Brazil

**Brazil**, officially the **Republic of the United States of Brazil**, is the largest country in South America. It is ruled by the Brazilian Military Junta, a military government consisting of Isaías de Noronha, Augusto Tasso Fragoso and João de Deus Mena Barreto. Despite its military and political prestige in South America, Brazil is currently undergoing a political crisis since the assassination of Getúlio Vargas, the next destined President, in 1930, with skirmishes being conducted between the Integralists and the Communists.

Brazil is often regarded as the token piece of South America, with both the German Socialist Republic and (depending on election results) the United States of America funding the proxy war for supremacy in the area. While not in a state of civil war, per se, due to the vigilant management of the junta, Brazil is only moments away from igniting and deciding its future for good.

## History of the Junta

The events occurring before 1930, for the sake of the RP, is largely irrelevant; the main importance for a Brazil gameplay starts with 1930.

### The Shot Heard Around Brazil

The main point of divergence in this timeline's Brazil comes in 1930. With the election between Júlio Prestes and Getúlio Vargas being declared fraudulent, Generals Isaías de Noronha, Augusto Tasso Fragoso and João de Deus Mena Barreto moved to oust the incumbent President, Washington Luís, from power. The operation succeeded, and the junta took control in late October 1930. For the most part, the junta did not expect to stay for long.

The plan was to implement Vargas into power as President, and to restore stability in Brazil; this would however not be the case. Due to the rise in global socialism and communism, left wing insurgents in Brazil held more power than previously expected. In early November, Vargas was shot by a communist assailant, and did not live to tell the tale.

The Shot Heard Around Brazil, as it became known, was considered the official start of the Brazilian conflicts. With instability rife in Brazil, and conflicts emerging between the Communists and the Integralists, the country found itself in a state of panic, and the junta organised a state of martial law.

### The Token Piece of South America

Brazil was still considered a military and political titan in South America, perhaps more so than its competitors in Argentina and Chile. For the likes of the DSR and the Soviet Union, having an ally in Brazil would be beneficial, in fact imperative, for spreading communism in South America. Under the guidance of Luís Carlos Prestes, and with funding from the DSR and the USSR, the Communists began ramping up their operations. Their main goal: break the Integralists before they received enough support.

For the most part, the military junta were able to withstand the attacks: the July 1931 São Paulo Massacre was the most prominent example of the power the junta was willing to exert in order to restore peace in the country. It was no secret that the junta supported the Fascist Integralists under Plínio Salgado, believing them to be a better option than the Communists, but in reality, the junta was holding out for a miracle, and that miracle, they believed, would be the 1932 Presidential election.

### Appeals

At the time, the United States was focused on its image of isolationism, and over a decade of Republican Party control cemented that the United States would focus more on the inside of its own borders (with the exception of Mexico) rather than the outside. The giant did not want to be woken up, but the junta began to believe that the only way forward would be to appeal for American help. The only ones who would be able to were most of the candidates of the Democratic Party (with the exception of Huey Long). Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, promised support for Brazil if he were elected.

If not the United States, then the junta have discussed the potential of turning to the Council of Allies, with the United Kingdom and France. For the most part, the junta knows that stability is limited, and that at any moment, their grip over Brazil could slip.

In 1932, Brazil still remains a hostile environment. Integralists against Communists, but the fight is already so one sided. The only reason the Integralists have lasted so long is due to the protection of the junta, something that many are seeing will inevitably collapse soon; unless the United States finally decides to take a stand and save Brazil from the grips of socialism.

## Way Forward

It is quite obvious that Brazil is on its way from mere skirmishing factions into a proxy civil war. There must be an end in sight, and the junta will not last much longer.

### The Communists Win

If the United States does not wake up, or other countries such as the United Kingdom, France or any members of the Council of Allies overlook the junta's pleas for help, then it is highly likely the Communists under Luís Carlos Prestes will win. This will push Brazil into forming a Brazilian Socialist Republic, and from there could assign their allegiances to either the DSR or the USSR.

### The Integralists Win

If the United States decides to take a stand, or the Council of Allies intervenes, then there is still a chance for the Integralists under Plínio Salgado to take the lead and win the war. From there, Brazil can choose to join the Council of Allies, for example, or work to reconstruct itself as an isolationist state.

### An Unstable Democracy

If the United States decides to take a stand, or the Council of Allies intervenes, then both sides could lose in favour of re-establishing democracy in Brazil. In which case, it is possible they choose the so-called victor of the previous election, Júlio Prestes, to take the reins as an unstable President. It's not exactly a strong leadership, but at least democracy flourishes again.