The Rise of a Revolutionary Leader
Lázaro Cárdenas, one of Mexico’s most revered presidents, assumed office in 1934 amid a nation still reeling from the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920). Though the country was politically stabilized, the rural peasantry remained impoverished, their hopes for land reform—central to the revolution’s promises—largely unfulfilled. Cárdenas, a staunch advocate for agrarian justice, embarked on sweeping reforms that redistributed 18 million hectares of land to peasant communities under the ejido system. This communal land tenure model prohibited sale or seizure, ensuring farmers retained their plots.
His presidency also coincided with a critical juncture in global affairs. By 1938, as fascist regimes expanded in Europe, Cárdenas made a bold move that would redefine Mexico’s international standing: the nationalization of the oil industry.
Oil Nationalization and the Clash with Global Powers
Mexico’s oil industry, then dominated by British and American corporations, was a lucrative sector. When Cárdenas expropriated foreign-owned oil assets in March 1938, Britain and the U.S. retaliated with an economic boycott, hoping to pressure Mexico into reversing the decision. However, an unexpected player entered the scene—Nazi Germany.
Rather than joining the embargo, Germany supplied Mexico with chemicals necessary to sustain its oil production. In exchange, Mexico became a key oil supplier to the Third Reich, with exports skyrocketing from one million barrels annually to nearly five million by 1939. This shift alarmed Western powers, who realized their punitive measures had inadvertently pushed Mexico toward the Axis sphere.
Despite this economic alliance, Mexico’s political stance remained principled. When Hitler annexed Austria in 1938, Mexico was the only nation to formally protest the Anschluss, signaling its opposition to fascist expansionism.
World War II and Mexico’s Reluctant Entry
By 1940, Nazi influence in Mexico had grown, with German spies operating networks across the country. The U.S., increasingly wary, pressured President Cárdenas to sever ties with Germany. His successor, Manuel Ávila Camacho, realigned Mexico’s foreign policy, signing agreements to resume oil sales to the U.S. and permitting American use of Mexican air bases.
Germany’s response was swift and brutal. In May 1942, German U-boats torpedoed Mexican oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico, including the Potrero del Llano, killing 13 crew members. The attacks galvanized public opinion, and on May 28, 1942, Mexico declared war on the Axis powers—marking its first-ever military engagement outside its borders.
The Aztec Eagles: Mexico’s Symbolic Contribution
Under U.S. diplomatic pressure, Mexico agreed to contribute a symbolic combat force to the Allied effort. The result was the 201st Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Aztec Eagles, a unit of 30 pilots trained in the U.S. and deployed to the Pacific in 1944.
Initially met with skepticism by American forces, the squadron proved its mettle in the Philippines, conducting 791 missions and striking key Japanese positions. Their most daring operation—a near-suicidal dive-bombing run on a fortified ammunition depot—cost the life of 22-year-old pilot Fausto Vega Santander, Mexico’s first casualty in the war.
Though their military impact was modest compared to Allied superpowers, the Aztec Eagles’ legacy was diplomatic. Their participation mended U.S.-Mexico relations and secured Mexico’s place as a founding member of the United Nations.
The Bracero Program and the Birth of Modern Migration
World War II also reshaped Mexico’s demographic landscape. With American men drafted into military service, U.S. farms faced labor shortages. In 1942, the U.S. and Mexico established the Bracero Program, a guest-worker initiative that brought thousands of Mexican laborers north.
Initially designed as a temporary measure, the program endured for decades, peaking at 450,000 workers by 1956. While it provided economic opportunities, it also laid the groundwork for systemic exploitation and the rise of undocumented migration—a contentious issue persisting today.
Cultural Legacy: From Farmworkers to Civil Rights Icons
The Bracero Program inadvertently fueled the Chicano movement. Among its most influential figures was César Chávez, a farmworker-turned-activist who championed labor rights through nonviolent resistance. His United Farm Workers union became a symbol of empowerment for Mexican-Americans, transforming them into a political force.
Conclusion: A Nation Transformed
Lázaro Cárdenas’s reforms and Mexico’s wartime decisions had far-reaching consequences. From agrarian justice to oil sovereignty, and from battlefield contributions to migration waves, these events forged modern Mexico’s identity. The nation’s delicate dance between neutrality and alliance, between revolution and diplomacy, underscores its enduring role as a bridge between North and Latin America—a legacy still felt today.