Nazi broadcasts to a neutral country: disseminating fear in Portugal during the Second World War

Despite its neutral status during the Second World War, due to its geographical location, Portugal became a target of Nazi propaganda, including radio broadcasts that reached the country via shortwave. The transmissions resorted to disinformation and false statements to disseminate the idea that the Allies were interested in transforming Portugal into a major war theatre. This chapter demonstrates how the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft (RRG) adapted its messages to the Portuguese audience, paying particular attention to the country’s colonial possessions that were said to be under threat from the Americans and the British. Based on transcripts of the broadcasts, it discusses how the RRG’s dissemination of fear was countered by other sources perceived to be credible by significant segments of the Portuguese population, demonstrating how credibility was a crucial asset to counter the Nazi transmissions that flattered Salazar while stirring fear in relation to the Allies.