World War II in Northeastern Brazil:

Everyday Life and Social Transformation:

Resumo

Abstract: This paper examines the social and cultural impacts of the World War II on Northeastern Brazil, with a focus on the consequences of the German submarine U-507's attacks on Brazilian merchant vessels off the coasts of Bahia and Sergipe in August 1942. Often referred to as the "Brazilian Pearl Harbor", these events prompted Brazil's declaration of war on the Axis powers and profoundly shaped local experiences of fear, nationalism, and social transformation. Drawing upon police reports, newspapers, oral testimonies, and archival documents, the study adopts a comparative and microhistorical approach to investigate how the global conflict was interpreted, experienced, and reconfigured within local contexts. The analysis suggests that the war was not only fought in distant theaters but also lived, narrated, and reimagined in the everyday life of Northeastern Brazil.

Keywords:  World War II; Northeastern Brazil; Everyday Life; Submarine Warfare; Social Transformation.