The Second World War is a conflict well catalogued and studied by high school students, history buffs, filmmakers, writers, and scholars. But as significant and consequential the war was to every corner of the world, there would inevitably some stories that would be forgotten by its popular history. One such story, at least outside of South America, is that of the 25,000 man-strong Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Força Expedicionária Brasileira, or FEB).
Prior to their entry into the war, Brazil had been a valuable trading partner to the Allied powers, and even allowed the United States to construct air bases on its soil. Eventually anti-Axis sentiments began to mount as Brazilian merchant ships were sunk by German U-boats, and in August of 1942, Brazil declared war on the Axis powers. Initially, Brazilian support to the Allies was no different from that of other South American countries — providing much-needed war material by becoming a key link in the supply chain across the Atlantic and into Africa. However, Brazilian leaders soon realized that by sending an actual military force to the Allies’ aid, it would be a symbolic commitment to their cause, and improve their position at the negotiation table once the war came to an end.
In addition to its main infantry division, the FEB also included a fighter squadron, and was supported by the Brazilian Navy. In the summer of 1944, the first Brazilian troops arrived in Naples, merging itself into a larger American force that was already fighting a brutal campaign in Italy. Their nickname was the Cobras Fumantes (“Smoking Snakes”), after it became a running joke that it was more likely for a snake to smoke than it would be to see the FEB to see any actual combat.
From the memoirs of Mark Clark, commander of the U.S. Fifth Army:
The Performance of the Brazilians was, of course, important politically as well as militarily. Brazil was the only Latin American country to send an expeditionary force to take part in the European war, and, naturally, we were eager to give them a chance to make a good showing.
While the small force was not hugely impactful when considering the massive scale of military operations during WW2, they were nonetheless remembered in the hearts and minds of the Brazilian people. Perhaps the greatest of these victories was at the Battle of Collecchio, in which the FEB surrounded and captured two German infantry divisions on April 29, 1945, just days before the fall of Berlin, the collapse of Nazi Germany, and the end of the war in Europe.
The legacy of the FEB in Brazil can be considered somewhat complicated, especially considering the various roles FEB veterans played during the 1964 Brazilian coup d’état. However, it can generally be said that the Brazilian Expeditionary Force is an enduring symbol of national pride for Brazil, and serves as testament to the bravery and dedication of countless of individuals during WW2, particularly by countries who roles in the war are not as well known.
History for Empathy 