Some curiosities about Brazil in WWII.
Germany carried out a series of attacks on ships in Brazilian waters. The U-boats practically imposed a regime of fear. It was the trigger for Brazil to declare war. In the photo, an Brazilian Air Force PBY-5 attacks and sinks the German submarine U-199.
A Cobra vai fumar (the snake will smoke). At the time, it was said that it would be easier for a snake to smoke than for Brazil to take part in WWII. So this quote became the theme of the Brazilians.
A highlight was the Brazilian Air Force. Brazil could choose two fighters. The P-47 or the P-51. The Brazilians wanted the P-47 because it was the plane that could withstand the most damage. The FAB played a leading role with practically daily missions.
The Brazilian soldiers went through a series of training sessions and learned a lot in practice. The Battle of Monte Castelo was the greatest triumph because, on the one hand, German troops were very well armed and trained against a Brazilian army that was still learning how to fight in practice.
In the photo, German General Otto Fretter Pico surrenders to Brazilian General Mário Carloni.
This image is noteworthy. Italian civilians were very hungry during the war. And the Allied troops only gave them what was left of the pots and pans. The Brazilians had a different attitude. They shared their food with the civilians. After the war, Pope Pius 12 said: “Where the Brazilians have gone, the Italians have not gone hungry”.
