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When people think of World War II’s great armies, they rarely picture Brazilian troops fighting in the snow-covered mountains of Italy. But in one of the war’s most overlooked campaigns, an unlikely force from South America took the fight to Nazi Germany and shattered expectations along the way. These were the men of the Força Expedicionária Brasileira—the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, better known by their legendary nickname: the Smoking Snakes.
Brazil was the only South American country to send troops to fight in World War II, a decision that seemed almost impossible at the start of the conflict. Originally neutral, Brazil slowly drifted toward the Allies after German U-boats sank several of its merchant ships in the Atlantic. Enraged, the country declared war on Germany and Italy in 1942. But fighting a war was one thing—sending an army to the other side of the world was another. Many doubted Brazil’s ability to field an effective force. Even within their own ranks, there were doubts about whether they were truly ready for battle. The world expected them to fail.
But the Smoking Snakes had other plans.
Named after a saying in Brazil—“A cobra vai fumar” (“The snake will smoke”)—which was used to mockingly suggest that Brazilian troops would fight only when snakes started smoking, the soldiers of the FEB embraced the phrase and made it their battle cry. Their insignia even featured a smoking snake, a symbol of defiance and determination. Deployed to the Italian Front in 1944, they were thrown into one of the war’s most brutal campaigns—the push to break through the Gothic Line, a network of German fortifications across northern Italy.
Despite their lack of experience in mountain warfare, the Brazilian troops adapted quickly. They fought in icy terrain they had never seen before, faced off against hardened German veterans, and proved themselves in battle after battle. They captured over 20,000 Axis troops, including entire divisions, and played a crucial role in liberating key towns such as Monte Castello and Montese.
One of their most famous moments came when three Brazilian soldiers—cut off from their unit—chose to fight to the death rather than surrender to a much larger German force. When the Germans finally overwhelmed them, they were so impressed by their courage that they buried the men with full military honors and a sign that read: "Here lie three Brazilian heroes."
By the end of the war, the Smoking Snakes had shattered expectations. What was once considered a token force had helped break the Nazi defensive lines in Italy, proving their worth among the great armies of the world. Today, their legacy lives on as one of the most unexpected and inspiring stories of World War II—a reminder that sometimes, when the world doubts you the most, that’s when the snake starts to smoke.