people were starving because we were living in a dictatorship
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-DF-ss5ep
Even though Portugal stayed neutral, it's not like we became an economic parasise. My grandparents told me there was a period where food was hard to come by.
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Even though Portugal stayed neutral, it's not like we became an economic parasise. My grandparents told me there was a period where food was hard to come by.
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-macmaniac3080
Finally someone looks at Portugal unbiased! Well done, this is a very accurate portrait of an obscure episode of this very interesting nation
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Finally someone looks at Portugal unbiased! Well done, this is a very accurate portrait of an obscure episode of this very interesting nation
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