Cândido

In 1939, when the world went to war, Salazar declared Portugal neutral. A race to acquire tungsten began, a metal that was fundamental in arming the belligerent powers and which filled the Portuguese state's coffers. Neutrality opened the door to thousands of refugees, but also to international espionage. The English, French, Italians, Japanese and Germans created networks of contacts by recruiting informers in the main Portuguese companies. The Police of Vigilance and Defence of the State try to keep an eye on the spies, control the streets and repress the strikes. While the Portuguese Legion, created to fight the communist threat, now takes over civil defence. Several spies in the service of the belligerent powers settled in Portugal and their orders were clear: control information and tungsten. To ensure compliance with their orders, many of them carried out in Portugal some of the most important clandestine operations of espionage of World War II. Financial support from ICA and PIC Portugal.