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Ok, here is the 2nd part of the article, I hope you enjoy it. I have included information about uniforms and equipment, since I am also a collector. I have a few dog tags that I will send photos of. See period & equipment photos in my site:
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<BR>There are many versions that surround the creation of the pipe smoking snake patch that was used by members of the Brazilian 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division in Italy in 1944-45. Dozens of veterans claim to have witnessed several different episodes which inspired the motif, during the training periods while still in Brazil. But there are other stories which are supposed to have been the inspiration for the creation of the design, the credibility of which is always questionable.
<BR> One of the most plausible was the fifth columnist quote that it was “easier to see a snake smoking a pipe than a Brazilian soldier in the battlefields”. A further development of this version had it that it was Hitler himself that said the sentence in first place. Other veterans affirmed that the idea originated from the similitude with a snake of a mean sergeant that was constantly puffing his pipe in the training stages. It is probably useless to try to establish which one of the versions is correct or at least closer to the truth. Myth and popular tales apart, the expression “the snake is going to smoke” (a liberal translation could be “the going is gonna get rough”) even to this day has remained a synonym for a brawl or a firefight.
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<BR>The Brazilian Expeditionary Force 1944-45
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<BR>Introduction
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<BR>It is little known that Brazil was an active theatre of operations as well as a first hand participant in the Second World War. A close co-operation between the largest South American nation and the United States was the result of a carefully engendered plan of safeguarding strategic air and sea bases for the defence of the South Atlantic and the supply of armies fighting in North Africa via the massive air base complex in northern Brazil. The country’s vast natural and mineral resources were paramount in the supply of raw materials for the Allied war effort.
<BR>The Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian Air Force were side by side with the Allied forces in the battle against Axis submarines.
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<BR>Brazil’s involvement in the Second World War was intensified after the repeated sinking of Navy and Merchant Marine vessels along its shores. Brazil broke relations with Germany and Italy in 1942, and by August it had declared war on the two attacker nations. The organisation of the expeditionary corps was an attempt at the modernisation of the Brazilian Army, a reprisal measure for the attacks against the coastal navigation and a manifestation of the country’s desire to play a more significant role in the post war international scenario.
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<BR>This publication will concern itself only with the Brazilian Army expeditionary units. Other aspects of Brazil’s participation in the war include a fighter squadron that was subordinated to the 350th Fighter Group, and the Navy and Air Force patrolling of the coasts.
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<BR>The Brazilian Army
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<BR>Since 1930 had been under the rule of Getúlio Vargas, and from 1937 on under an authoritarian regime. One of the major concerns of the Vargas government was to turn the Brazilian Army into a modern fighting force. An opportunity materialised with the aid agreements with the United States.
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<BR>From the 1920s, the army had been trained by a French military mission. Doctrine, training and organisation followed French standards. European influences were reflected in the appearance of the troops.
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<BR>In order to better integrate the Brazilian Expeditionary Force within the Allied armies, the Brazilian Army staff decided to adopt the US Army doctrine. The initial plan consisted of sending three infantry and one armoured division, but eventually only one reinforced infantry division was shipped to Europe.
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<BR>All American field and technical manuals were translated and printed in Brazil in 1944 and 1945. The doctrinal change was to be carried out in a relatively short time span, and in practice the total absorption of the newer tactical concepts and operational was only consolidated after engagement in combat.
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<BR>The Brazilian Expeditionary Force
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<BR>A series of complicate matters surround the organisation of the FEB (Força Expedicionária Brasileira – Brazilian Expeditionary Force). A number of Brazilian Army officers openly sympathised with Germany. Some high ranking officials even hampered initial arrangements with the American delegation. There was however a strong desire that Brazil must participate directly in combat operations, and the democratic minded members of Vargas cabinet turned the balance toward active co-operation with the Allies. The sending of the FEB also faced resistance from the British and American staffs. It was argued that the addition of yet another nationality alongside Allied armies would cause more supply, training and equipment allocation difficulties. There was also the risk of endangering foreign relations with Brazil in the case of unsuccessful employment in the front and large numbers of casualties, which could put the US and Britain in a delicate situation concerning their post war relations with Brazil and other South American nations, since the FEB could be viewed not as a free willing fighting force, but as a pawn in the hands of the great world powers, a hypothesis advanced by some of the country’s extremely nationalist activists.
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<BR>The FEB was however an expression of Brazil’s will to take part in the war. The idea of constituting a fighting force to be sent overseas was an initiative of pro-Allied members of the Brazilian Government, but the Axis propaganda efforts managed to explore with some success the notion that Brazilians were to be used as cannon fodder in order to defend interests that were alien to their country.
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<BR>Brazil was building up its military strength since the declaration of war. From 1942, all discharges were called off. More and more reservists and recruits were incorporated in the armed forces.
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<BR>The FEB was mainly composed of conscripts and reservists. The majority of junior officers and non-commissioned officers were civilians which had been hastily drafted. The ill will that involved the preparation of the expedition by a number of pro-German officers clearly restrained adequate organisation and training.
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<BR>Three infantry regiments from different military commands were chosen to form the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division. These three units had been formed in the French doctrine, and their strengths had to be increased to meet US tables of organisation. 50% of the equipment and weapons needed to train an infantry division were sent to Brazil, with a small number of Portuguese speaking US advisors. The bulk of equipment and weapons was only delivered during the final training stages after the troops had arrived in Italy.
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<BR>Most recruits had come from rural and labour backgrounds. They had been called up mainly from the south and Southwest areas of Brazil, and were aged in average from 18 to 26 years old.
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<BR>Interestingly, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force was the only unit of the war which was fully integrated in ethnic terms. This is not to be understood as a declaration of the non-existence of racism in the Brazilian society. Evidence points to show that a large amount of recruits of European origin were deliberately included in the expeditionary corps to pass the idea that Brazil was a predominantly “white” nation, since the ideals of racial purity permeated the ideological environment of Vargas quasi-fascist state.
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<BR>Anyway, in practice the diversity of Brazil was well represented in the FEB, for better or for worse. For instance, there were a number of medicine doctors that had been called up to serve in the expeditionary force not as part of the medic service but as infantry officers. It is hard to know if this was due to simple incompetence of the military authorities or if it was done on purpose by the Axis sympathisers that had had an influence at some point of the organisation period. The situation was not reversed and the doctors fought as infantrymen to the end of the hostilities in Italy.
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<BR>The non divisional units included a replacement depot, postal, banking and supply services. This added to a total of 25.445 Brazilian soldiers in Italy, which to some measure helped to compensate for the numbers of men the 5th Army had lost with the divisions diverted towards southern France and acute battle casualties.
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<BR>The FEB in combat
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<BR>The first Brazilian unit to arrive in Italy was the 6th Infantry Regiment from São Paulo. It was first committed in the Gothic Line sector of the Arno River on 15 September 1944, then proceeding to the Sercchio Valley were it met stiff German and Italian resistance. The 6th Regiment did well until one of its battalions was beat off during a counter attack by a reinforced German regiment with units of the 148 Infanterie Division, 42 Jäger Division and Monterosa Alpine Division in the Sommocolonia area, on 31 October 1944.
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<BR>The remaining two regiments had disembarked in Italy by early October, and after brief training complementation the Brazilians were sent as a full division to the Northern Apennines front.
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<BR>There was no time for division level training tactical exercises, which had not been conducted in Brazil. The 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division joined the IV US Corps in the efforts to break into the Po Valley before the end of 1944. The division had not been prepared to meet harsh climatic conditions such as those of northern Italy during the winter, nor it had training to face combat in mountainous areas.
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<BR>The main area of engagement of the Brazilian troops during the winter was the Reno Valley between the cities of Porretta Terme and Vergato. The Brazilians attacked the hill mass around Mounts Belvedere and Castello for five times before the end of 1944, in support of 5th Army’s plan to reach Bologna. The French doctrine of frontal assault at any price still pervaded the tactical mentality of the division staff, which cost several lives in repeated failed frontal attacks.
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<BR>There was a decrease in large operations after the front line came to a stalemate given the unfavourable weather conditions. It was a time for battle patrols and night surveillance of the lines. Official histories tend to consider that calm periods are of little importance to the development of major operations, but the front-line soldiers see it the other way. The winter offered the Brazilians an opportunity to acquire combat experience in small unit action. Enemy positions were often not farther than 50 or 80 yards apart, and the lack of instruction in their homeland was compensated with on the job training close combat engagements.
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<BR>Most Brazilian soldiers had never seen snow in their lives, or had been submitted to subzero temperatures. The infantry companies remained in the lines without relief for the duration of the winter. They had to learn how to fight the German Army as well as to live in an unknown climate and terrain.
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<BR>By January 1945, the US 10th Mountain Division had arrived in the theatre of operations, after three years of training for mountain fighting. The unit was given the task of taking Mount Belvedere, in a co-ordinated plan that put the Brazilians flanking the American unit. By February 1945 the Brazilians, whose main goal in Operation Encore was Monte Castello, had obtained the experience necessary to perform adequately in larger operations, and the division achieved all of its designated objectives, managing to withstand the brunt of the counter attack aimed at dislodging the Americans from the positions they had recently conquered from the German 232 Infanterie Division.
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<BR>In March 1945 new attacks were executed to gain foothold of the elevations that would become the base line for the upcoming assaults of the spring offensive. The Brazilians were assigned with attacking Montese and neighboring hills, and the fighting extended from the early hours of 14 to 18 April 1945. Montese was defended by the 114 Jäger Division with an amalgamate of stragglers from other units that included Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe personnel. Although the German units in Italy were poorly supplied and depleted, they refused to give in easily. The later combat actions were the most costly in human lives, but by the late afternoon of 14 April the Brazilians had secured their main objective for the first day of the Spring Offensive.
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<BR>The division then moved forward with the 5th Army across the Po Valley, were it cut off and isolated the 148 German and the Italia Bersaglieri divisions, preventing them from escaping further to the north but not without suffering more casualties from skirmishes with enemy rearguards and the vanguard of the 148 Division and elements of the 90 Panzergrenadier divisions that were trying to break off the trap set up by the 5th Army.
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<BR>After the end of hostilities, the FEB remained for a brief period carrying out occupation duties, and the last Brazilian soldier had left Italy by October 1945.
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<BR>465 Brazilians perished in Italy, and a few dozens are listed as missing. The total number of soldiers killed due to combat injuries will never be known seeing as the veterans lacked appropriate assistance after their return to civilian lives, many having died as a result of war wounds without any kind of governmental treatment. The official number of wounded in action was settled at 1.577.
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<BR>Uniforms and Equipment
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<BR>Brazilian Army uniforms were largely inspired by German, British and French designs. Field equipment such as mess tins, entrenching tools and canteens were literally identical to those in use with the Wehrmacht.
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<BR>Headgear consisted of side caps, peaked caps and a pith helmet. Other ranks were issued only one pattern of uniform, that was to be used for combat, walking out and training. The Brazilian Army had always tended to be very sparing when it came to the issuing of any kind of material to the troops.
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<BR>Seeing as the general appearance of the peacetime Brazilian soldier was uneven with the look of most Allied armies, it was decided by the commission in charge with the arrangements to put the expeditionary force together to drop all kinds of then current issue equipment in Brazil in favour of a set of equipment and uniforms which was to be newly developed exclusively for the FEB. While the US was to be responsible for the provision of weapons, vehicles and signals equipment, that were paid for in a number of instalments after the war, Brazil would have to provide all uniforms, tents, field gear and identification tags for its soldiers.
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<BR>Field Equipment
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<BR>The same decided about web gear. The Brazilian Expeditionary Force was issued with what was to become known to the present day in Brazil as “NA” equipment. (standing for “Norte-Americano”). As indicated by its name, Brazil tried to copy the existing models of US field gear and produce it locally to the best of its ability.
<BR>The following items of the web gear equipment were manufactured for the FEB, according to a bill of materials that was published in 1944:
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<BR>-First aid pouch;
<BR>-M 36 Musette bag;
<BR>-Carbine ammo pouch;
<BR>-Rifle ammo belt;
<BR>-BAR ammo belt ( made in small numbers);
<BR>-Pistol belt;
<BR>-Canteen and cup pouch;
<BR>-Haversack complete;
<BR>-Pistol ammo pouch;
<BR>-Pistol holster;
<BR>-Revolver holster;
<BR>-M 36 suspenders.
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<BR>As far as design and components of the pieces go, Brazilian web gear was identical to the US equipment of the beginning of the war. The exceptions were the buckles for the pistol, rifle and automatic rifle belts, which were based on the British web belt buckles. The grommets of the belts were also slightly larger than those found in US examples, and the weave of the canvas was somewhat rougher. Instead of the US block letters, Brazilian gear had the block inscription BRASIL printed on the produced items. Collectors should avoid any other script on purportedly original Brazilian web gear items. Items of identical design to those produced for the FEB were produced for the Brazilian Army well into the 70s, and they are commonly passed off as vintage FEB collectibles.
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<BR>Water bottles had cork stoppers in place of screw caps, and were covered in green felt. Other parts of the mess equipment such as mess kits were exact replications of the US models, but these had EUB stamped instead of the dates and manufacturer marks.
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<BR>Officers’ Uniforms
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<BR>Every officer was issued three different sets of uniforms: the summer and winter walking out uniforms, and summer and winter combat uniforms.
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<BR>The summer walking out uniform tunic was the only item of normal issue with the Brazilian Army that was deemed to be adequate for the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. The tunic was old fashioned in comparison to other western armies, it in fact resembled from a distance the reed green tunic of the German Army. This caused the first echelon of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force to be booed by the Neapolitan citizens as all Brazilians disembarked unarmed and were mistaken for German POWs. This needless vexation caused this type of uniform to be progressively discarded.
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<BR>The winter walking out uniform, which was more smartly cut and made from a finer material, was preferred in some instances.
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<BR>The combat winter uniform consisted of a field grey wool tunic and trousers. In spite of a preliminary commission of observers that was sent to Europe in order to gather information to produce satisfactory uniforms for the FEB, their suggestion do not seem to have taken into account. The field grey chosen was a dead match to the colour of late war German feldgrau. Colour was not the only problem, given the cut of the officer’s tunic which was nearly indistinguishable from later designs of German field blouses.
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<BR>Eventually, the everyday practice of wearing the combat uniforms that were in better condition as walking out uniforms replaced the other types of clothing available.
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<BR>Other Ranks’ Uniforms
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<BR>Members of the expeditionary force received a walking out uniform made of cheap twill, and winter and summer versions of the combat uniforms. Men attached to maintenance units were also given twill overalls.
<BR>The quality of the uniforms left much to be desired. Not only were they made in greyish/olive shades of green, but they also provided insufficient protection against the winter. Seams came apart easily, and the habit of wearing belts over the waist length tunics projected a silhouette that was dangerously close to the shape of German soldiers. In the heat of combat, this led to erroneous distinctions between friend and foe. After the war an investigation was conducted to find out who had been responsible for the low quality of the uniforms produced.
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<BR>Alterations in Uniforms
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<BR>Practicability was not the unique factor in the habit the Brazilians developed of cutting and adapting their uniform tunics to the shape of Ike jackets and the British battle dress. They also felt very diminished by their initial shoddy appearance which contrasted sharply with the better cloth Allied armies.
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<BR>Supplies of US Uniforms
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<BR>IV Corps reports indicate that the coming of the winter would render the Brazilian division inoperative in case the front-line troops remained uniformed only with what they had brought from Brazil.
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<BR>The 5th Army Quartermaster then provided the Brazilian division with 1.600 pairs of Winter Combat uniforms (which are popularly known as ‘tanker’ jackets and bibs), and 15.000 M 1941 field jackets to make do for the lack of proper winter gear, but also to diminish the close appearance Brazilian uniforms had with those of the Axis.
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<BR>Theatre Made Items
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<BR>A section of the Brazilian Quartermaster based in Leghorn manufactured snow camouflage smocks. Although the snow capes offered no protection against the cold, they helped to blend the soldiers in the snowy landscapes.
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<BR>Another item of clothing produced locally was a side cap made with Brazilian wool tissue that was based in the Italian Army bustina.
<BR>Again, feel free to contact me, it is a pleasure to be posting in a site from a country with such a distinguished participation in WWII. A cobra fuma sempre!
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<BR>Cesar.
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