Latin America During World War II

by Leonard, Thomas M.; Bratzel, John F.; Lauderbaugh, George M.; Lefebvre, Andrew; Masterson, Daniel M.; Mount, Graeme; Sotelo, Jorge Ortiz; Perez, Orlando J.; Rankin, Monica A.; Roorda, Eric Paul; Sheinin, David; Smith, Joseph

• ISBN13: 9780742537415
• ISBN10: 0742537412
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-11
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

The first full-length study of World War II from the Latin American perspective, this unique volume offers an in-depth analysis of the region during wartime. Each country responded to World War II according to its own national interests, which often conflicted with those of the Allies, including the United States. The contributors systematically consider how each country dealt with commonly shared problems: the Axis threat to the national order, the extent of military cooperation with the Allies, and the war's impact on the national economy and domestic political and social structures. Drawing on both U.S. and Latin American primary sources, the book offers a rigorous comparison of the wartime experiences of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Central America, Gran Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Puerto Rico.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
1 Introduction	1
John F. Bratzel
Part I: Central America during World War II
2 Mexico: Industrialization through Unity	17	(19)
Monica Rankin
3 Central America: On the Periphery	36	(18)
Thomas M. Leonard
4 Panama: Nationalism and the Challenge to Canal Security	54	(21)
Orlando J. Pérez
5 The Dominican Republic: The Axis, the Allies, and the Trujillo Dictatorship	75	(17)
Eric Paul Roorda
6 Puerto Rico: Quiet Participant	92	(17)
Andrew Lefebvre
Part II: South America during World War II
7 Bolivarian Nations: Securing the Northern Frontier	109	(17)
George M. Lauderbaugh
8 Peru: International Developments and Local Realities	126	(18)
Daniel M. Masterson and Jorge Ortiz Sotelo
9 Brazil: Benefits of Cooperation	144	(18)
Joseph Smith
10 Chile: An Effort at Neutrality	162	(21)
Graeme S. Mount
11 Argentina: The Closet Ally	183	(22)
David Sheinin
Select Bibliography	205	(12)
Index	217	(6)
About the Contributors	223