South America 1942: Brazil enters World War II

On 7 December 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into World War II. Brazil almost immediately began providing bases to the US and cut its diplomatic ties with the Axis powers. In response, German and Italian submarines targeted Brazilian shipping, prompting Brazil to declare war in August 1942.

Main Events

23 Nov 1941 U.S. occupation of Surinam

Under agreement with the Dutch government-in-exile, the United States occupied Surinam (Dutch Guiana) to protect its bauxite mines.in wikipedia

7–9 Dec 1941 Central America enters WWII

In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Cuba declared war on Japan in support of the United States. Most of these nations would also declare war on Germany and Italy a few days later following Hitler’s declaration of war on the US.in wikipedia

7 Dec 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor

At 7:48 am on 7 December 1941 (Hawaiian Time) Imperial Japanese fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes launched from six aircraft carriers mounted a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The attack damaged all eight US battleships present, sinking four, as well as hitting three cruisers, three destroyers, and two other ships. In addition, 188 US aircraft were destroyed and 2,403 Americans were killed, with another 1,178 wounded. Japanese losses were much lighter. The following day the US declared war on Japan.in wikipedia

11 Dec 1941 Germany at war with U.S.

Claiming that US President Franklin Roosevelt had repeatedly violated all rules of neutrality, and noting in particular his “shoot on sight” order, Nazi Germany declared war against the United States of America on 11 December 1941. The decision to declare war was made by German leader Adolf Hitler, almost without consultation. Later that day, the United States responded by declaring war on Germany.in wikipedia

29 Jan 1942 Rio Protocol

In 2 October 1941, Ecuador and Peru signed the Talara Accord, creating a demilitarized zone in anticipation of a definitive peace treaty to end the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War. That treaty came on 29 January 1942, at the third Pan-American Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, when the foreign ministers of the two countries signed the Protocol of Peace, Friendship, and Boundaries between Peru and Ecuador. By the terms of this protocol, Ecuador agreed to abandon most of its claims against Peru in return for the withdrawal of Peruvian troops from Ecuador.in wikipedia

8 Feb 1942 Argentine Antarctic Claim

Argentina—which had already established weather stations in the South Orkney Islands from 1904—formally claimed Antarctica between the meridians 68° West and 24° West as Argentine Antarctica. On 8 November 1942, the Argentinians officially took possession of the territory by placing a cylinder containing a report and a flag on Deception Island. The National Antarctic Convention redefined the sector four years later—on 2 September 1946—as between 74° West and 25° West.in wikipedia

9 Feb 1942–5 Oct 1988 Fernando de Noronha Territory

The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha was separated from the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, becoming the Fernando de Noronha Federal Territory. In September 1942, the United States Army Air Forces constructed an airbase on the islands as a trans-Atlantic link between Brazil and French West Africa; Brazil granted jurisdiction over the airport to the US Navy from 5 September 1944 to the end of World War II. The territory was returned to Pernambuco in 1988.in wikipedia

17 Feb 1942 Operation Bobcat

United States Task Force 5614 arrived off Bora Bora, in Free French-controlled French Oceania, with six transport and cargo ships, landing 4,400 troops of the 102nd Infantry, the 198th Coast Artillery, and the 1st Naval Construction Battalion. Over the course of the next 52 days, they unloaded 20,000 tons of supplies, establishing a vital fuel and supply base for ships crossing the Pacific. The base would remain open through World War II until it was officially closed 2 June 1946.in wikipedia

22 May 1942 Mexico enters World War II

Following the loss of oil ships to German U-Boat attacks, Mexico declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan on 22 May 1942. Along with Brazil, Mexico would be one of the only two independent Latin American countries to send troops abroad to fight in World War II. One of its most notable contributions was the 201st Fighter Squadron (the Aztec Eagles)—300 volunteers who fought with the United States against Japan in the Pacific.in wikipedia

4–7 Jun 1942 Battle of Midway

In an attempt to lure the US Pacific Fleet’s few remaining aircraft carriers into a trap, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched an offensive against Midway Atoll. Warned of Japanese plans by its code-breakers, the US was prepared for the attack and successfully ambushed the Japanese force, sinking all four of its major aircraft carriers—Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu—and a heavy cruiser for the loss of just the carrier Yorktown and a destroyer.in wikipedia

22 Aug 1942 Brazil enters World War II

In January 1942, Brazil allowed the US to set up air bases in the northeast of its territory in return for investment in its iron industry, agreeing to end diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers later that month. In response, German and Italian submarines targeted Brazilian shipping, prompting Brazil to declare war on those two countries in August 1942. Besides providing the Allies with bases and naval support, Brazil would later send an expeditionary force to fight in Italy in 1944.in wikipedia