Portugal during World War II
Upon the start of World War II in 1939, the Portuguese Government announced on 1 September that the 600-year-old Anglo-Portuguese Alliance remained intact, but that since the British did not seek Portuguese assistance, Portugal was free to remain neutral in the war and would do so. In an aide-mémoire of 5 September 1939, the British Government confirmed the understanding. As Hitler's occupation swept across Europe, neutral Portugal became one of the Continent's last escape routes. Portugal managed to remain neutral throughout the war despite extraordinary pressures from both sides, notably over the strategically located Azores islands and over the wolfram (tungsten) trade.
Portugal during World War II
On December 17, 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dutch and Australian troops disembarked at East Timor in disrespect of Portuguese sovereignty. Salazar denounced the allied operation as an invasion of a neutral territory. On February 20, 1942, alleging self-defence, Japan invaded the island of Timor.