1 LATIN AMERICA V3.0 AT WAR A Global War 1936-45 v3 Expansion by Will Henson & Stewart Brewer INTRODUCTION Welcome to Latin America at War (LAW), a Global War 1936-1945 v3 expansion. This expansion increases your options for bringing World War II to Latin America. Before the War, many countries in Latin America had immigrant populations from Germany, Italy and even Japan. Although the United States was the undisputed leader in hemispheric affairs, pro-Axis and pro-Communist sentiments fed rivalries in Latin America that threatened to bring the War closer to the region. This expansion is based on actual historical facts, but also includes some ahistorical liberties in order to bring the Latin American region more fully into the game. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In 1938 the U.S. began to pressure Latin American governments to scale back their ties to Axis countries because of the potential threat they posed for continued world peace. But not all of the countries of Latin America were convinced that they should completely sever their economic and political relationships with the Axis Powers. Many countries in Central and South America had strong economic connections with Germany, Italy and Japan. In addition, concepts of fascism and Nazism had a certain appeal to Latin American political leaders who saw fascism and its militant form of nationalism as economically stimulating, politically strengthening, and nationally unifying. In September of 1939, the U.S. declared neutrality in the escalating European and Asian conflicts. But the U.S. became more apprehensive about Axis designs on Latin America. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the Pan-American Security Zone which was designed to keep hostilities out of the Western Copyright © 2020 Historical Board Gaming 2 Hemisphere. The U.S. was concerned that Germany might attempt aggressive clandestine activities in Latin American countries as a way of strengthening its position in the war. These concerns spanned every contingency from full-scale invasion, to sabotage and terrorism, to secret communication and transportation facilities. But when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, everything changed. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The U.S. declared war on Japan the next day, with declarations on Germany and Italy three days later. Cuba, and the nations of Central America, joined the War on the U.S. side immediately. Mexico declared war on all of the Axis Powers in May of 1942. But the nations of South America were slower to follow suit. Brazil declared war in August of 1942, and Bolivia and Chile both broke off diplomatic relations in 1943. At the end of 1944 and during the early months of 1945, many of the remaining Latin American countries finally decided to enter the War; although their motives were likely more political than anything else. In February of 1945, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela all declared war on the Axis Powers. In March, Argentina finally declared war as well. Argentina had been particularly conflicted about this decision because significant portions of the Argentine population were first-generation Germans and Italians who had not yet given up their first languages. Many of them felt a great kinship with their European countrymen, and felt loyalty to Mussolini and Hitler. In April of 1945, Chile declared war on Japan, just days before the German surrender in May. In June, Brazil declared war on Japan just a couple of months before the Japanese surrender after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two South American nations avoided direct declarations of war; both Columbia and Peru declared belligerency status against Axis powers but neither actually declared war. Though almost every nation in the Western Hemisphere declared war on some or all of the Axis Powers, very few actually entered combat. Most wartime Latin American nations contributed in either economic or political ways to the U.S. and U.K. war efforts. The Allies used land in the Caribbean, Central America and Brazil for landing strips and docks. Nevertheless, several Latin American countries suffered direct attacks by Axis military units. German U-boats destroyed hundreds of ships belonging to various Latin American nations in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. Brazil and Mexico were the most influential Latin American nations in the War. They were the only countries in Latin America that dedicated troops to actual combat. Brazil sent an infantry division to Italy in July of 1944 which exceeded 25,000 men. Brazil also provided a base for U.S. PBYs patrolling the Atlantic gap. Similarly, Mexico committed troops to combat, including around 300 Mexican pilots of the 201st Squadron sent to the Pacific Theater, where they participated in bombing raids on Taiwan and the Philippine Islands in 1945. For more information see HERE. Copyright © 2020 Historical Board Gaming 3 Recommended Parts List and Colors: Brazil (Light Green) Mexico (Yellow-Green) Neutral Forces (White) 3 Infantry 1 Infantry 4 Militia 1 Militia 1 Cavalry 3 Infantry 1 Fighter 1 Fighter 1 Cavalry 1 TBD 1 Light Cruiser 1 Fighter 1 Coastal Defense Ship 1 TBD Peru (Ivory) Argentina (Light Grey) 1 Infantry Other Pieces 3 Infantry 1 Artillery 6 Pro-Axis Markers 1 Militia 1 Light Tank 6 Pro-Allies Markers 1 Fighter 1 TBD 4 Soviet Coup Markers 1 TBD 6 Neutral Markers 1 Battleship Ecuador (Yellow) 2 Air Base Markers 1 Infantry 6 Spy Markers Chile (Light Blue) 1 Militia 2 Submarine Base Marker 2 Infantry 4 Radio Towers (3D Printed) 1 Militia 1 Artillery 1 Destroyer 1 Coastal Defense Ship 1 Coastal Submarine 1.0 LATIN AMERICAN INFLUENCE 1.1 Influence: Germany, the U.S. and the USSR have the ability to influence nations in Latin America. Nations in Latin America are categorized as being “Pro-Allied”, “Pro-Axis”, or “Neutral”. Nations do not need to be at war with a Major Power in order to influence countries in Latin America. 1.1a Germany: Germany may spend up to 3 IPP per turn to influence a Pro-Axis or Neutral nation. The German player rolls a D12: on a result equal to or less than the amount spent, that nation Aligns with Germany. 1.1b United States: The U.S. may spend up to 3 IPP per turn to influence a Pro-Allied or Neutral Nation. The U.S. player rolls a TABLE LAW-1 D12: on a result equal to or less than the amount spent, that nation Aligns with the PRO-AXIS PRO-ALLIED NEUTRAL United States. Argentina (Germany) Brazil (U.S.) Bolivia 1.1c Soviet Union: The USSR may spend 1 IPP Chile (Germany) Central America (U.S.) Colombia per turn to influence any nation in Latin Peru (Germany) Cuba (U.S.) Paraguay America. The USSR player then rolls a D12: Mexico (U.S.) Venezuela on a result of “1”, that nation Aligns with Ecuador (U.S.) Uruguay the USSR. The USSR can influence Pro-Axis, Pro-Allied, and Neutral nations. Copyright © 2020 Historical Board Gaming 4 2.0 ALTERNATIVE SET-UP RULES Replace the set-up from the Neutral Reference Sheets with the following set-up. Note: the set-up for Panama remains the same as shown in the U.S. Reference Sheet. TABLE LAW-2 (Recommended Colors) NATION/SEA ZONE 1936 ADDITIONS Argentina (Buenos Aires) 1 Infantry January 1939: Add 1 Infantry if neutral (Light Grey) 1 Fighter January 1941: Add 1 Infantry if neutral January 1943: Add 1 Infantry if neutral Argentina (Patagonia) 1 Militia Argentina (SZ 112) 1 Battleship 1 TBD Bolivia 1 Militia (White) 1 Cavalry Brazil (Caatinga) 1 Militia (Light Green) 1 Air Base Brazil (Rio De Janeiro) 1 Infantry January 1941: Add 1 Infantry if neutral 1 Fighter January 1943: Add 1 Infantry if neutral 1 Air Base Brazil (SZ 107) 1 Coastal Defense Ship 1 TBD Central America (White) 1 Infantry Chile 1 Militia January 1941: Add 1 Infantry if neutral (Light Blue) 1 Artillery Chile (SZ 111) 1 Coastal Defense Ship 1 Destroyer 1 Coastal Submarine Colombia (White) 1 Infantry Colombia (SZ 103) 1 TBD Cuba (White) 1 Infantry 1 Fighter Mexico (Eastern Mexico) 1 Infantry (Yellow-Green) 1 Cavalry 1 Fighter Eastern Mexico (SZ 71) 1 Light Cruiser Ecuador 1 Infantry (Yellow) 1 Militia Paraguay (White) 1 Militia Peru 1 Infantry (Ivory) 1 Artillery 1 Light Armor Peru (SZ 106) 1 TBD Uruguay (White) 1 Militia Venezuela (White) 1 Militia January 1941: Add 1 Infantry if neutral Copyright © 2020 Historical Board Gaming 5 3.0 RANDOM EVENTS TABLE At the start of each calendar year (before the German player begins his turn), roll a D12 and implement the result on the random events table below (Table LAW-3.1). TABLE LAW-3.1 D12 ROLL EVENT 1. Allied Coup A coup pushes one Latin American nation further into the Allied camp. If that nation is Pro-Allied it aligns with the U.S. If the Latin American nation is Neutral it becomes Pro-Allied. If it is Pro-Axis it becomes Neutral. (See Table LAW-3.2) 2. Axis Coup A coup pushes one Latin American nation further into the Axis camp. If that nation is Pro-Axis it aligns with Germany. If the Latin American nation is Neutral it becomes Pro-Axis. If it is Pro-Allied it becomes Neutral. (See Table LAW-3.2) 3. Soviet Coup A coup pushes one Latin American nation towards Soviet-style communism. Soviet influence expands in this nation such that they can spend up to 3 IPP on influence. (See Table LAW-3.2) 4. Argentine Base Place a submarine base in Buenos Aires or Patagonia. That base may be used by German submarines as long as Argentina is Neutral or Axis-Aligned (if it is not, remove the base).