Hidden Threat in The Atlantic horizon

Surveillance, mobilization and passive anti-aircraft defense on the coast of Paraiba and Piaui (1941-1945)

Abstract

The present arcticle proposes to present a comparative study among the forms of surveillance, mobilization and defense conducted at the coastlines of the states of Paraíba and Piauí during the Second World War. This civic-military character mobilization was directly connected with the imminent threat of invasion by Axis airbone and naval forces. This study is justified by the necessity of the insertion of researches about these locations within the defense plan of the Brazilian Northeastern Theatre of Operations, initiated in 1942 and due to its proximity to Recife, Natal and Fortaleza bases. The ways in which surveillance and defense device materialized will be presented, establishing similarities and differences between Paraíba and Piauí. For this purpose, primary sources from newspapers and documents from the Brazilian National Archives were used.