AHC: Create a Nazi Analog in South America

With a POD after 1860 create a TL in which one of the countries of South America takes on a government analogous to Nazi Germany. I mean this in the respect that the country should have many of, but not necessarily all of, the following traits in common with Nazi Germany. It has a heavily centralized government, a great focus on the military, expansionist goals through the military conquest of its neighbors, believes in some form of eugenic philosophy, abuses the rights of its lower classes, and believes in some way that their country and people have quasi-superhuman origins. I think Brazil has the most potential hear but you let me know hat you think. Also please direct me to other threads done on this subject.
 
I could see this as a really dark version of Paraguay under Francia and his successors. I mean, it was a strong centralized dictatorship that underwent a massive militarization (and to some extent industrialization) program under the Lopez family, saw itself as a distinct nation and ethnicity well before its neighbors, and fought a war to the last man against three of its neighbors.

The dark mirror of "Gallant little Paraguay, the Prussia of Latin America" is clearly 19th century Nazi Paraguay.
 
I could see this as a really dark version of Paraguay under Francia and his successors. I mean, it was a strong centralized dictatorship that underwent a massive militarization (and to some extent industrialization) program under the Lopez family, saw itself as a distinct nation and ethnicity well before its neighbors, and fought a war to the last man against three of its neighbors.

The dark mirror of "Gallant little Paraguay, the Prussia of Latin America" is clearly 19th century Nazi Paraguay.
Could Paraguay take over any of it's neighbors though?
 
Could Paraguay take over any of it's neighbors though?

Well, you never said it had to be successful... :p

However, it probably could've taken portions of Argentina, if it had Brazillian or Uruguayan support and the other power's neutrality. I don't know a good POD, but a different diplomatic situation than IOTL (all you really need is for Brazil and Argentina to not cooperate at the appropriate moment, which is pretty easy since they usually don't cooperate) could lead to a much more successful Paraguay.
 
Could Paraguay take over any of it's neighbors though?

I bet that if it had singled them out, instead of making more and encouraging them to form an alliance, it could have taken a good amount of territory from neighboring states. Paraguay's army was the largest in South America at the outbreak of the Paraguayan war; if it had chosen to take on a limited war against, say, Brazil, perhaps it would be able to gain a border with Uruguay. Had that been done, there is a chance they would have invaded and overtaken Uruguay. I don't know if that's probable, but it seems possible.

Now, if you're talking about a full-out Nazi-style occupation, I highly doubt Paraguay would be able to pull it off on anyone. Although maybe Bolivia would be an easy target?

If a Nazi-like scenario did truly break out involving South American nations, I can envision an expansionist Paraguay invading Bolivia and Peru, then turning on Argentina and Chile, and finally going for Brazil as the main prize (with the intent of ethnic cleansing of the Portuguese-speakers, perhaps?)

Barring that, I'm not sure what you could do. But I'm 100% positive the Rio de la Plata basin is involved at some point; it would likely become a major flashpoint. Maybe it could be a South American analogue to the Polish corridor and the disputes that arose from that?
 
Interesting.

My original ideas involved Brazil postponing the overthrow of the Brazilian monarchy in 1889 which was backed by former slave owners who resented the abolition of slavery in 1888. Without the abusive Republic that followed Brazil may have more economic growth than it did OTL. As well perhaps a better management of its rubber industry could benefit the nation’s income, especially after the Panama Canal is finished. Then perhaps in the WW1 era I'd place a successful coup which takes over the government (similar to Russia’s red rebellion as well) and I’d have the movement composed of the same groups of people who made up the overthrow in OTL 1889. Then the new government abuses the local native tribes in a way similar to what the Republic did in the 1890s OTL but at a wider Nazi-esque scale like enslaving and wiping out local forest tribes, forcing them onto rubber plantations, and into concentration camps for starters. Then I'd have Brazil focus on using its resources to develop its army, navy, and implement an air force which would be useful if fighting occurs in the Andes. Then I'd have them invade either Peru or Columbia in order to gain Pacific ports. As well I could have the government come up with a philosophy of the Brazilian people’s origins and futures similar to what Hitler preached about the Germans being descended of a master race. The Brazilians could play up the abilities of the Portuguese explorers that founded the country and also follow some form of Incan mysticism.

Comments?
 
PARAGUAY: Yes, that came to mind too. The Paraguayans had a very strong national identity and often fought like fanatics. One thing to consider is that the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay was what forged Argentina as a nation rather than a geographic area with autonomous provincial leaders opposing politically and often militarily the attempts of Buenos Aires to centralize power. In addition to rescuing its political allies in the Uruguayan civil war, Paraguay's vague ambitions contemplated things such as trying to win over Corrientes and Entre Rios from Argentina and gaining a corridor across Brazil to the sea, but Lopez dithered a long long time after mobilizing while his Uruguayan allies were crushed with Brazilian troops. In seeking to preserve what he saw as a balance of power in which Paraguay played a balancing role and by needless provocations, he united historical rivals Brazil and Buenos Aires against him.

But there are any number of PODs in this process. Prompt action could have restored his ally in Uruguay and occupied the intervening territory - a deal might have been struck in Corrientes and Entre Rios. This, however, would not fit the racial or nationalist profile you are looking for.

BRAZIL: Emperor Dom Pedro II was wildly popular and admired both at home and abroad, and the coup was a tiny military cabal that had to rely more on guile than force to get the emperor out of the country and set up a military dictatorship. For example, some of the key troops used in the coup were told they were acting against a coup attempt. The Emperor was deceived as well, and was weary of his role so largely acquiesced in the result to his later regret. His daughter was not interested in being Empress, and it was generally admitted there was no suitable successor, so the Empire could run for some more years but a changeover was going to occur and a military coup then then could well have happened. The slaveowners did not like abolition, but would not have considered themselves overthrowing the highly respected Emperor in his lifetime.

Brazil was too multi-racial and multi-ethnic to support a race-based ideology, but maybe you could posit that the order to abolish slavery was not given while the Emperor was on a trip abroad and that a military government developed an ideology around European or Brazilian identity, continued slavery, and an element of Manifest Destiny to the Pacific.

The former Brazilian province of Banda Oriental (Uruguay) would be a logical first step in extending the borders. Bolivia and Peru would be a militarily and logistically more practical route to the Pacific (with an Atlantic-Pacific railway) than Colombia or Ecuador, and less likely to attract united opposition.

Mysticism seems less likely to me than social darwinist and racialist doctrines with Catholicism used to turn back reformists.
 
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