A date that passed largely under the radar this week was the 70th anniversary of Mexico’s entry into World War II.
While not a significant event in the nation’s historical memory bank, given that only one unit saw action, the war gave a significant boost to the Mexican economy, spurred a modernization drive and went some way to repairing broken relations with its northern neighbor.
Mexico declared itself neutral at the outset of the war in September 1939, and both the allies and the axis were keen to get Mexico on their side. A large German community, especially in Mexico City, worked hard to influence the Mexican people and take advantage of the anti American and British sentiment that lingered in the country. It was only 18 months since President Lazaro Cardenas had nationalized the nation’s oil sector, expropriating mainly U.S. and British companies. At the onset of the war all three nations were still bitterly arguing over the compensation payments.
Nonetheless, the Mexican government generally sympathized with the allies, increasing its supply of oil to the United States. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mexico cut diplomatic relations with Japan, Germany and Italy and authorized U.S. tankers to enter Mexican waters to transport oil.
At the beginning of May 1942, Germany warned Mexico of the “dire consequences” if it continued to supply oil to the Americans. Within the space of a week, German submarines torpedoed two Mexican vessels, the Potrero del Llano (May 13) and the Faja de Oro (May 20).
On May 28, President Manuel Avila Camacho declared war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
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