On Saturday, June 14, 2014 12:03:09 PM UTC-4,
Post by José António BarreirosI am conduction a research concerning secret war
in Portugal during 1939-1945. I wrote several
books on the topic and have many books and
documents about it. Would you discuss that with
me?
This may or may not help with your research but
here is some informaion from what little I have
heard or read with regard to Portugal's connection
with WWii, secret or otherwise: :
Portugal's government, directed by Antonio
Salazar, was initially determined to maintain its
neutrality, more for economic reasons than for any
particular leanings toward either side. Salazar, ruled
as head of the National Unity Party, which held all
the seats in Portugal's parliament.
Salazar himself wore two hats--that of
Prime Minister and that of Foreign Minister of the
countty. In Lisbon, Portugal's capital, both Axis and
Allied embassies were located and this made for a
hotbed of clandestine diplomatic maneuvering
leading toward informal and clandestine opportunites
for both sides. One example was the negotiations
which led to the surrender of Italy occurred in Portugal
in the Fall of 1943.
Lisbon became a wartime travel hub for those
travelling to and from the U.S. and the UK although
many who made the trip had to wait days or weeks for
available transportation. It also was an escape
destination for persons able to do so to get out of
Belgium and France ahead of the German occupiers.
But the main strategic importance to both the
Axis and Allied powers was Portugal's posession of the
Azores, their location being what could be decisive in
the convoy/U-Boat battles of the Atlantic. President
Roosevelt is said to have considered occupation of the
Azores by the U.S. as early as 1941 priot to the Pearl
Harbor attack, but since the U.S. was not then a
belligerent, was dissuaded by his advisors from doing
so. .
Meanwhile, however, because of an ancient
alliance between Portugal and England dating back
to 1373, Churchill pressured Portugal to allow joint
Anglo-American occupation of the islands. Finally,
late in 1943, Salazar agreed. After Allied occupation
of the Azores, air coverage against the U-Boat threat
reached across the north Atlantic with marked results.
With Salazar's agreement for use of the Azores
by the Allies, there was no declaration of war against
the Axis by Portugal, however Portugal had, in essence,
become a co-belligerent. After the war ended, Portugal
was thus honored by admission to the distinguished
group of nations which became the founding members
of the United Nations.
WJH