By José Carlos Palma *
In the early 1940s, the relationship between Spain and Portugal was marked by tension and unease. Both countries were ruled by right-wing authoritarian leaders – Francisco Franco in Spain and António de Oliveira Salazar in Portugal – and there were ongoing disputes over territory, trade, and ideology. At the time, there were reports that Franco was interested in invading Portugal, possibly as a way to assert his authority and expand his power in the region. While there is still some debate among historians over the extent of Franco’s interest in invading Portugal, the topic remains a fascinating and complex one.
Background
The roots of the tensions between Spain and Portugal can be traced back to the early 20th century. Portugal had established a presence in Africa in the late 1800s and had claimed several territories, including Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. Spain, meanwhile, had long-standing claims to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa. These claims were based on historical ties and strategic importance, as the enclaves provided access to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
In the 1930s, both countries came under the control of right-wing authoritarian leaders – Franco in Spain and Salazar in Portugal. While the two dictators shared some ideological similarities, such as anti-communism and anti-liberalism, there were also significant differences between them. Franco saw himself as a champion of traditional Spanish values, including Catholicism and the monarchy, while Salazar focused on promoting economic stability and social conservatism.
The Spanish Civil War
One of the key factors that influenced Franco’s attitude towards Portugal was the Spanish Civil War, which lasted from 1936 to 1939. The war was fought between Franco’s Nationalist forces and the Republican government, which was supported by several foreign powers, including the Soviet Union. Portugal, under Salazar’s leadership, supported Franco during the war and provided military and financial aid.
After the Nationalists emerged victorious in 1939, Franco was emboldened and saw himself as a powerful leader who could assert his authority both domestically and internationally. He was keen to expand Spanish influence in Africa and saw the disputed territories of Ceuta and Melilla as a critical part of his strategy.
The Dispute over Ceuta and Melilla
The dispute over Ceuta and Melilla had been ongoing for decades, with Portugal arguing that the territories belonged to Morocco and should be under international control. Spain, on the other hand, argued that the enclaves were historically and culturally tied to Spain and should remain under Spanish control. The dispute was complicated by the fact that the enclaves were located in Africa, far from the mainland of either country.
In the early 1940s, tensions between Spain and Portugal over the enclaves reached a boiling point. Franco was eager to assert Spanish control over the territories, while Salazar was determined to resist any attempts at Spanish expansionism. Some reports suggest that Franco drew up plans for an invasion of Portugal in 1940, with the goal of securing control of the disputed territories and possibly even annexing Portugal itself.
The Potential Invasion
While there is no definitive evidence that Franco was serious about invading Portugal, the idea of a Spanish invasion was a source of great concern for the Portuguese government. Portugal was a much smaller and less militarily powerful country than Spain, and a Spanish invasion would likely have been successful. Salazar was keen to avoid a war with Spain and made several attempts to resolve the dispute peacefully.
One of the key reasons why Franco may have been interested in invading Portugal was his desire to consolidate his power and assert his authority over the region. Franco saw himself as a champion of traditional Spanish values, such as Catholicism and the monarchy, and he may have viewed the expansion of Spanish territory and influence as a way to reinforce these values. In addition, Franco may have seen an invasion of Portugal as a way to distract from domestic problems and unite the Spanish people behind him.
However, there are also arguments that Franco’s interest in invading Portugal was overstated or even fabricated. Some historians argue that Franco was more interested in using the threat of invasion as a bargaining chip to pressure Salazar into making concessions over the disputed territories. Others suggest that the reports of a planned invasion were exaggerated or even false.
The relations between Germany and Spain
Germany had interests in Gibraltar, which belonged to the English, in order to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
As a counterpart, the Germans would give Spain the French territories in North Africa, facilitating Franco’s desired empire. However, the predictable retaliation from the English made Franco back down, as it would open the door to the invasion of the Canary Islands and Portugal would serve as a British base for attacks.
The plan to invade Portugal To prevent the English attack from affecting Spain as well, Franco’s plan to invade Portugal was well-detailed. The high Spanish commands were involved in it.
In 1939, Portugal and Spain signed a Pact of Friendship and Non-Aggression, as Salazar had supported Franco during the Spanish Civil War. Nevertheless, the Spanish regime agreed to the invasion of the neighboring country.
Militarily, the plan was not complex, but there is a distance between theory and practice.
The plan to invade Portugal
The conclusion of the plan The objective of the plan was to control the extensive Portuguese coast and was ready by the end of 1940.
The first step consisted of presenting an ultimatum to Portugal, to which it could not respond. Thus, the invasion of Spain would be “legitimized”.
The document of the time said: “the delicate situation of Portugal in relation to an international conflict in which England intervenes, the scarce potential of the neighboring country, and above all, the attractiveness of its coasts, may lead England to try to occupy the naval bases of this territory.” It added: “I have decided to prepare the invasion of Portugal, with the aim of occupying Lisbon and the rest of the Portuguese coast.”
The ongoing Spanish invasion The dice were cast for the Spanish invasion of our country, with the aim of ensuring that Spain was stronger for the confrontation with the English.
Thus, the occupation of Portugal should be quick and happen in a surprising way. Then, force would be used. When the occupation of our country was completed, it was enough to protect the Atlantic front from the English.
Indeed, the planned invasion of Portugal by Spain in 1940 was a massive military operation, with a significant number of troops and resources allocated to the task. The Spanish military was set to deploy ten divisions of infantry, one cavalry division, four tank regiments, eight cavalry reconnaissance groups, and eight mixed infantry regiments. Additionally, the Spanish air force was ready to support the invasion with five groups of bombers, fighter planes, and assault groups.
The total number of troops involved in the planned invasion was estimated to be around 250,000 men, almost double the size of the Portuguese army at that time. The Spanish military planned to attack Portugal from the north to the south of the Tejo River, with a superior number of troops and resources, ensuring the success of the operation.
However, the invasion never took place, as Franco eventually backed down due to the potential consequences of British retaliation, as they could attack the Canaries and use Portugal as a base for their military operations. Moreover, Portugal had a strong relationship with Britain, which could also lead to international isolation for Spain. Thus, the plan was never executed, and the two countries remained at peace with each other.
Indeed, speed and surprise were key elements of the Spanish plan for invading Portugal. The invasion would take place on two fronts, with one group of soldiers advancing from the north and the other from the east. The northern group would move from Ciudad Rodrigo towards Guarda and then southwards towards Coimbra and Lisbon. Meanwhile, the eastern group would advance from Elvas towards Évora and Setúbal, aiming to reach Lisbon from the south.
This strategy would allow the Spanish army to quickly divide Portugal into three regions and seize control of its main cities, including Lisbon, which was considered a crucial objective. The use of German bombers was also seen as a crucial advantage, as they could help to neutralize any Portuguese or British air force presence.
However, the success of the invasion was far from certain, as the Portuguese army was better prepared and equipped than the Spanish believed. In addition, Portugal had a strong defensive position due to its rugged terrain, which would make it difficult for the Spanish to advance quickly. Ultimately, the invasion never took place, as Franco decided to abandon the plan due to fears of retaliation from the British and the potential loss of Spanish territory in the Canary Islands.
However, this plan for the Spanish invasion never came to fruition, remaining stored in the archives of the Francisco Franco Foundation for over half a century. As neither of the Iberian countries took part in World War II, it is unknown what path history could have taken if this plan had been carried out.
Would Portugal have come under Spanish rule? Would it have been able to regain its independence?…
What is certain is that this was not just Franco’s desire. One of his ministers, Serrano Súñer, contacted Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi Germany’s foreign minister, in order to share Spain’s desire to dominate the entire Iberian Peninsula. As his words prove:
“Looking at the map of Europe, and geographically speaking, Portugal did not really have a reason to exist. It only had a moral and political justification for its independence due to its almost 800 years of existence.”
Conclusion
The potential invasion of Portugal by Franco in 1940 remains a fascinating and complex topic. While there is still some debate over the extent of Franco’s interest in invading Portugal, it is clear that the tensions between the two countries over the disputed territories of Ceuta and Melilla were a significant factor. The idea of a Spanish invasion was a source of great concern for the Portuguese government, and Salazar was keen to avoid a war with Spain. Ultimately, the dispute was resolved peacefully, and Portugal retained control of its territories.
* Expert in international relations, such as foreign policy, international trade, domestic security, international security, developing nations, and domestic security, intelligence, and military.