A Lusophone World

[Lusitania]

But Stalin himself should have had a reduction in power due to events...

I'm not all that convinced that the Soviet Union would have been able to remain in the fight, especially with the loss of Leningrad, Stalingrad and Moscow. Joseph Stalin may have wanted to continue the fight at that point, by any and all confidence in his tenure as General Secretary would have been destroyed at that point, and some sort of coup from within the Party or outside it would have seen him sidelined "in the best interests of the Soviet". Whomever rises from the ashes of the ensuing power struggle would then be left to sign an armistice with Germany, if only to lick their wounds and stabilize the new regime.​

The Loss of Moscow immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was considered by many a pivotal moment in WW2. Stalin and the Soviet Union surviving government had been shaken and there were rumors of dissatisfaction with both the army's conduct during the war and the government handling. Some western officials even attributed Soviet loses in some ways to the Soviet's due trading with Axis after the onset of the war. In January 1942 two major political events occurred in quick succession: the Washington Conference and the Stalingrad Conference which many historians have attributed crucial to the continuation of the Soviet Union in the war. The Washington Conference occurred January 3-5 and re-iterated the Europe first and assistance to Soviet Union policies set out in the Atlantic conference, while the Stalingrad conference setout the Western Allies support for Soviet Union as well as support by western allies for Stalin and Soviet government.

The Washington conference stipulated the crucial need for the western allies to support Soviet Union and keep it in the fight against the Axis. It was believed that without Soviet's keeping bulk of German foces occupied in the east both Britain and Western Alliance as whole would be in jeopardy. Figures are hard to get but estimates point to a Western Alliance support of Soviet Union increase of 20-40% in comparison to IOTL during 1942-1944 period. Included in that was even fuel which after the fall of Baku become in short supply in Soviet Union.

Meanwhile the Stalingrad Conference was a moral building exercise with American Vice President Henry Agard Wallace and British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden visiting Stalin in Stalingrad between January 23 -24 1942. The picture of both major western powers foreign representatives alongside Stalin was built as a vote of confidence in the Soviet leadership. It served as crucial support for Stalin who while hurt politically was able to both deflect some criticism of the wars progress to several politburo members who lost their positions and also many high level military leaders.

The loss of Leningrad was another phycological loss for the Soviet Union although the news was delayed almost three weeks. The loss was blamed on incompetent local leadership both political and military. The last major politically damaging event was fall of Stalingrad. While short lived it forced the Soviet government to evacuate again, it was during this evacuation that almost half of the politburo lost their lives. While official version stipulated they had been killed by enemy fire western officials believed they were in fact killed on orders from Beria. Who incidentally till his untimely death in 1946 (food poisoning) was the most powerful politburo member after Stalin. (some would even state was the real power behind Stalin).

Coventry, West Midlands.

Unfortunately all trust was gone and Stalin would never set foot that far from Soviet Union. Several locations were suggested, Stockholm, Istanbul, Belgrade and even Szczecin along the Western and Soviet occupation border.


PS while I did contemplate the collapse of the Soviet Union and the occupation of the lands east of Urals I felt that Western powers were strong enough to increase their support of the Soviets and that the political control by Stalin as his allies was sufficient withstand the loses. ​

 

[Lusitania]

1940 – 1949 (cont.)

The War Years 1940 – 1945 (cont.)

World (3 of 3)

WWII – Europe / North Africa (cont.)​

On 20th of June, an ultimatum was given to the Nazi troops in Berlin surrender or face combined Soviet and Western Allied assault. Troops in Berlin started battling each other, the most fanatic Nazi troops including most of the SS troops fought regular German troops in Berlin for three days. On 24th of June, the last SS troops inside Berlin surrendered and on 25 June 1945, the remaining German High Command signed the unconditional surrender ending war in Europe. The Russians and Stalin who had moved back to the burnout Moscow demanded that Soviet Union be allowed to occupy half of Germany. Several skirmishes between Western Allied troops and Soviet troops scared many in believing that the second phase of the war was just about to start. On 29th of June, the free city of Warsaw was occupied by Soviet troops and over half of the Jews and Polish defenders of the city were killed in the Soviet assault. Diplomatic negotiations between Western Allies and Soviet Union attempting to resolve the situation and bring peace to Europe was started. Attempts to arrange a meeting at neutral location was rebuffed by Stalin. Finally, on 18th of July an agreement to meet in the city of Istanbul Turkey on 1st of Aug was agreed between the four main parties (Soviet Union, USA, UK and France).

The four leaders arrived in Istanbul between 29 July and 1 August 1945 with President Truman of the USA arriving last, just two hours before the conference was about to start. The conference was thrown into disorder, just as the President of USA arrived news reached those attending the conference including Stalin of the American dropping a nuclear bomb on a Japanese City. On 31st of July, the first of four Nuclear Bombs to be dropped on Japan had destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The destruction of a whole city by a single bomb shook the entire world and the Soviets withdrew from the negotiations. On 3rd of August, the second nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Independent verification by the Soviets of both cities and the destruction finally brought them back to the negotiation table. On 6th of August when the leaders met the Japanese cities of Kyoto and Yokohama were bombed prompting the Japanese to finally accept the allied unconditional surrender. The Istanbul Conference was a tense meeting with Stalin not trusting the Western powers.

The Soviet Union was allowed to keep all land captured up to 1939 including the Baltic States, East Poland and all land captured from Romania north of Danube River. In compensation Poland received all German lands east the Oder - Neisse Rivers. While the occupation of Czechoslovakia and Austria was to be kept per current zone of occupation. Austria to be occupied by France, USA and UK, Czech occupied by USA and Slovakia occupied by Soviet Union. Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania as well as Poland would stay under Soviet occupation. On 8th of August demonstrations in Vienna and Prague for a seat at the negotiations determining their future occurred along with some minor hooliganism. These demonstrations spread to Warsaw, Krakow and Budapest although on much smaller scale. The Soviet occupying authorities responding by firing on the demonstrators killing hundreds of people in the three cities. Word of the attacks by the Soviet troops on peaceful demonstrators spread throughout the western powers and thousands of people in USA, UK and France took to the streets demanding the Western Allied nations stand up to the Soviets aggression. The Western Allies offered several occupation areas in Germany to the soviets approximately 1/3 of Germany, but they were not together, and Stalin refused. Finally, on 15th of August an agreement was signed dividing Berlin into four equal zones of occupation but even then, Stalin signed angry at what he perceived as the West’s betrayal.

Soviets and the Allied forces discovered the horrors of the German concentration camps. Hundreds of thousands of emaciated Jews and other prisoners were liberated.

Europe after WWII, USA Zones of Occupation in Green, Soviet in Purple, British in Pink and French in Blue​

WWII - Asia​

In September 1940 Japan moved to cutoff China’s last landline to the world, French Indochina. French Indochina was till then controlled by Vichy France an ally of Germany. Japan invaded French Indochina defeating both the French and local forces.[1] In response to continued Japanese aggressions in China and the invasion of French Indochina the Western Countries (USA, UK, Dutch East Indies and Australia) stopped selling oil and resources to Japan. The Western countries demanded Japan stop all military actions in China and withdraw its troops from China and French Indochina. Japan which had little resources of its own either faced an economic collapse or be forced to lose face by withdrawing from recent conquests decided instead to attack the Western countries. It joined Germany and Italy forming the Axis.

The Japanese occupation of French Indochina in 1941 greatly alarmed the Portuguese government and in October 1941 the Portuguese Expeditionary force escorted 2 regiments from Mozambique to Dili to re-enforce the current 2 battalions guarding Portuguese Timor. At the end of 1941 when Japan joined the Axis the Portuguese army strength on the island had reached 3 regiments (5,856 soldiers). They were supported by 4 frigates and 4 patrol boats as well as 12 Aircrafts. In meantime all Portuguese citizens residing in Macau were evacuated over the next six months.

The primary threat to the Japanese was the Americans and their Navy, which was based in Hawaii. The Japanese decided to strike the American Navy first then move against rest of the Allied colonies and states in order to capture the resources it needed. On 7 December 1941 Japan attacked American forces in the Hawaiian Islands dealing a huge blow to the American Pacific Fleet. Luckily its aircraft carriers were out on maneuvers and escaped the Japanese attack. On the same day (8th of December in Asia), Japanese forces attacked Guam, Wake Island and the British crown colony of Hong Kong while other Japanese units invaded the Philippines, Thailand and Malaya.

On 8 December 1941, the United States declared war on Imperial Japan.

In January 1942, Japan invaded Burma, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and captured Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Rabaul. After being driven out of Malaya, Allied forces in Singapore attempted to resist the Japanese during the Battle of Singapore but were forced to surrender to the Japanese on 15 February 1942; about 130,000 Indian, British, Australian and Dutch personnel became prisoners of war.

From May 1942 to June 1942 the Allies not only stopped the Japanese advance but dealt the Japanese with two decisive defeats in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. The Japanese lost all four of its large aircraft carriers and part of the six-carrier force that had attacked Pearl Harbor in the Battle of Midway. More importantly the battles showed that Japan lacked the capacity to replace its losses in ships, planes and trained pilots. On 7 August 1942, the US forces attacked the Japanese forces on the island of Guadalcanal, the battle lasted till 9 February 1943. The Guadalcanal battle marked the Allied transition from defensive operations to offensive operations.

In April 1942 with the Japanese – Chinese War at a stalemate. The Chinese Communist signed an agreement with the Japanese leaving the fighting to the Nationalist forces. In November, a disagreement within the Chinese Communist movement forced Mao to reverse his decision and the communists resumed attacking Japanese forces.[2] From 1942, Allied submarines strangled Japan by sinking its merchant fleet, intercepting many troop transports, and cutting off nearly all the oil imports essential to weapons production and military operations. By early 1945, Japanese oil supplies were so limited that its fleet was virtually stranded.

In mid-1944 Japan launched Operation Ichi-Go against the Chinese Nationalist and Communist forces. Japan was unable to defeat the Chinese and the constant defeats the Japanese suffered in the Pacific meant that Japan never got the time and resources needed to achieve final victory over China.

Following the Portuguese declaration of war against the Axis on 5 April 1944 the Portuguese Ultramar provinces of Macau and Timor came under Japanese attack. When the Japanese attacked Macau they only found Chinese civilians.[3] Meanwhile the Japanese forces in West Timor which numbered only two regiments and were based in Kupang did not have the strength to attack the Portuguese. At the end of March, the Portuguese had re-enforced their naval presence in the area with the addition of five U-boats prior to the declaration. Japanese shipping in and around the Island of Timor suffered greatly and the Japanese navy in Jakarta was unable to re-enforce the Japanese forces on the island. Portuguese commandos and marines fought the few Japanese forces and Indonesia Volunteers (Black Columns) close to the Portuguese border pushing the Japanese/Indonesian forces back to Kupang. On 10 June 1944, the Dili airport was opened to Allied planes. Australian, US and Portuguese planes patrolled the Timor Sea and struck at Japanese targets.

On 15 June 1944, US attacked the Japanese on the island of Saipan. The objective was the creation of airfields within B-29 range of Tokyo. From this point onward, US B-29s attacked Japanese home islands. From 23 - 26 October 1944 a series of four distinct engagements fought off the Philippine island of Leyte resulted in Allied victory and established Allied air and sea superiority in the western Pacific. On 20 October 1944 the U.S. Sixth Army, landed on the favorable eastern shore of Leyte, north of Mindanao and began the liberation of Philippines. Of the 250,000 Japanese troops defending Luzon, 80% died.

Beginning on 2 January 1945, the Portuguese Rapid Response Force transported the IV African division to Timor and General Alfredo Santos Sintra took command of the Portuguese Far east forces. On 2nd of May, the Portuguese IV division launched an attack on the Japanese position in and around Kupang. On 15th of May after one week of heavy fighting including hand to hand fighting in the center of the city the last Japanese forces on the island of Timor surrendered to Portuguese forces. In the fighting three quarters of the city of Kupang was destroyed or damaged in the fighting. Over half the civilian population was killed in the fighting and the Portuguese suffered 801 casualties and 1,596 injured. Only 26 Japanese soldiers were captured or surrendered. The US and Australian allies were surprised at the Portuguese action but more annoyed that the Portuguese did not bother to inform them of the attack beforehand.

During the winter of 1945 the Portuguese gradually increased and strengthened their forces on the island of Timor including additional ships including the amphibious vehicles it had used during Operation Dragoon. Over the next several weeks the Portuguese used the amphibious vehicles to attack and capture several small islands around the Island of Timor (Alor, Roti, and Wetar) then on 26th of June the Portuguese once again launched an attack on the Japanese without informing the Allies. This time their objective was the island of Flores which was easily taken. On 10th of July, the Portuguese landed on the island of Sumba and on 30th of July attacked the Japanese on the island of Sumbawa.

In 1945, the Japanese home island were blockaded and Japanese Navy no longer able to challenge the American Navy. American bombers bombed Japanese cities and industry relentlessly, but Japan refused to surrender. The Allies made preparations for the invasion of Japan which they perceived to be costlier than the war in Europe. Meanwhile the secret “Manhattan project” being developed in USA had produced atomic bombs. On 15th of July President Harry Truman informed British Prime Minister of the success and both countries agreed to attack up to four Japanese cities in the hope that it would avert the need to invade Japan. On 31 July 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the Atomic bomb destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima leaving tens of thousands of dead. On 3rd of August, the second nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, but did not receive a response from Japanese government. On 6th of August, the Japanese cities of Kyoto and Yokohama were bombed, in total more than 400,000 people died in the four attacks and Japanese Emperor Hirohito at last ordered the arrest of Japanese government and military official and Japan accepted the Allied unconditional surrender.

On 15th of August, Japan formally surrendered, accepting the Allied demands of unconditional surrender. The Japanese home islands were occupied by the Americans and the occupation of Korea was split between the Americans and Soviets.
_________________________________________________________________________________
[1] In 1942, the Allies responded by building the Burma Road to continue supplying Nationalist Chinese forces.

[2] iOTL Mao and his Chinese forces withdrew from the battle with the Japanese and regrouped while Nationalist forces continued fighting the Japanese. ITTL Mao faced internal challenge from several communist generals and was forced to reverse his decision.

[3] Portuguese recognized early on that Macau could not be defended against a Japanese attack. Starting in January 1944 the last Portuguese government officials were evacuated by Portuguese submarines. On 3 April 1944, the last Portuguese presence in Macau including Portuguese flag, coat of arms was evacuated by submarines. When Japanese forces arrived in Macau and attempted to use the Portuguese military facilities including the airport, they found them mined and unusable.

The World section of the 1940-1945 is dominated by the WW2. While this section was not extensive it was important to at least briefly outline the major developments of the war so that readers could understand the changes to iOTL. As per the previous post the Soviets were stopped by the western alliance from occupying both Berlin as well as most of Germany. The end of WWII did not bode well for the Soviet and Western Alliance relations. The Soviets were denied a "presence" in the occupation of Germany. While the agreement for the Soviet occupation zone of Berlin to 1/4 of the city provided them with a symbolic token it reversed iOTL roles with the Soviets now surrounded by Western occupation zones. The Soviets had to content themselves with eastern German (Prussia) and the eastern portions of the Poland. The result was a antagonist relationship and more militarized Europe. This relationship led to several major political incidents during the later part of the 1940s. Such as the Greek Civil war, Iron Curtain Crises and culminating in the Korean War.

The Korean war and the events that led up to it leads us to the another topic and that being the Pacific War and the surrender of Japan. iOTL the Soviets moved thousands of troops east and invaded Manchuria forcing Japan to surrender. Here iTTL the Soviets were still in the midst transporting troops east when Japan surrendered. The dropping of 4 atomic bombs (not 2 per iTTL, although American plans were for 4 bombs) convinced the Japanese that unless they surrendered all of Japan would be wiped out. The Soviets angry but also afraid of western intentions grudgingly accepted and signed peace treaty. At the Istanbul conference the Soviets were offered several "carrots" as sign of Western Allies good intentions, the occupation of Eastern Europe, annexation of Baltic states and Eastern Germany as well as the recognition of 1939 Soviet western border Finland, Poland and Romania. In the east they were allowed to occupy both Manchuria and 1/2 of Korea as well as Western allies agreement to the Soviet annexation of southern Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands. But even so these gestures did little to appease Stalin.

The Portuguese involvement in both Europe and the Pacific War bode very well for Portuguese prestige but the Portuguese military actions in the east was also a contentious topic for the Allies. The Portuguese invasion of several Japanese occupied Dutch East Indies Islands was not viewed with favor by Americans and others in the Allied camp. In a final display of Portuguese resolve on the day of Japanese formal surrender a flotilla of six Portuguese navy and civilian ships escorted by Portuguese submarines arrived off the coast of Macau and proceeded to take possession of Macau from the Japanese occupying forces. Included in the re-establishment of the Portuguese sovereignty was the re-occupation of several Chinese islands close to Macau. iOTL the Americans liberated Macau and only turned over Macau proper as per 19th century Portuguese-Chinese treaty. Here a more assertive Portugal decides that it will assert its own sovereignty. Questions/ Comments?

Please return July 7 as we leave WWII behind and deal with a Post War world and how the Portuguese respond to challenges.

 

[Rui]

So Portugal didn’t go to the meeting with the other allied leaders, in Istanbul?

 

[thekingsguard]

You really have to feel for the folks left behind the Iron Curtain.

I wonder what the Czechs, Yugoslavians, and Albanians will be like free from the Warsaw Pact though.

 

[Sceonn]

No matter how nice the US was feeling It felt like they bent over for the Soviets. TTL any myth of the Red Army steamrolling Western Europe has likely dead.

 

[SealTheRealDeal]

Was Refrigor (later known as Sumol) founded on time or has Portugal's greater economic prosperity and industrial maturity changed its soft drink industry entirely?

 

[Lusitania]

So Portugal didn’t go to the meeting with the other allied leaders, in Istanbul?

Portuguese, Canadians and few others were at the meeting but only as observers. The Portuguese were considered 2nd if not 3rd rate allied nation and not worthy of seat at the negotiation table. Fyi there was no Yalta conference (British, Soviet and American) as per IOTL so there were a lot of outstanding issues to be resolved at the end of war. Soviet or better yet Stalin attitude towards the west was one of anger and deep distrust. Informal meetings during 1944 between west and soviets had guaranteed Soviet 1939 borders but no occupation of Eastern Europe. The American and British thinking was to have a neutral Eastern Europe as buffer to which Stalin refused. Thus the Soviet push to get into Europe in 1944-1945. The surrender of the bulk of the remaining Eastern German army to the western allies only served to deepen the distrust between the Soviets and West.

The Istanbul conference included France which was in some ways looked by Soviets as less hostile to the Soviet Union. The Portuguese came at the invitation of both French and British to the surprise of Soviets and Americans while Canada was there at the invitation of the British. There were also other unofficial representatives (Netherlands, Brazilians, Belgians and so forth). While the Portuguese were kept abreast of the negotiations they had no say.

Risking spoiling some of the post war post I did want to specify the one issue that affected Portugal was war reparations. German industry, property and resources were to be taken by the four major powers to help repay they damage done by the German invasion. Soviets received a little over 1/3 of these reparations and western allies were to split the remaining 63% between themselves as they saw fit, with part of it being used to help other countries affected by the German invasion and occupation. The Portuguese were allocated a whopping 0% that right the Portuguese were seen as not having suffered any damage from the war and therefore in the words of the Americans not deserving anything. Much more on that and how all that played out in the years following the war.

You really have to feel for the folks left behind the Iron Curtain.

I wonder what the Czechs, Yugoslavians, and Albanians will be like free from the Warsaw Pact though.

Yes the Yugoslavians came under Tito control as per IOTL, same with Albania which still came under control of communists. but both countries remained independent of Soviet control. As for the Czechs they suffered lots too but in different way for before NATO and Warsaw Pack there came the Iron Curtain Crises which was a result of the resentment of the communist unfulfilled desires in Europe following the end of WWII. It took place in 1948 and together with the Greek Civil war was the continents two major conflicts post WWII.

As for the Eastern Europeans, yes life for them was even harsher than iOTL for the Soviets angry at the suffering they had endured wanted to make those it considered partially responsible to pay. Without Germans to take out their anger at they brutalized the Romanias, Bulgarians and Slovaks whom they considered co-belligerents in the invasion of Soviet Union. Unfortunately they treated the Poles just as harshly even though they were as much a victim as the Soviets.

No matter how nice the US was feeling It felt like they bent over for the Soviets. TTL any myth of the Red Army steamrolling Western Europe has likely dead.

Yes western countries especially US and Britain had expected some Russian appreciation of the assistance they had provided it, to which Stalin responded with stone cold attitude and continued anger as if stating the German invasion had been the west fault and the west help had been nothing more that a failed appeasement for the west fault in arming and facilitating Nazis. The much stronger position of the West position did alleviate some of the fear, and it translated into a greater reduction of American presence in Europe at least till Iron Curtain Crises. While the détente between the west and Soviets never really happened the relative strength of the west meant that fears of Soviet invasion was somewhat subsided. The Americans also had nuclear weapons which gave them a sense of invisibility (at least till Soviets developed their own)

 

[Rui]

The Portuguese were allocated a whopping 0% that right the Portuguese were seen as not having suffered any damage from the war and therefore in the words of the Americans not deserving anything.

What damage did the Americans receive from the Germans!
Their on the other side of the Atlantic.

 

[Lusitania]

What damage did the Americans receive from the Germans!
Their on the other side of the Atlantic.

They were the victors and the spoils go to the victors. While the US did get some intellectual property they also continued to provide a big support to Europe following the war and that support in many cases was the difference between starvation and living for many people and saved western Europe from communism. iOTL Portugal being a neutral who had actively traded with the Axis was also barred from any support by the Marshall Plan. Then along with Spain punished by not being allowed to join UN till 1955. iTTL things are different with the Portuguese being a member of the Allies and participating in the war.

As for what happens after the war that will be revealed in the next few posts. It does follow in some ways a similar pattern to events iOTL.

Note: The British were more understanding of Portugal's predicament and viewed Portugal's trade with Axis (along with Spain's) as inevitable since the risk for Nazi invasion was a real possibility and neither Iberian nation had both the military deterrent and physical (channel) separation. The Americans on the other hand safe separated by a huge ocean were not as understanding and more important belingerant in their attitude.

 

[Lusitania]

Was Refrigor (later known as Sumol) founded on time or has Portugal's greater economic prosperity and industrial maturity changed its soft drink industry entirely?

Hi there sorry this one was missed in my previous answers. Refrigor and a lot of similar companies are talked about in the post war period.

To give perspective during the war if it did not provide a net benefit to the state it did not get funding or priority to the government. While private enterprise accumulated large amount of money there was a real lack of resources to start many enterprises (equipment, construction workers and materials and most importantly machinery). For example it was only in 1944-1945 that two of four glass plants under construction since war started were finally finished, staff hired and trained so that they could start manufacturing glasses, bottle and other glass items. Same with tin or cardboard plants, the deficiencies of the 1930s had continued into the 1940s but what was absent during the war was ability to import many items. During the war plans were made and slowly one after another the items in short supplies or in some cases scarce started appearing on the Portuguese market. But just as items appeared on the market demand at time outstripped production, take the case of radios and other electronic equipment that Portuguese companies had gained enough knowledge and were manufacturing during war. In 1944 more than half of the radios, and other electronics manufactured in Portugal were actually being exported to South America, or even smuggled from Portuguese Africa to South Africa and British colonies where black market existed for many things Portuguese were manufacturing.

We will have a large post on the economic development of the country along with rest of the after 1940s war posts.

 

[Lusitania]

1940 – 1949 (cont.)

Post War Years 1945 – 1949​

The Post War Years (1945 – 1949) saw a new world order emerge, the age of the superpowers (US and USSR). The old-world order (European Colonial) was in retreat, colonial independence gained ground amongst many of the colonies starting in Asia. The superpowers each tried to influence these newly independent countries.

Both the USA and Soviet Union acted belligerently towards those they saw as obstacle to their vision of the world. The USA having achieved military victories against both Nazi Germany and Japan was by far the strongest and most economically developed country in the world. Its attitude towards 3rd world countries and European colonial countries was one that expected them to acknowledge the supremacy of both American military and economic might. While the Soviets were both in the midst of major rebuilding of their country devastated by German invasion but just as importantly attempting to install and promote communism throughout the world. Stuck in the middle of these two competing superpowers were the Portuguese.

The Post War period unfortunate did not mean that the world was devoid of conflict, Asia being one of the primary theatres. While Europe also faced it owns threats, Portugal itself was unaffected but the conflicts in Asia presented the Portuguese with some very important opportunities to expand its influence and strengthen the country. So rather than sit idly it became an active participant in some of these situations.

The Post War Portugal also took advantage of the economic and social upheaval in Europe to facilitate the migration of tens of thousands of new migrants with the skills it greatly needed. Lastly industrialization gained steam and the country witnessed greater growth than it had any time previously.

Lastly the Portuguese grappled with a way to counter the growing American belligerence attitude to its ideas of a united country encompassing all its territories. The end result was a revolutionary idea of the Portuguese Federation. The challenge for the Portuguese could they make it a real encompassing Federation.

At same time the Portuguese re-asserted themselves on the world stage, taking a more aggressive tone with its neighbor Spain resulting unfortunately in deteriorating political situation but culminating in a major shift in the future and direction of both countries. Portuguese development and growing political assertion also had a major impact in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America albeit in a gradual way.
___________________________________________________________________________________

The historical information on Portugal and the major events impacting the country are presented in the following sections:

• Politics
• Armed Forces
• World
• Economy
• Health & Education
• Security
  
• Culture & Sports
• Foreign Affairs

We now start the Post War Years and all that happened and affected the Portuguese and the world.
Up next we start the 1940s - politics.

Note: we are changing the order of the topics due to World events having a greater impact on Portugal. We moved it to be after Politics and Armed Forces. In the future we will be posting world events at the start of the decade.

 

[Sceonn]

This update was rather short...

 

[Galahad]

This update was rather short...

I mean... it was a set-up.

 

[Lusitania]

1940 – 1949 (cont.)

The Post War Years 1945 – 1949 (cont.)

Politics​

Following the end of the war there was a sense of relief in both Portugal and the government as the country felt a huge burden suddenly lifted from its shoulders. For Portugal had just come through a huge ordeal but no sooner had the war ended though then the government was forced to refocus on its next mission which was the continued development of the country and raising the standard of living of the country. Complicating things was the changing political situation of the world with the emergence of the new superpowers (USA and USSR). Both of whom were hostile to Portugal thus the government’s biggest challenge in the post war years was to navigate the new world order.

Strategic Development Plans​

In the summer of 1945 with the war finally over in both Europe and Asia the Portuguese government developed its 4th “Strategic Development Plan” which called for development of national industries to meet growing national demand, infrastructure, housing, education and social services. The previous five years had seen huge strides being made in development and growth of many industries. Steel output had tripled but so had naval shipbuilding capacity, but Portuguese industrial output and economy had in many ways been held hostage due to structural defects in the Portuguese economy namely the lack of proper transportation system, lack of enough qualified trained workers and professionals. As the world adjusted to a post war environment it was even more important for Portugal to develop its industries and technologies to meet Portuguese demands. Price controls and rationing were relaxed but continued in order for Portugal to continue exporting raw materials, food, and oil to the world especially devastated Europe. Increasing production in many industries hardly was enough to meet growing domestic demand and export markets.

Elections & Government Changes​

In 1946 with large immigration from war torn Europe to Portugal occurring the Portuguese government reformed the Elections Act. The 1946 Election Act amendment allowed for multi-party elections first time since the proclamation of new constitution, it instituted proportional representation in each constituency and created of an independent election registrar.[1] The main points of the Election Act reforms were:

• The registrar was setup to manage the registration of political parties and candidate as well as to manage the elections. Membership in the registrar was based on the % of members in each constituency and nationally;
• Any political party could register to contest the elections if they adhered to the following principles: i) national integrity, no party could be in favor of loss of any part of country ii) respect for private property, no party could advocate nationalization[2] iii)) no political party could be affiliated with foreign agents and or governments iv) all political parties had to adhere and follow all existing Portuguese laws;
• All candidates had to also adhere to the same principles as registered party as well as not have a criminal record;
• The proportional representation was based on each voter selecting three parties on the ballot. The party with most votes would receive 50% of members in the constituency while 2nd place got 30% and 3rd place got 20%. If party did not have enough candidates to meet the allocated percentage then the next placed party received the extra delegates;

On 2 October 1945, the 76-year-old President Carmona announced that due to health reasons he would not seek re-election. He announced his support for Prime Minister João Semedo who ran unopposed and was elected President of Portugal with 92% support. On 1 November 1946 elections took place with five parties registered and allowed to participate in the election. The parties that participated in the election were the National Union Party, Agrarian Party, Monarchist Party, Lusitania National Party and the Portuguese Progressive Party. The National Union Party was the only party that provided a full slate of candidates in all the constituencies. The voting franchise continued to increase as nationalism process and literacy programs allowed the percentage of the population who could vote to reach 39%.

​

Following the election, the deputy Prime Minister Dr. Antonio Rapazote became Portugal’s new Prime Minster while João Simões continued as Defense Minister and Pedro Magalhães Mai remained as Minister of Finance forming the triumvirate. Reporting to the Triumvirate was the rest of cabinet.

During the summer of 1946 Foreign Minister Mata met with governments of France, Britain and USA to discuss post war future. The meetings with French Foreign Minister Georges-Augustin Bidault and British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin were quite hospitable and friendly with both countries sharing Portuguese apprehensions of the changing world and the struggles all three countries were facing. Worrying all three governments was the American attitude towards all European colonial powers regarding the possession of these territories. When Minister Mata met with American Secretary of State James Byrnes Portugal’s worse fears came true. The American government was expecting all European countries to grant independence to their colonies and the American’s did not recognize Portuguese “Overseas Provinces” terminology. For as long as all the people there were not Portuguese citizens and enjoyed same rights as Portuguese in Portugal, they were colonials and as such deserved to be freed from Portuguese control. He stated that changing names and granting rights to part of the population would not cut it. Secretary of State finished off by stating the obvious that majority of the people in the colonies did not even speak Portuguese so how could the Portuguese expect the world to recognize them as Portuguese.

During autumn of 1946 the Portuguese government struggled with a response to the American position. After All Saints Day (1st of November) holiday at a cabinet meeting Prime Minister Rapazote advocated a radical idea the creation of Portuguese Federation and granting all people born in the Portuguese territory Portuguese nationality. While the idea had been discussed a few times, it had not been given much credence. The other members of the cabinet slowly came around to the idea, but the biggest obstacle would be selling it to the general population. President João Semedo then suggested a “National Committee” to tour the country including the Ultramar provinces to gather the people’s opinions on the future of the country. The committee could then present a report advocating the creation of Portuguese Federation.

On 10 December 1946, the Portuguese government announced the creation of national consultations on the future of country and overseas provinces. During 1947, the travelling committees met with representatives from all segments of the population in the major cities and towns in Metropolitan Portugal. In 1948, they travelled to each of the colonies (Ultramar provinces) to meet with people there. In an unprecedented move that angered some of the Europeans living in the colonies the committees invited representatives of local groups and tribes living in the colonies to speak and even arranged for interpreters for those who did not speak Portuguese. On 2 August 1949, the National Committee presented its recommendations:

• Integration of all parts of country into single unified country;
• Elimination of all colonies and their associated stigma;
• Division of country into semi-autonomous regions (provinces) that would allow people to better manage their local affairs (autonomy);
• Citizenship rights to all people born in all regions of country regardless of sex, skin color, ethnicity and religion;
• Elections to the National Assembly and appointments the Corporative Chamber based on population to represent all parts of Portugal equally;
• Removal of taxes and literacy as basis for voting;
• Institute a National program to provide free compulsory Portuguese language courses to all people living in Portugal so that all people especially those under the age of 65 could learn to speak Portuguese and be registered to vote by 1954 election;

[1] The 1946 Election Act reforms was the government’s answer to many internal and external complains regarding monopolistic political power enjoyed by National Union as well as the exclusion of opposition parties.

[2] Strategic industries or resources could be nationalized by government if the private enterprise managing it was shown to not managing it in the best interest of the country. If the government did initiate nationalization fair market value had to be paid to the owners.

[3] Several other parties such as the Communists Party and the Socialist Party were barred from registering and participating due to their inability to meet Election Act principles. Between half and the three quarters of the candidates from the other parties registered were also rejected for not meeting the principles and regulations.

[4] 23 women were elected.

The Politics section introduces two major cornerstones of Portuguese politics first the multi-party elections secondly the concept of the Portuguese Federation.

The Multi-party system in place in Portugal and Federation since 1946 has resulted in several cases of the National Union party coming close to loosing an election but in each case the opposition has never presented a strong enough case for the majority of the population to abandon it. Two major components of the legislation that assisted the National Union party are the banning of foreign influenced political parties be they on right or left, secondly is the proportional representation. With these two components the National Union has limited people choice for decades. Did I mention that so many promising politicians have been convicted of such crimes as DIU, corruption and even solicitation thus making these individuals ineligible to attain office. All of them claimed innocent but isn't that what all criminals say?

The Portuguese Federation (thanks US) was a clever political maneuver that sealed millions of people to Portugal. For they lost the ability to keep their own language, regardless if they were illiterate. The forced Portuguese language and literacy on these people was cruel. When news of the Portuguese mandatory language programs were announced the fierce critics of the Federation such as the Soviet Union and other Enlighted countries who had never subjected their people to such things criticized the Portuguese. They stated that the Portuguese was forcing their language down millions of people throats. Ironically that within 4 years the Portuguese had millions of people who until then could not communicate together suddenly given the ability to have a common language. This accomplishment was dully ignored and France and other western worlds who criticized Portuguese effort would of never behaved in such ways. For example we know that in France a multitude of dialects and languages exist, oh hold on sorry wrong example I believe they did a similar feat in the 19th century stamping out non traditional Parisian French.

In addition to the language we now had the distinct pleasure of getting rid of the Portuguese colonies and introducing the world to tens of new provinces spread throughout 3 continents. To implement such a task was momentous and there was not a single country who thought they could pull it off. In London the odd were 50:1 that the Federation would not last 10 years. Imagine the poor bloke like the Portuguese Ambassador that put down 1,000 pounds at several different bookies on this bet. Rumors that several of them in 1955 offered to pay 25:1 to settle the bets abound after the first successful national elections. In end the Ambassador and others who put their money down were certainly feeling hard pressed as 1960 came around. Questions/ Comments?

Please return July 21 as we leave post part 2 of the Post War politics.

 

[Galahad]

See? It was a set-up. Anyways, Portugal would have an interesting time on the coming years, considering from what I've read, Portugal would have a huge impact on the development of Africa and Asia.

 

[Sceonn]

I'm not sure if I asked this before but would the Portuguese example not influence French and British decolonization where possible? I heard that there were many British colonies that didn't want complete Independence.

 

[Rui]

These Portuguese ambassadors made a killing from betting on their countries future!

 

[thekingsguard]

And now we see the potential of Portugal realized - the first true multi-continental federation.

I wonder if Britain and France may take notes and integrate some of their own colonies into the Metropole.

 

[Lusitania]

This update was rather short...

I mean... it was a set-up.

See? It was a set-up. Anyways, Portugal would have an interesting time on the coming years, considering from what I've read, Portugal would have a huge impact on the development of Africa and Asia.

Hi everyone, the initial decades section (in the 1940s we have war and post war years) is a place to introduce the decade and as indicated a placeholder for the links to each section. Hope everyone is enjoying.

As for impact yes it will but not always in ways that were beneficial to Portugal/Federation. The biggest impact due to largest presence should of been in Africa and in the 1960+ that is true but in the late 1940s and early 1950s it was in Asia (Indian sub-continent and south east Asia more specific. For two of the continents major independence movements are unfortunately spiraled out of control and Portugal was well placed to both benefit and influence the outcome).

 

[Lusitania]

I'm not sure if I asked this before but would the Portuguese example not influence French and British decolonization where possible? I heard that there were many British colonies that didn't want complete Independence.

These Portuguese ambassadors made a killing from betting on their countries future!

And now we see the potential of Portugal realized - the first true multi-continental federation.

I wonder if Britain and France may take notes and integrate some of their own colonies into the Metropole.

I wanted to respond to these together, for they deal with the crux of the issue being the creation of Federation. The reason that other colonial Europeans did not offer this was that it did not bode well in democratic societies. Take Britain for example it did not allow its "British" majority colonies or dominion to join in a joint Federation due to a variety of reason. For if the British had any inclination towards a Federation that is where they would of started with since they originally were British citizens who had migrated to colonies. Therefore if the British had not created a federation with British citizens "Europeans" they definitely were not about to with Africans and Asians.

This was the same issue with the French for all their talk of equality there was no way a Federation was in the cards for these other countries because democracies would of meant that their population would of meant that delegates from outside of Europe would of taken over the European countries. Imagine if India and Britain would of joined in Federation with its population the Federation would of become an Indian government not a British. The advantage the Portuguese had was that their government was not a democracy and that while everyone will be able to vote who they vote for will be strictly limited. This is true in communist countries where in Soviet Union and Communist China people were free to vote for whom they wished but if the only choice is the government candidate it meant that the party remained in charge.

So while the idea of Federation remained idealistic idea it never came to fruition for the remaining colonial powers. The closest was the French implemented their French Community which handed home rule to the African countries while France maintained foreign relations and economic link. Unfortunately the first iteration collapsed when its hypocrisy was made evident. (more on that in the next two decades)

Regarding the betting it served the British right since they have a habit of allowing people to bet on almost anything. It did result in change in rules of bet which stipulated that at the discretion of the betting house any bet could be liquidated by the house at 50% of winning. Which was to say that at most on many bets if the odds change drastically against the house they have right to pay out at 50% to mitigate their looses. Not a very popular rule with the people.

As for colonies not wanting to become independent the events of the 1950s when no one knew of the Federation would last the creation of the Federation resulted in little to no repercussions in Africa and decolonization was already underfoot in Asia so the Portuguese had little to no affect on the decolonization process. As for Africa Portuguese political and military actions in the 1960s had a profound affect on the decolonization and not in a positive way. For at the end of 1960s the Africa here would be drastically different that iOTL.