Page 265 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

THE IMPORT ANCE Of THE BRAZIUAN NORTHEAST 251

The geostrategic value of che Northeastern bulge, che oceanic islands, che rela-
tive infrastructure and che demographic concentration along che coast, make Bra-
zii vulnerable co sea-air attacks from the Mediterranean and Northwest Africa. On
che other hand, it places che country in a key position for che joint defense of che
American continent against military action from those regions.

The Axis threat
After the fall ofFrance in 1940, the Allies' ~ituation deteriorated considerably
in che Mediterranean. The Riviera and the French colonies in North Africa carne
under the Vichy Government"s contrai. ltaly was already pare of che Axis. Spain
and Portugal remained neutra!, although Franco had promised to enter the war
on the side ofGermany. The Nazis launched a Balkan offensive against Yugoslavia
and Greece, taking over Salonika while the British Expeditionary Force retreated.
The Afrika Korps reached Egypt's borders, defeating the English.
After Japan joined the Axis in 1940, Hitler concentrated on planning a mili-
tary offensive in the Mediterranean that could be executed before the planned at-
tack o n the Soviet U nion. H e envisaged a decisive attack against Gibraltar an d
Suez as che best. alternative co che failed invasion of Great Britain.
Spain would attack Gibraltar in exchange for significant German military-
economic aid, and would keep Gibraltar, French Marocco and Oran, besides ex-
panding its West African colonies. Germany promised to supply air and artillery
support. The Germans also intended to extend their dominions in W est Africa and
the adjacent Atlantic islands, thus rebuilding their former colonia} empire in Africa.
In view of the unsuccessful English an4 Free French attack on Dakar, from
23 co 25 September 1940, Pétain retaliated by bombing Gibraltar.
Hitler was particularly interested in occupying the Azores and Canary Islands
in order co install a naval base in Dakar and an air base in the Azores, creating
che conditions for future operations directed against the Uniced Scaces.
His plans presupposed the collaboration of Vichy France, ltaly and Spain.
The pianto conquer Africa and Gibraltar was named "Operation Felix". lt
called for the crossing of Spain by German forces coming from France on lO Ja-
nuary 1941. Simultaneously, German aircraft based in France would attack che
warships in Gibraltar in order to deprive the fortress of naval artillery support.
The offensive's spearhead would be led by German land forces. The assault troop
would be followed by two German divisions - one armored and one motorized
- which would cross the strait, moving in the direction of Marocco to gai n contro!
of che Adantic coast. Three other German divisions would cross Spain and remain
in a waiting position at the Portuguese frontier, able to thwart any English landing
attempts in Portugal. Spain, supported by German artillery, would reinforce che
defense of the Canary Islands against any anticipated English threat.
The plan an d necessary reconnaissance for subsequent operations in N orth-
west Africa and against che Atlantic islands had not been concluded when "Opera-