nuetral countries

[raf]

was there any reason why Hitler decided not to invade Sweeden,switzerland or why they didnt join forces with Germany.

i also read that portugal is the UK'S oldest allie and there is some kind of pact between them

although there fighting force was small was there any reason why they didnt fight. I think i'm right in saying that they allowed the allies the use of their ports.

any thoughts thanks

[Kiwiwriter]

Originally Posted by raf

was there any reason why Hitler decided not to invade Sweeden,switzerland or why they didnt join forces with Germany.

i also read that portugal is the UK'S oldest allie and there is some kind of pact between them

although there fighting force was small was there any reason why they didnt fight. I think i'm right in saying that they allowed the allies the use of their ports.

any thoughts thanks

Hitler planned an invasion of Sweden in 1942, when they balked at some economic demands. He later decided not to do it. Sweden was supporting Germany economically with iron ore and allowing German troops (the 163rd Division) to be passed through their nation to Finland to fight the Soviets.

He didn't invade Switzerland probably to avoid complications with the bank accounts.

Portugal was led by Don Antonio Salazar, a self-serving Fascist. Both sides wanted Portugal as an ally. In 1943, with the Allies on the advance, the Portuguese agreed to allow the British to use the Azores as a base for anti-submarine warfare aircraft, under that ancient alliance. The British provided Salazar with Spitfires in return.

Interestingly, the Japanese invaded Portuguese East Timor in 1942, but the Portuguese did not declare war on Japan. The Portuguese sent a boatload of troops to re-occupy the place peacefully, but the Japanese warned they would sink the transport if it showed up. The Portuguese declined to re-assert their sovereignty or declare war. Macao found itself surrounded by Japanese troops in the same way, and clung to its neutrality.

"The Neutrals," in the Time-Life series, has more on the subject.

[Glider]

Re Switzerland I suspect that the cost would simply outweigh the gain. Its easy to defend and although it would have fallen it, would have taken men as resources that Germany didn't / couldn't afford. In addition there were a number of benefits financially and politically in having Switzerland neutral and it wasn't as if Switzerland was a threat of any kind.

In short, I suspect it wasn't worth the effort