Explanation: During WW2, Spain was officially neutral, despite the fascist regime in Spain having been assisted into power by the support of the fascist regimes in Italy and Nazi Germany.

Despite this nominal neutrality, Spain pressed on the Axis’s side as much as they could without becoming an outright enemy of the Allies, who would have resented the distraction of having to topple another fascist regime during the war against the Nazis. Interestingly, by contrast, Portugal, another fascist regime of the period, was nominally neutral but pressed on the side of the Allies as much as they could, in part because of Spains pro-Axis leanings making Portugal nervous, and in part because of Portugal’s historic alliance with the UK.

The formal neutrality meant that the intelligence agencies of both sides were very active inside of Spain and Portugal. Interestingly, the James Bond series of novels by Ian Fleming, himself a member of British intelligence during this time, draw much more on this period than the Cold War they were written in and nominally set. You very much COULD meet a genocidal archenemy at a polite party that you weren’t allowed to gun down. You might even have to share small talk and a martini with them.

Until the Spanish police aren’t looking.

Good thing Salazar went the other way.

Meanwhile in the river plate: I guess you Nazis can hole up here for a bit, but repairs will be long and difficult.

Btw Britain, here’s so much beef that you will continue selling tinned pies under the name “fray bentos” through to the next century.

@PugJesus but don't forget that during the Spanish Civil War the allies didn't help the Republic. When nazis and Italian fascists helped Franco, the allies prevented the Soviet Union of helping the Republic.