Figure 1.--The 36 German sailors killed on 'Graf Spee' in the Battle of the River Plate were buried in the German Cemetry in Montivedo with full miltary honors. This is the Uuguayan naval guard of honor with some of their children at the burial ceremonies.

Uruguay is a small South American Republic wedged between Argentina and Brazil. The Great Depression following the Wall Street Crash (1929) was especially severe for countries like Uruguay that were dependent of exporting. Prices of agricultural products plunged. Britain, traditionally the major purchaser of Uruguayan exports, began restricting purchases of meat (1932). Uruguay's currency was devalued, and unemployment grew rapidly. In part because of the drift toward war was increasing demand for Uruguayan products (meat, leather, and wool) led to an improving economy. which like most other countries declared itself neutral. As in World War I, the economics of the war largely caused the Latin American countries to support the Allies. Exports were very important to the economies of the region. When Hitler and Stalin launched the War (September 1939). Britain cut off trade with Germany. Thus if Uruguay wanted to export which it had to do, it was to Britain and America--an easy choice as American and Britain were much larger markets. While declaring Uruguay neutral, newly elected president Alfredo Baldomir, leading the Colorado Party, was to support the Allied cause, but as a neutral base. He is credited with gradually moving Uruguay toward the Allied cause. Great Britain retained considerable influence with the Baldomir regime The British Ambassador, impressively manged Sir Eugen Millington-Drake payed an important role (1934-41). It is unclear to what extent President Baldomir policies were determined by economic realities are an assessment of the character of the NAZI regime. Baldomir was a military man and used is election primarily to typical Latin American caudillo, Gabriel Terra. Before war was declared, OKM dispatched one of its pocket battleship Graf Spee to the South Atlantic. One Britain declared war and persisted even after the defeat of Poland, OKM ordered Graf Spee's captain, Hans Langsdorff, to commence commerce raiding (September 26, 1939). Graf Spee conducted commerce raiding in the vast, poorly patrolled reaches of the South Atlantic, venturing into the Indian Ocean. The German raider was enormously successful. A squadron of British cruisers (Ajax, Achilles, and Exeter) correctly deduced that the Germans would attack merchant shipping from Argentina and Uruguay before returning to Germany. The first major surface engagement of World War II was thus improbably fought off Uruguay--the Battle of the Rio Plate (December 1939). The outgunned British cruisers managed to damage the German battleship which almost blew Exeter out of the water. The German captain sought refuge in Montevideo, a neutral port. The German case was put by its representative in Montevideo, Otto Langmann. The Uruguayans following international law, refused to allow the Germans to improve the fighting condition of the ship. The NAZIs were not pleased with the Uruguyan rejection of their demands. Had the War gone dfifferetly, heads would have rolled. Tricked by the British to believe a formidable British force was assembling to fight him outside Uruguayan waters. OKM forbide him to allow his ship to be interned. Cpt. Langsdorff to save his crew, scuttled his ship and later shot himself. A coup plan, the Fuhrmann Plot, by Uruguayan NAZIs led by Arnulf Fuhrmann, president of the Centro Cultural Germano-Uruguayo, may have been a factor (June 1940). Langmann was also involved, implicating the NAZI Government. Argentine police arrested Fuhrmann and other NAZIs at Conordia. He was also the prime anti-Semitic agitator of South America (August 12, 1940). [White] The Government began an investigation into NAZI sympathizers, in part because of possible Blanco collusion (1940). President Baldomir and the Colorados continued their pro-Allied neutrality. The opposition Blanco Party obstructed Colorado reform efforts and criticized the policy of cooperation with the Allies, in particular American hemispheric defense policies. They opposed the installation of United States bases in Uruguay (1940).Luis Alberto de Herrera, leader of the Blanco or Nationalist Party was accused of being pro-NAZI, pro- Franco, and pro-Argentine. A diplomatic problem ensued with Germany over the salvage rights. Germany threatened to break diplomatic relations with Uruguay, protesting that Uruguay had given safe harbor to HMS Carnarvon Castle after it had been attacked by a German raider. The ship was apparently repaired with steel plate salvaged from Graf Spee. Uruguay terminated diplomatic relations with NAZI Germany after Hitler declared the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler declared war on the United States (January 1942). President Baldomir had been elected with a promise of reform. The Blanmco Party blocked the enactment of reform measures. President Baldomir staged a kind of self coup to enact major constitutional reforms. He dissolved the General Assembly and replaced it with a Council of State (Consejo de Estado) dominated by the Colorados. This quasi-coup was carried out without arrests or deportations. The press was allowed to freely report on it. No newspapers were closed. Fair national elections were held (November 1942). Bldomir stepped aside and Juan José de Amézaga defeated Blanco candidate Herrera. Amézaga continued President Baldomir's policies favoring the Allies. Amézaga continued Uruguayan Allied-leaning neutrality until the final months of the War. The NAZI U-boat campaign in the North Atlantic was adversely affecting Uruguayan export shipments. The Allied naval victory in the North Atlantic resolved this problem (mid-1943). And for the rest of the war, Uruguayan exports flowed freely, mostly to America and Britain. Uruguay formally signed the Declaration of the United Nations and then declared war on NAZI Germany and Japan (February 1945).

Uruguay

Uruguay is a small South American Republic wedged between Argentina and Brazil. The Great Depression following the Wall Street Crash (1929) was especially severe for countries like Uruguay that were dependent of exporting. Prices of agricultural products plunged. Britain, traditionally the major purchaser of Uruguayan exports, began restricting purchases of meat (1932). Uruguay's currency was devalued, and unemployment grew rapidly. In part because of the drift toward war was increasing demand for Uruguayan products (meat, leather, and wool) led to an improving economy.

World War II (September 19039)

which like most other countries declared itself neutral. As in World War I, the economics of the war largely caused the Latin American countries to support the Allies or at least refuse to take pro_Axis stands. Exports were very important to the economies of the region. When Hitler and Stalin launched the War (September 1939).

Pro-Allied Stance

Britain cut off trade with Germany. Thus if Uruguay wanted to export which it had to do, it was to Britain and America. This wasan easy choice as American and Britain were much larger markets and the British and American Navies controlled the tlantic. While declaring Uruguay neutral, newly elected president Alfredo Baldomir, leading the Colorado Party, was to support the Allied cause, but as a neutral base. He is credited with gradually moving Uruguay toward the Allied cause. Great Britain retained considerable influence with the Baldomir regime The British Ambassador, impressively manged Sir Eugen Millington-Drake payed an important role (1934-41). It is unclear to what extent President Baldomir policies were determined by economic realities are an assessment of the character of the NAZI regime. Baldomir was a military man, but the election processv enabled him to defeatv typical Latin American caudillo, Gabriel Terra.

Battle of the Río Plate (December 1939)

Before war was declared, OKM dispatched one of its pocket battleship Graf Spee to the South Atlantic. Once Britain declared war and persisted even after the defeat of Poland, OKM ordered Graf Spee's captain, Hans Langsdorff, to commence commerce raiding (September 26, 1939). Graf Spee conducted commerce raiding in the vast, poorly patrolled reaches of the South Atlantic, venturing into the Indian Ocean. The German raider was enormously successful. A squadron of British cruisers (Ajax, Achilles, and Exeter) correctly deduced that the Germans would attack merchant shipping from Argentina and Uruguay before returning to Germany. The first major surface engagement of World War II was thus improbably fought off Uruguay--the Battle of the Rio Plate (December 1939). The outgunned British cruisers managed to damage the German battleship which almost blew Exeter out of the water. The German captain sought refuge in Montevideo, a neutral port. The German case was put by its representative in Montevideo, Otto Langmann. The Uruguayans following international law, refused to allow the Germans to improve the fighting condition of the ship. The NAZIs were not pleased with the Uruguyan rejection of their demands. Had the War gone dfifferetly, heads would have rolled. Tricked by the British to believe a formidable British force was assembling to fight him outside Uruguayan waters. OKM forbide him to allow his ship to be interned. Cpt. Langsdorff to save his crew, scuttled his ship and later shot himself.

Fuhrmann Plot

A coup plan, the Fuhrmann Plot, by Uruguayan NAZIs led by Arnulf Fuhrmann, president of the Centro Cultural Germano-Uruguayo, may have been a factor (June 1940). Langmann was also involved, implicating the NAZI Government. Argentine police arrested Fuhrmann and other NAZIs at Conordia. He was also the prime anti-Semitic agitator of South America (August 12, 1940). [White] The Government began an investigation into NAZI sympathizers, in part because of possible Blanco collusion (1940).

Uruguayan Politics

President Baldomir and the Colorados continued their pro-Allied neutrality. The opposition Blanco Party obstructed Colorado reform efforts and criticized the policy of cooperation with the Allies, in particular American hemispheric defense policies. They opposed the installation of United States bases in Uruguay (1940).Luis Alberto de Herrera, leader of the Blanco or Nationalist Party was accused of being pro-NAZI, pro- Franco, and pro-Argentine.

NAZI Protests

A diplomatic problem ensued with Germany over the salvage rights. The NAZI government did not ant a British compay to be given thesalvage rights. Germany threatened to break diplomatic relations with Uruguay, protesting that Uruguay had given safe harbor to HMS Carnarvon Castle after it had been attacked by a German raider. The ship was apparently repaired with steel plate salvaged from Graf Spee. Just as the NAZI Government feared intelligence benefits flowed from the Brtsh compoany that obtained the salvage rights. The Bitish were impressed by the Spee's very accurate gunnery, suspecting radar-directed guns which they confirmed. This would also be a factor in the Battle of the Demark Strait where Bismarck sunk Hood.

Quasi Coup

President Baldomir had been elected with a promise of reform. The Blanco Party blocked the enactment of reform measures. President Baldomir staged a kind of self coup to enact major constitutional reforms. He dissolved the General Assembly and replaced it with a Council of State (Consejo de Estado) dominated by the Colorados. This quasi-coup was carried out without arrests or deportations. The press was allowed to freely report on it. No newspapers were closed.

Pearl Harbor (December 1941)

The Japanese Pearl Harbor changed everything (December 1941). Hitler followed the Jpnese attack by declaring war on America. Most Latin American countries began taking steps to support the Allies. Uruguay terminated diplomatic relations with NAZI Germany (January 1942).

Pro-Allied Orinttion

Fair national elections were held (November 1942). Bldomir stepped aside and Juan José de Amézaga defeated Blanco candidate Herrera. Amézaga continued President Baldomir's policies favoring the Allies. By this time the War turned in favor of the Allies. Amézaga continued Uruguayan Allied-leaning neutrality until the final months of the War. The NAZI U-boat campaign in the North Atlantic was adversely affecting Uruguayan export shipments. The Allied naval victory in the North Atlantic resolved this problem (mid-1943). And for the rest of the war, Uruguayan exports flowed freely, mostly to America and Britain. Uruguay formally signed the Declaration of the United Nations and then declared war on NAZI Germany and Japan (February 1945).

Sources

White, John B. "Argebyine police hold NAZI leader," New Tork Times (August 12, 1940).

New Tork Times (August 12, 1940).