Spain and Portugal shipping during WW2.

As both are maritime countries what did they do about their own shipping during the war ? Were they considered neutral, I imagine there are both legal and more nuanced answers to this ? Could they run shipping under their own flag? Were they treated differently by Axis and Allies ?

Along the same lines did Allied and Axis sailors , and airmen, whom by any means found themselves in either country find passage home openly or was it more clandestine. Were any interred like those in Ireland and Switzerland ? I seem to remember many years ago reading that the Italians had Spanish assistance in helping their frogmen attack ships at Gibraltar. Were any Allies given official assistance by either? I read, somewhere, that an official courier plane flew from Geneva to Lisbon on a regular basis. Did Lisbon have direct service to London?

Apologies for so many questions, just curiosity acting up and a need to get away from work for a few minutes but I am truly interested. seems like the potential for a lot of intrigue. I guess the same holds true for Sweden, could they send a ship out of the Baltic with some degree of safety?

I have read that Andorra was occupied, I assume San Moreno was but did Lichtenstein fall under the Swiss side?

I know the forum is primarily about the war but the turbulence in all these areas just before, during and after the war seems most complex.

Gaines

 

Portugal, actually known as “Britain’s Oldest Ally” (since 1374), apart from the Pacto Iberico with Spain in 1939, was officially neutral for much of the war. The Portuguese also seized Allied warplanes landing in Portugal, until Oct. 1943 when basing privileges in the Azores were extended to the Allies, and Portugal’s status in the eyes of the Allies, changed from neutral to co-belligerent. Still, Salazar clung to neutrality in Europe, trading wolfram i.e. tungsten to both sides until June 1944. But unofficially the Portuguese fought the Japanese alongside the Dutch and Australians, when the Japanese occupied their colonial possessions on the island Timor.

Portuguese shipping and air routes enjoyed a rare freedom; Lisbon was the distribution port for the International Red Cross. Routes originating in Portugal travelled to the vestiges of Empire, and around the world, carrying supplies to PoWs, and relief to civilians caught in the World War. This was the reason that Lisbon also became the main Hub for spies.

Spain was much the same, but remained neutral throughout the war, and didn’t gain a seat in the UN as a founding member. The Allies controlled shipping to and from Spain, to the remains of Empire, but Spain also relied on the Allies for imports of foodstuffs, oil, etc.; commodities that Hitler didn’t have enough of to provide to Spain as well. Franco built up his industry and trade, saved his money, and paid his bills dating from the Civil War.

Note - Portuguese and Spanish shipping still had to comply with the terms of the British Blockade - see below.


Lichtenstein remained under the umbrella of Swiss neutrality, but some citizens joined the German SS.

When it comes to neutral shipping, you have to understand the British Blockade. If neutral shipping complied, they could go anywhere, if they didn’t, they and/or they’re cargoes were liable to seizure - this includes Spain & Portugal as well as Sweden. In general Embassies usually ensured that neutral crews were returned home, owners usually kept maintenance crews aboard. Ships from occupied countries i.e. Vichy France, Denmark etc., if not already in Allied service, were usually just seized, but in both instances there was justice to be had - Admiralty Courts, all part of the process.



Yep, Admiralty Courts alive and well in WWII along with War Trade Agreements (with Neutrals), Navicerts, Ships Warrants, Contraband Control/Examination Centres etc.; all part of the mix which made up the enforcement of blockade as part of economic warfare.

Often misunderstood, there were few if any warships actually patrolling off foreign shores. While far reaching, the blockade was more administrative than any sort of physical barrier of Occupied Europe - no Warrant/Navicert, no fuel or provision in any British controlled port (key to most shipping lanes), insurance also became problematic unless ship and/or cargo could be under-written otherwise, such as by a foreign gov't -realistically no neutral shipping company could afford to be without either of them. Ships and cargoes seized in contravention, or in apparent contravention,of any of the above in Britain's imposed blockade, were considered in Court,which could impose a variety of conditions or penalties, sometimes to the embarrassment of the British Gov't. For example, early in the war, neutral US shipping disdaining Navicerts and examination proved to be a real problem,until the process could be streamlined and the kinks worked out. Then later, by which time the US's opinion was that it was all frivolous and unnecessary,seized Vichy and Danish shipping converted to British usage, were paid at a higher rate than that agreed to with some, if not most British shipping firms,the funds being held in bank accounts for the ships owners, to be paid out at the end of hostilities - so said the Courts.

There was a strong movement afoot in the early 20th century to establish an International Prize Court, for the common treatment of complaints received from shipping companies, along similar lines to those established by the Geneva Conventions for PoW's etc. Nothing came of it though (of course Britain and the US wanted no part of it), while not being of primary concern in times of peace, prize laws in one form or another, may actually still remain on statute in various countries such as the US and Britain.

Hope this helps …

 

Marmat, I could not ask for a better set of answers. You have an excellent knowledge of maritime matters as well as neutral belligerent relationships and convey them nicely to an landlocked Alabamian, though for years I owned a San Juan 21 then 24 my sea knowledge is simplistic. Upper Canada is a pretty big place!! I have always enjoyed visiting there.

Many thanks for your thoughtful answer,
Gaines

 

As opposed to weapons and big battles, I've always had a preference for "background" in history, if you can understand the background, the big pictures become much clearer. That includes bits of strategy, economics, economic warfare, raw materials, and yes, shipping, all complex enough in their own right.

Boats? My wife bought me a 16 ft. canoe for Father's Day a few years ago, I added a 3 hp 2 stroke air cooled put-put because of a chronically bad shoulder - neither have seen the water, yet. I can retire in 10 days ...