Talk:Neutral Powers

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This article seems to be full of errors.

1) Portugal was a participant in WWI, it did not militarily contribute to WWII. On the other hand it did offer basing rights to the Allies on some Atlantic islands. It should be noted that the Portuguese territory of East Timor was first occupied by the Allies (Australian troops in 1941), then by the Axis (Japanese invasion). Iirc Macau was also occupied by the Japanese.

2) Spain sent a volunteer division (250th Infantry Division, also known as the Blue Division or Division Azul, the division was disbanded on October 10 1943 (but a Spanish Legion remained in German service)) under German command to fight against the Soviet Union in WWII. Iirc Spain also granted the Allies basing rights late in the war.

3) Sweden while nominally neutral sent volunteers to fight in Finland (during the Winter War against the Soviet Union) and probably Norway (volunteers for Finland caught in Norway during the German invasion). This does not constitute Swedish troops fighting for the Allies (as the 1940 episode was very brief). On the other hand Sweden permitted German troop passage across their territory (to Finland and possibly occupied Norway) on several occasions. It should also be noted that there were also German plans to invade Sweden later in the war.

4) Switzerland, by interning troops of both sides violating their borders was acting exactly as a neutral nation should. This also includes shooting down aircraft violating their neutrality and that would not land when ordered to do so. So these events can't be considered a violation of swiss neutrality. On the other hand, Switzerland permitted passage of German trains transporting prisoners from Italy to German Concentration Camps. Though that was probably not a violation of Swiss neutrality.

Of course in addition to the above both Switzerland and Sweden made arms sales to both sides, but again that's not a violation of neutrality either.

In short this article as it currently stands is problematic and I'm not sure it's even needed. The choice not to include those neutrals that were invaded (Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Greece (I probably missed some)) by Germany is also problematic. Persia, occupied by Britain and the Soviet Union would probably also have to be listed. Yugoslavia would be another question as it was originally a non-belligerent ally (so not neutral) of Germany which was finally invaded by Germany.--Caranorn 11:48, 12 April 2007 (UTC)


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[edit] I am not sure what you are refering to as errors

Mostof the information that you mentioned above I already knew. As per your first point, yes Portugal was 'militarily' involved, but with voluntary forces. This was as a means of fulfilling the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and the Treaty of Windsor, in addition to "loaning" the bases in the Azores. Your information on Spain I had not previously known as I do not study Spanish history. I knew about the Swedish information (point 3), as well as the information on Switzerland (point 4).

This article is NEEDED It fulfills a sector of history that has not been previously discussed on WIKIPEDIA. This is something which should be noted because it is ALWAYS left out of articles on World War II. It is frequently overlooked and this article is vital for people to have a true understanding about Europe during Wold War II, because while their was fighting in Germany, Russia, France, Italy, etc., etc.... people were fleeing to the neutral countries to escape persecussion. Furthermore, these four countries were indeed powers at the time. Portugal and Spain had their colonies, Switzerland had its banking system and Sweden remained the last natio in the north to truely remian independent. Whatsmore, in Lisbon, both Allied and Axis diplomates meet to negoiate terms during the war and it was the priemier location for spies on both sides. Finally, all four nation had inout into World War II because of their place as NEUTRAL COUNTRIES, etc., etc. (I could go on some more).


In response to "(Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Greece (I probably missed some)) by Germany is also problematic. Persia, occupied by Britain and the Soviet Union, would probably also have to be listed. Yugoslavia would be another question as it was originally a non-belligerent ally (so not neutral) of Germany which was finally invaded by Germany.-Caranorn 11:48, 12 April 2007 (UTC)"


...I say as follows:

  • Yugoslavia was allied with Germany... therefore it was not "neutral" even if it was truely non-belligerent.
  • Denmark was neutral. It was over looked by me. Good point. I'll add it.
  • Norway was neutral. It was over looked by me. Good point. I'll add it.
  • Luxenbourg was neutral. It was over looked by me. Good point. I'll add it.
  • Belgium was neutral at first. I am not sure if it held that posistion throughout. Accordingly, "Belgium joined the Allies and

___maintained a government-in-exile with control over its colonial possessions until the country was liberated in 1944."

  • Netherlands was neutral at first. THe position may have changed later. "The Dutch joined the Allies and contributed

___their surviving naval and armed forces to the defense of East Asia, in particular the Netherlands East Indies. Until their ___liberation in 1945, the Dutch fought alongside the Allies around the globe, from the battles in the Pacific to the Battle ___of Britain. On the island of Aruba (Netherlands West Indies) a large oil-refinery was of major importance for the war- ___effort in Europe, especially after D-day. As protection a considerable US military force was stationed on the island."

  • Greece was definately not neutral.
  • Persia is doubful. It will require some research.
  • Yugoslavia was not neutral. It was an ally nonetheless and therefore not neutral.

I am going to see if minor countries like Andora, Monaco, etc. were neutral during the war.



Denmark--- Denmark remained neutral from the outbreak of the war. It was invaded and occupied by Germany on April 9, 1940 as part of Operation Weserübung, surrendering after a few hours of fighting and never declaring war on the Germans. The Danish government remained in office in Copenhagen until 1943 and signed the Anti-Comintern Pact. On August 29, 1943 the government handed in its resignation to the King as a response to German demands for more concessions. The country was now administered by the German Foreign Ministry[citation needed] and each Permanent Secretary took control of his own ministry. On May 10, 1940, the British occupied Iceland and shortly after that the Faroe Islands. The United States occupied Greenland, a position later supported by the Danish envoy in Washington, Henrik Kauffmann. Iceland, which was later not transferred from British to American control, declared its independence in 1944. On May 4, 1945, the German forces in Denmark surrendered to the British army. Since the German commander on Bornholm refused to surrender to the Soviet Union, two local towns were bombed and the garrison forced to surrender. Bornholm remained under Soviet control until 1946.


Norway---Despite its location, Norway remained neutral until invaded by Germany on April 9, 1940 as part of Operation Weserübung. The Norwegian government fled the capital and after two months fighting went to Britain and continued the fight in exile.

Luxenbourg---When Germany invaded France by way of the Low Countries in the spring of 1940, Luxembourg, despite its neutrality, was quickly invaded, and occupied having put up no resistance and immediately surrendered. The Luxembourgeois government never declared war on the Axis, and Luxembourg was effectively annexed by Germany. Luxembourg remained under German control until liberated by the Allies at the end of 1944.

First of all, please sign your posts, that makes these postings much easier.
For the rest, a neutral country that is aggressed obviously becomes a belligerent, this was not only the case for Belgium or the Netherlands but also for Norway and Luxembourg (all of these had exile governments in Britain or the US, all fielded forces to the Allied cause). Concerning Greece, I'm not certain they'd ever formally declared neutrality, but they certainly did not join the Allies of their own accord. Concerning Portuguese volunteers, could you give me some information with which units they were serving? I certainly ain't aware of Portuguese volunteer units, though obviously individual volunteers could have served in British units.
Lastly, of course you can use any of the material I listed in the article. But I'd recommend trying to find a reference for any that might be questioned as I only cited that information from memory. One major exception, you can source the Spanish Division Azul material to Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS 1939-1945, Georg Tessin, volume 8.--Caranorn 11:17, 16 April 2007 (UTC)


--EricSRodrigues154 08:00, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] More Additions to come

I will be adding information about how all these countries were neutral in the coming days. --EricSRodrigues154 08:37, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Still full of errors

Why on earth are Ireland and Norway minor countries? And what about those states that were neutral for some of the war and not for others (i.e. a great many of them)? And how is the phrase "Neutral Powers" not original research? And none of the points raised above, initially have been satisfactorily answered. Slac speak up! 09:52, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Coat of arms

The flags and coats of arms are anachronistic. --84.20.17.84 14:04, 10 May 2007 (UTC)