BRAZIL AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR: CIVIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND NATIONALIZATION

Abstract

Background: During World War II (1939 - 1945), the National Defense League organized, in Porto Alegre, a series of commemorations with the objective of civic exaltation and patriotic mobilization. Aim: This work aimed to analyze civic solemnities of the week of the fatherland, highlighting how a campaign of patriotic exaltation was carried out, in addition to the mobilization for the nationalization of German and Italian immigrants and the acculturation of their children, the so-called coloninhos. Methods: Analysis of a work edited by the National Defense League, called Activities of 1943. Analysis of the mobilization of society around civic commemorations, organized by the National Defense League. Analysis of the speeches made by the state interventor at the time, General Cordeiro de Farias. Results and Discussion: The National Defense League made an intense mobilization of Brazilian society around the patriotic celebrations in the week of the Fatherland (September 1st to 7th), in 1943, when the Getúlio Vargas government was preparing troops to fight in Europe alongside the Allies and against the Axis countries during World War II. The images, photos, and speeches given at the festivities were edited and later published in a book. In Porto Alegre, there was a campaign for the population to participate in the celebrations actively. Parades were also held in Porto Alegre with children, sons, and daughters of German and Italian immigrants. Furthermore, the Defense League spoke about the acculturation of the children of immigrants (coloninhos), as they supposedly could become spies for enemy countries. Despite Brazil being under the dictatorial government of the Estado Novo, clearly fascist inspired and inaugurated by Getúlio Vargas in 1937, the Defense League defended that it was a democratic and receptive government. Conclusions: Due to the actions of the Defense League, it was necessary that it actively participate in activities, that it was willing to fight against Brazil s enemies. It would also be necessary to nationalize and acculturate the children of German and Italian immigrants, to demonstrate that Brazil was open to receiving them.