The snake will smoke: Brazil's participation in World War II

The odds of a smoking snake are basically nil. No wonder the expression became popular throughout Brazilian lands during the period of World War II, when it was said that "it was easier for a snake to smoke than Brazil to enter the war."

The stories surrounding the origin of the expression are innumerable: that the provocation would have come from a journalist in Rio de Janeiro, or even that Hitler would have said the words. The fact is that "the smoking snake" became the motto (and even distinctive!) Of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, the FEB, a military force sent to Europe to fight alongside the Allies during World War II.

Although Brazil remained neutral during much of the conflict on European land, which began in 1939, it became - in Latin America - the most directly involved in the war. Neutrality came to an end only in 1942, when Brazilian merchant ships were attacked by German submarines. With the disruption of diplomatic relations, the expeditionary force was created - a suggestion of the then War Minister, General Eurico Dutra.

More than 25, 000 men formed the FEB troop that was sent to Italy at the end of the conflict in 1944. By joining the US troops, the Brazilian mission was to prevent the German army from advancing to France. To keep the enemy military under constant pressure, the Allies took a series of locations. Brazil participated in the conquests of Massarosa, Camaiore, Monte Prano, Monte Castelo, Castelnuovo and Montese.

The King of Rangers

And if you thought that among the personalities of the history of wars, we would not have a Brazilian ... It was wrong! Even with a very German name, Sergeant Max Wolff Filho is among the FEB highlights. Born in Rio Negro (Parana), Wolff was the son of an Austrian with a Brazilian and came to work in the family's coffee business.

At the age of 33, when he was sent to Italy, Wolff already had a long history in his military career, unlike most Brazilians in the FEB. The man from Paraná joined the army at the age of 18, when his family moved to Curitiba. Before the war he had already integrated the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Police - at the time, the Brazilian capital - and participated, as a military man, in the 1930 and 1932 Revolution, during the Vargas Era.

On Italian soil, under the command of the US Army, Wolff soon became known for his patrolling actions. The job was to infiltrate enemy lines to make camp reconnaissance prisoners; rescue injured and dead. His skills and courage, demonstrated in leading these actions, earned him the nickname "King of the Rangers."

Despite the bravery reported in numerous of his wartime acts, Wolff was among the more than 450 Brazilians who did not return to the Tupiniquin lands. The sergeant lost his life in April 1945 during an open-field reconnaissance patrol for the taking of Montese. In his honor, the Brazilian army today has the Sergeant Max Wolff Filho Medal, which awards lieutenants and sergeants.

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