World War II
Lochery has also written extensively on World War II, with a focus on the geopolitical and historical dimensions of the war, particularly in relation to Portugal and the broader global context. His books explore wartime intrigue, the role of neutral countries, and the economic and cultural ramifications of the war.
2023
2013
2011
Cashing Out and the Flight of Nazi Treasure, 1945-1948
Leading on from his initial research on Lisbon during WWII, Neill explores the role of "neutral" nations during and after the Second World War, showing how countries that officially stayed out of the conflict nonetheless became central to its financial and diplomatic undercurrents. In ´Cashing Out: The Flight of Nazi Treasure´, Lochery traces the routes through which Nazi assets (gold, currency, art, and other valuables) were moved into or through neutral states such as Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, and Turkey. He demonstrates how these nations balanced moral ambiguity with political pragmatism, using neutrality as a strategic tool to protect national interests while navigating pressure from both Axis and Allied powers. Lochery’s work argues that neutrality was far from passive. By examining the economic networks, diplomatic manoeuvres, and covert transactions that shaped the final years of the war, he reveals how neutral states became key brokers in the fate of Nazi wealth and, ultimately, in the postwar settlement. His research reframes neutrality as an active and often controversial position, one that influenced not only wartime survival but also the political and economic landscape that followed.
Brazil 1930-1950 and the World War II era
In this wide-ranging study based on private and public archives in Brazil, Britain, Portugal, and the United States, Neill explores Brazil’s pivotal role in World War II, extending the scope to both the pre-war and post-war eras. The research examines Brazil’s neutrality under the Estado Novo dictatorship, its complex trade with both Allied and Axis powers, and its eventual entry into the war in 1942. It highlights how Brazil’s military contribution—most notably the hard-fought campaign in Italy (1944–45)—secured U.S. support through the “Good Neighbor” program, fueling the nation’s cultural, industrial, and economic development. The study also addresses the fate of Jewish refugees in Brazil during this period. The findings will appear in Fortunes of War: World War II and the Making of Modern Brazil, to be published by Basic Books (United States).
Portugal 1939-45: Neutrality and the Jewish refugees
Neill’s research delves into one of the most complex questions of the Second World War: Portuguese neutrality and its profound consequences. Central to his study are the dilemmas faced by Jewish refugees who sought safety in Lisbon, a city that became both a sanctuary and a crossroads during the conflict. His work situates these human stories within the larger framework of trade, diplomacy, and the naval struggle between the Allies and Axis powers during the short yet intense years of 1939–1945. Drawing on newly released and previously unpublished archival material, Neill has pieced together a vivid portrait of Lisbon as a city caught in the shadows of global war. This extensive research culminated in the major publication Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939–45, as well as the international photographic exhibition Lisbon: Bottleneck of Europe in WWII. Beyond these, his findings have informed a series of articles in The Wall Street Journal, where he links wartime themes to contemporary political and social challenges facing Portugal today. For readers seeking more detail, a comprehensive synopsis of Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light is available in the Lisbon section, while the Journalism section provides direct links to his Wall Street Journal contributions.