Best World War II in Chile

Local Recommendations from our My Guide Chile team

During World War II, Chile maintained a position of neutrality for most of the conflict. The country, under the leadership of President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, chose to stay out of the war, although it did provide support to the Allies through the Lend-Lease program. Despite this, there were some internal divisions within Chile regarding the war, with pro-Axis sentiments among certain groups. In 1943, Chile broke its diplomatic relations with the Axis powers and declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy, following the lead of other Latin American countries. Despite not being directly involved in the fighting, World War II had economic repercussions on Chile as trade routes were disrupted and inflation rose. The war also had a cultural impact on Chile, with an influx of European refugees seeking asylum in the country. Overall, World War II had a significant but indirect impact on Chile, shaping its economy and society in the post-war years.