Editing History of South America (section)

===1930–1960===

{{See also|Latin America during World War II}}

The [[Great Depression]] posed a challenge to the region. The collapse of the world economy meant that the demand for raw materials drastically declined, undermining many of the economies of South America.[[File: Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes firing a broadside.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Brazilian [[Minas Geraes-class battleship|''Minas Geraes'' class]] kindled an [[South American dreadnought race|Argentine–Brazilian–Chilean naval arms race]]]] Intellectuals and government leaders in South America turned their backs on the older economic policies and turned toward [[import substitution industrialization]]. The goal was to create self-sufficient economies, which would have their own industrial sectors and large middle classes and which would be immune to the ups and downs of the global economy. Despite the potential threats to United States commercial interests, the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt administration]] (1933–1945) understood that the United States could not wholly oppose import substitution. Roosevelt implemented a [[Good Neighbor policy|good neighbor policy]] and allowed the nationalization of some American companies in South America. The [[World War II|Second World War]] also brought the United States and most Latin American nations together.

The history of South America during World War II is important because of the significant economic, political, and military changes that occurred throughout much of the region as a result of the war. In order to better protect the [[Panama Canal]], combat [[Axis powers|Axis]] influence, and optimize the production of goods for the war effort, the [[United States]] through [[Lend-Lease]] and similar programs greatly expanded its interests in [[Latin America]], resulting in large-scale modernization and a major economic boost for the countries that participated.<ref name="Leonard, pg. 115-119">{{cite book | last=Leonard| first=Thomas M.|author2=John F. Bratzel |title=Latin America during World War II| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield| year=2007| isbn=978-0-7425-3741-5}}</ref>

Strategically, [[Brazil]] was of great importance because of its having the closest point in the [[Americas]] to [[Africa]] where the Allies were actively engaged in fighting the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] and [[Kingdom of Italy|Italians]]. For the Axis, the [[Southern Cone]] nations of [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]] were where they found most of their South American support, and they utilised it to the fullest by interfering with internal affairs, conducting [[espionage]], and distributing [[propaganda]].<ref name="Leonard, pg. 115-119"/><ref name="nsa.gov">{{cite web| title=Cryptologic Aspects of German Intelligence Activities in South America during World War II| work=David P. Mowry| url=http://www.nsa.gov/about/_files/cryptologic_heritage/publications/wwii/cryptologic_aspects_of_gi.pdf| access-date=August 9, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918014218/http://www.nsa.gov/about/_files/cryptologic_heritage/publications/wwii/cryptologic_aspects_of_gi.pdf| archive-date=2013-09-18}}</ref><ref name="navy.mil">{{cite web|title=German Espionage and Sabotage Against the United States in World War II |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq114-1.htm#anchor639253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011205033841/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq114-1.htm |archive-date=December 5, 2001 |access-date=August 9, 2013 }}</ref>

Brazil was the only country to send an [[Brazilian Expeditionary Force|Expeditionary force]] to the [[Military history of Italy during World War II|European theatre]]; however, several countries had skirmishes with German U-boats and cruisers in the [[Battle of the Caribbean|Caribbean]] and [[Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I|South Atlantic]]. Mexico sent a [[Squadron (aviation)|fighter squadron]] of 300 volunteers to the Pacific, the ''Escuadrón 201'' were known as the [[201st Fighter Squadron (Mexico)|Aztec Eagles]] (''Aguilas Aztecas'').

The Brazilian active participation on the battle field in Europe was divined after the [[Casablanca Conference]]. The President of the U.S., [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] on his way back from Morocco met the President of Brazil, [[Getúlio Vargas|Getulio Vargas]], in [[Natal, Rio Grande do Norte]], this meeting is known as the [[The Potenji River Conference|Potenji River Conference]], and defined the creation of the [[Brazilian Expeditionary Force]].