The First Brazilian Infantry Division

Brazil was the only Latin American country to send troops to the European Theatre. Brazil declared war on the Axis powers in July of 1942 and a force of 25,000 was prepared to be sent to Italy.

The First Brazilian Infantry Division consisting of the 1st, 6th and 11th Brazilian Infantry Regiments, and served in the IV (US) Corps of the Fifth (United States) Army in the Italian Campaign during 1945.

The arrival of the Brazilians in the winter of 1944-45 had caused a near panic in finding Portuguese speaking interpreters. In addition the Brazilians arrived wearing light clothing which was completely inappropriate for Appennine blizzards. Re-equipped with American uniforms it was found that the Brazilians had much smaller feet than the average American or British Soldier and finding sufficient footwear became a Quartermasters' nightmare.

Brazil was one of only two Latin American countries to actually commit military forces during World War II, the other being Mexico.

 

Like those poor Russians who were forced to attack Finland in December 1939...