Venezuela during World War II

Venezuela during World War II
A floral offering in front of a Simón Bolívar statue in New York City, during the official visit of Venezuela's President Isaías Medina Angarita (right) to the United States in 1944.
Location	Venezuela
Date	1939–1945
Events	Koenigstein and Caribia –March 1939 Severing of relations –December 31, 1941 The Attack on Aruba –February 16, 1942 Declaration of war –February 15, 1945

The history of Venezuela during World War II is marked by dramatic change to the country's economy, military, and society. At the beginning of World War II in 1939, Venezuela was the world's leading oil exporter, and subsequently one of the main beneficiaries of the American Lend-Lease programs. Economic assistance from the United States, as well a booming oil industry, led Venezuela to become one of the few Latin American countries that was able to finance its own modernization in the post-war era. Furthermore, through skillful diplomacy, Venezuela was able to gain territory, increase its share in oil profits, and also reduce its reliance on foreign oil companies.^[1]

Although Venezuela was officially neutral for most of the war, it covertly supported the Allies, and eventually declared war on the Axis powers in February 1945, a few months before the end of the conflict.^[1]