Brazilians in Europe
Brazil officially declared war on the Axis powers August 22, 1942. Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha had played a key role in helping Pan-Am build the Natal air base in 1940, organized a conference of foreign ministers at Rio de Janeiro in January 1942 to pledge solidarity (except Argentina and Chile) with the United States against the Axis. Brazil raised an expeditionary force of 25,000 to be sent to Europe. To the members of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, the mission to Italy was a landmark occasion, as it was to the Brazilian media and populous. The FEB was dispatched to Naples on July of 1944, and were meant to be part of the liberating forces. Upon arrival, however, the FEB was considerably under equipped, and "marching unarmed and in olive green uniforms they were mistaken for Nazi prisoners." After traveling from Brazil to Italy in a ship, terrified of submarine attacks, and consuming a foreign atmosphere, the first Latin American troops to fight in Europe received "hardly a heroic" reception. The FEB's September mission on the Serchio River proved to be successful, and they advanced against the retreating German forces. Although the Germans were retreating, "actual contacts were slight," and when they did occur the FEB was successful in assuming the Germans position "only after [they] withdrew." Ultimately the FEB was not properly trained for heavy fighting, and American commanders considered them to be expendable assets. 

The filmHit 'Em Hard!, directed by Erik de Castro, depicts the story of the Brazilian fighter squadron in World War II. The squadron was responsible for flying P-47's into Italy. Hit 'Em Hard consists of interviews with former FEB soldiers, and is considered anecdotal rather than documentary.