Portugal joins world war 2 could it gain Somalia.

It was mentioned in passing in a book I read years ago on Italian colonial history and its aftermath (in the context of the diplomacy leading to the Italian trusteeship), but I suppose it was never particularly serious.
I believe Haile Selassie laid claim to Italian Somaliland as a "former Ethiopian territory" but I doubt he would actually annex the former Italian colony.
 
doing it would almost certainly result in a german-forced spanish invasion, carried out long before the allies could arrive to help...
Spain wouldn't invade as it depend on American imports and still ruined from the civil war, not to mention joining the Axis wouldn't look very appealing with Germany at war with both the Soviets and Americans.
 
Spain wouldn't invade as it depend on American imports and still ruined from the civil war, not to mention joining the Axis wouldn't look very appealing with Germany at war with both the Soviets and Americans.

One of Franco's demands from Hitler, for Hitler to have him on his side, was that Spain would get Portugal. Sure, it was another "outrageous overkill" demand, one more for the "piss Hitler off untill he goes away", but if Portugal does declare war, then what?
 
One of Franco's demands from Hitler, for Hitler to have him on his side, was that Spain would get Portugal. Sure, it was another "outrageous overkill" demand, one more for the "piss Hitler off untill he goes away", but if Portugal does declare war, then what?
As you said it was for Franco to get Hitler off his back and not to mention Hitler wouldn't want to start western front while he is fighting the Soviet Union
 
As you said it was for Franco to get Hitler off his back and not to mention Hitler wouldn't want to start western front while he is fighting the Soviet Union

If Portugal joined the allies, it would give the allies a foothold on mainland Europe, anti-sub bases on the Atlantic coast, and airbases in the Açores to plug the air coverage gap. It would allow for air transport to-from Malta, and a air blockade of Vichy France's colonies. Aircraft based in Portugal could provide air cover any for convoy leading to the Mediterraneum and/or around Africa, and carry out air strikes in North Africa. And it would put massive political & economical preassure on Spain to join the allies. Hitler would have no choice but to get involved.
 
, it would give the allies a foothold on mainland Europe, anti-sub bases on the Atlantic coast, and airbases in the Açores to plug the air coverage gap. It would allow for air transport to-from Malta, and a air blockade of Vichy France's colonies. Aircraft based in Portugal could provide air cover any for convoy leading to the Mediterraneum and/or around Africa, and carry out air strikes in North Africa
How would any of this lead to Franco joining the axis ?

And it would put massive political & economical preassure on Spain to join the allies.
How ?

Hitler would have no choice but to get involved.
I doubt it still would be worth for Germany start a second front not to mention if Germany invades Spain, it would be to the benefit to allies .
 
How would any of this lead to Franco joining the axis ?

The fact that Franco wouldn't be in power if it wasn't for Hitler & Mussolini, and the fact that Nazis are poking right over the mountains; if Hitler wants to stop the Allies from using Portugal, he has to act fast, before a US/UK army lands. And the only way to do that is to go into Spain.


How about the prospect of a complete blockade of Spanish ports for imports? Don't forget that the US supplied Spain with the majority of it's oil.
Or the prospect of an allied army on one side, a german army on the other, and planes from both sides overflying it.

I doubt it still would be worth for Germany start a second front not to mention if Germany invades Spain, it would be to the benefit to allies .
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It's not a matter of being worth it; Germany would have to deal with the problem. Don't forget that Germany only got involved in the med and Greece, they were forced to go because of the overall strategic situation. Likewise, the assault on Norway & Denmark was forced in Germany in order to protect the iron imports from Sweden.
 

Lusitania

Donor
Portugal was economically and militarily disadvantages during the war. There were plans made to invade and occupy Portugal by both sides.
1) That there were British plans to occupy the Azores and Madeira if Portugal joined the Axis.
2) there were South African plans to invade and capture both Angola and Mozambique but they were turned down by British
3) there were at least two Axis plans to invade the Iberian peninsula including Portugal.

The existence of these plans were either known by Portuguese or they suspected they existed making Portuguese participation in war effort impossible or at best remotely possible.

The antagonist attitude by US against Portugal resulted in Portuguese putting over 20,000 troops on the Azores.

So with all this going on when and why the Portuguese would get involved on either side?

The Portuguese could of declared war on Axis on the closing days of the war like Turkey and been part of the UN from onset. But Salazar refused and the US punished both Portugal and Spain for their sale of war goods to Axis by not letting them join UN till 1955. But declaring war on Axis at the end of the war would not of provided the ability for the Portuguese to be in position to receive any compensation such as Somalia.

The earliest the Portuguese could of joined Allies and not suffered attack by Axis was after the Americans invaded North Africa. But what contribution would the Portuguese make to receive Somalia? The Portuguese had participated in WWI much to the determent of the country and asked for part of German colonies only to be told by the British to go packing, so what contribution could we make in WW2 to get us Somalia?

Any earlier joining Allies would meant we cut off sale of Tungsten to Axis and without Portuguese and Spanish sale of Tungsten German war industry stops so they are forced to invade and occupy Iberian peninsula to guarantee supply.

Therefore there was no chance Portugal joins Allies in any way that be of benefit to Portugal. It’s biggest contribution to the Allied effort was its assistance to Spain and Salazar’s close relationship with Franco that kept Spain out of Axis in the early part of the war when it looked like Axis might win.
 
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