General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Allies and peace treaties - portugal
Posted by:
kurt
()
Date: January 08, 2001 05:36PM
<HTML>Superkraut is right in that a 700 year old treaty really doesn\'t mean much.
Churchill had some fun quoting the date of the treaty between England and Portugal when he announced that he was exersizing it, obtaining basing rights in the Azores for use in the BOA. But if Portugal had been unsympathetic or too scared to help England, then they would not have, 700 year old treaty notwithstanding.
Spain was run by a Fascist disctatorship under Franco during WWII. The Nazi\'s had helped Franco come to power with military aid, and there was some idealogical bond between Germany and Spain. Spain would be classified as a \'friendly neutral\' with regards to Germany. Spain allowed its coastal waters to be used by U-boats, and even refueling operations took place in Spanish waters. However, Franco however ignored pleas from Hitler to join his cause in actual war, and cleverly steered clear of WWII, keeping Spain out of the war, and himself in power, for many years to come.
Portugal was in a very different political situation, but its close proximity to German occupied France, and German-leaning Spain made it a wary neutral, not eager to stick its neck out too far. Like Sweden or Swizerland, Portugal steered a middle course, trying to avoid the wrath of either side.
Does anyone know if Portugal allowed/turned a blind eye to U-boat operations in its territorial waters? My impression is no, or at least not with the friendly, silent aid that Spain provided, but I would be interested in hearing other viewpoints....
</HTML>
Churchill had some fun quoting the date of the treaty between England and Portugal when he announced that he was exersizing it, obtaining basing rights in the Azores for use in the BOA. But if Portugal had been unsympathetic or too scared to help England, then they would not have, 700 year old treaty notwithstanding.
Spain was run by a Fascist disctatorship under Franco during WWII. The Nazi\'s had helped Franco come to power with military aid, and there was some idealogical bond between Germany and Spain. Spain would be classified as a \'friendly neutral\' with regards to Germany. Spain allowed its coastal waters to be used by U-boats, and even refueling operations took place in Spanish waters. However, Franco however ignored pleas from Hitler to join his cause in actual war, and cleverly steered clear of WWII, keeping Spain out of the war, and himself in power, for many years to come.
Portugal was in a very different political situation, but its close proximity to German occupied France, and German-leaning Spain made it a wary neutral, not eager to stick its neck out too far. Like Sweden or Swizerland, Portugal steered a middle course, trying to avoid the wrath of either side.
Does anyone know if Portugal allowed/turned a blind eye to U-boat operations in its territorial waters? My impression is no, or at least not with the friendly, silent aid that Spain provided, but I would be interested in hearing other viewpoints....
</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Why Doenitz Lied?
|
Ying | 01/06/2001 08:46AM |
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RE: Why Doenitz Lied?
|
Craig McLean | 01/06/2001 03:47PM |
|
RE: Why Doenitz Lied?
|
Fin Bonset | 01/07/2001 01:38PM |
|
RE: Did He Lie ?
|
MPC | 01/07/2001 10:16PM |
|
Allies and peace treaties.
|
SuperKraut | 01/08/2001 12:39PM |
|
RE: Allies and peace treaties - portugal
|
kurt | 01/08/2001 05:36PM |
|
RE: Allies and peace treaties.
|
Ying | 01/09/2001 10:55AM |
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RE: Did He Lie ?
|
Ying | 01/08/2001 03:38AM |
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RE: Ying !
|
MPC | 01/10/2001 08:32PM |
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RE: Why Doenitz Lied?
|
kpp | 01/10/2001 11:35PM |