Campaign Plan No. 1(34)

The Campaign Plan No. 1(34), or the Plan to invade Portugal, was a military strategy developed by dictator Francisco Franco during World War II. The plan detailed a proposed invasion of Portugal and was formulated in late 1940.​

Background

Francisco Franco's plan to invade Portugal can be traced back to his early ideas, particularly his proposal, "How to invade and occupy Portugal in 72 hours."

Throughout the 19th century, both liberal and absolutist factions in Spain occasionally crossed the border to support their Portuguese counterparts, but these actions rarely escalated into military interventions. The idea of Iberism emerged during Portugal's constitutional monarchy and was later advocated by Oliveira Martins and Teófilo Braga. In the early 20th century, after Spain's 1868 revolution, Spain considered offering the Portuguese crown to various candidates, including King Luís I of Portugal, although these attempts failed.

In March 1939, after Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War, some factions within his regime urged him to invade Portugal.

When World War II began, Portugal remained neutral, but by November 11, 1940, Spain joined the Axis Powers through the Pact of Steel with Germany and Italy. Franco negotiated with Hitler for a potential attack on Gibraltar (Operation Felix) and prepared for a preventive strike to prevent a British landing in Lisbon.

Bibliography

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