Republic of Peru
Republic of Peru
Post-War Context
After World War II and the expansion of global blocs, Peru emerged as a key actor in South America. Although the country had maintained a neutralist policy during the first half of the war, the outcome of regional conflicts drew it into greater international involvement.
Political Transformation
In the years after 1945, internal tensions in Peru intensified. The memory of the war against Ecuador and unresolved border disputes led to a militarist and nationalist government, supported by Lima’s urban elite and the army. Under this system, the country sought to reaffirm its role as a regional power.
Alliance with the United States
Peru became one of the founding members of the American Continental Block, an alliance led by the United States along with Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, and Panama. This economic and defensive alliance sought to contain Reich influence in the continent and guarantee U.S. supremacy in the hemisphere.
Thanks to this bloc, Peru received military and economic aid:
- Second-line USAAF aircraft such as P-47 Thunderbolt and B-25 Mitchell.
- Modern ground weapons, including Browning machine guns and light tanks M3/M24.
- Industrialization programs that reinforced its mining economy, vital for copper, silver, and iron production.
Army and Armed Forces
The post-war Peruvian army modernized rapidly with U.S. instructors. Its military doctrine focused on defending the Andes and the Pacific coast, preparing for potential conflicts against communist insurgencies in the region or pressures from the German-fascist bloc.
The Peruvian navy also benefited from the transfer of U.S. destroyers and frigates, modernizing its capacity in the South Pacific.
Internal Situation
Despite modernization, Peru faced intense social tension:
- Peasant guerrillas sympathetic to socialist ideologies began to appear in the highlands.
- Military elites feared communist infiltration from the Communist Republic of China in Manchuria or even from local insurgencies inspired by Slavic resistance against the Reich.
- The government maintained strict control over unions and social movements, reinforcing its authoritarian nature.
Strategic Role
Located on the Pacific coast, Peru was considered by the United States as a key point for naval and air projection into South America and the Pacific. Its ports, especially Callao, became crucial bases for the American Continental Block.
