2024/12/04 by Márcia Alexandra dos Santos Filipe · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #African history and culture studies #French Historical and Cultural Studies #World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact
paper · doi:10.1080/08850607.2024.2408267
openalex publication_date 2024/12/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/13
There were changes in the strategic relevance of the Azores as a function of geopolitics and the role of espionage during World War II. Occupying an exceptionally strategic position, the islands were crucial during the war for fueling planes, boats, and submarines, as well as for telegraphic and wireless communication. The occupation of the islands held strategic significance for the Germans, as they could serve as a crucial base to launch potential attacks on the United States. Conversely, for the British and Americans, the islands were the perfect location to counterattack German attacks on British boats and submarines. Desired by both the Axis and the Allies, the ambitious plans for the occupation by both sides of the war were thwarted by the Portuguese government. For Portuguese prime minister António de Oliveira Salazar, the political neutrality declared in 1939 was nonnegotiable. As long as Portugal maintained its neutrality, Spain could also remain outside of the war, and avoid becoming another battleground for the Axis and the Allies. Similar to a chess game, every move was made with careful thinking, and the spies were invaluable assets that could lead to the occupation of the islands at, ultimately, the expense of Portuguese neutrality.