The peninsular fortress of Gibraltar remained a thorn in Portugal's side -- the indomitable base which Portugal could not seize, and which could be at any time used as a launching platform for air attacks or invasions of Portugal proper. Planners had tried to conceive of ways to approach Gibraltar, including overland through Nationalist Spain. But, though Spain had allowed Portuguese scouts -- and would-be invaders -- onto their territory, supply remained problematic, and the lack of such would have crippled the attempt.
It was decided that a portion of Portugal's precious and limited Leadership must be devoted to bringing Nationalist Spain closer to joining the Axis, whereupon Gibraltar would become fully exposed.
In the above screenshot, the red circle shows Spain's current position in the alignment pyramid, whereas the tooltip shows how fast it was moving toward the Axis. Their Neutrality was coming down, and it seemed like Spain might become a partner in a matter of a year or two... with luck. Interesting that we're most afraid of being invaded by Japan. Kind of makes the British Empire seem rather small, doesn't it?
In other worldwide news, the Greeks were proving unexpectedly obstinate in combat, having driven deep into Macedonian Yugoslavia, just to spite the combined forces of Axis Germany, Italy and newly allied Yugoslavia (having been puppeted).
The South African cauldron continued to seethe. The surrounded divsion at Walvis Bay surrendered to the Portuguese on 12 August, freeing those units to assist on the main front pushing eastward.
The 3rd Cavalry continued to hook south into Bechuanaland in its ongoing attempt to cut off enemy units. They were having some success, though the job was an enormous one.
In mid-August, in the Caribbean, a small number of troops with the support of a troop transport made what they could of their situation. Landing on New Providence, first, they raided the Bahamaian capital at Nassau, then crossed to the island of Ambon to capture the airbase there. However, they found the naval base at Freeport (Grand Bahama) guarded, and the garrison there held the threat of pushing the weak cavalry forces out of their position. The re-embarked, after having burned what facilities they could at the airport, and departed.
In a couple of days, they had checked Belize, finding it guarded, and then made their way to Jamaica, where they found the capital of Kingston free of protecting troops (the British infantry were in the west, on maneuvers, and hadn't gotten word that the Portuguese had slipped out of the Bahamas).
As soon as they'd landed, the 4th Cavalry came under attack from these troops, returning to their base. The 4th Cav was increasingly rag-tag, having been in several actions since they'd had time to rest or reinforce. They were in no shape to hold off a full British infantry division. But the Portuguese commanders were plucky and stubborn. Gen. Bastos being no exception...
Bastos urged his men to hold on while the transport hurried over to Barbados where the 20th Garrison Division boarded for a quick redeployment to Jamaica. They came off the ships just in time to relieve the 4th Cavalry on the firing line, allowing the cavalry to drop back and rest briefly. But then, the departure of the 20th having exposed Barbados to attack and reconquest, it was decided the cavalry would be best deployed there to hold the island while they rested. Sadly, but certainly to be expected, the gains in the Bahamas were lost.
Once German and Italian troops were able to fully concentrate against Greece, the Greeks had no chance. By the end of August, Athens had fallen and the defenders had retreated to the hills and islands for survival. A puppet government was set up in Athens, and Greece joined Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Yugoslavia as Axis allies.
In South Africa, the end of the month brought good news – the suspected threats to Portuguese positions there had been only a chimera. The Portuguese were again dominant. The 3rd Cavalry was speeding south to cut off the lines of retreat from the deep south of the country, and a second landing on the southern coast at the Cape had succeeded, raising another obstacle against Capetown. Enemy units further north had either been cut off or were running for their lives!
In Jamaica, the enemy infantry kept pounding upon the Garrison division commanded by Gen. Barras. These troops were not conditioned for combat with heavy units of superior size (this, like the other garrison divisions, was a two-brigade division), and so it was quickly worn down. Something else had to be done.
Fortunately, new units were being recruited in Lisbon and other major Portuguese cities, and one was made ready in time to arrive in the Caribbean at the beginning of September. The 10th Garrison Division arrived, and was able to take the pressure off the 20th at a critical moment, just as the 20th had for the 4th Cavalry. Faced with the resistance of now four brigades, the English ceased their energetic campaign and settled into defensive positions.
On the 6th of September the good fortune which somehow had protected the South African capital for weeks gave way. Her final defenses crumbled with the addition of the western flank attack, and they were forced to either retreat through a narrow gap or risk becoming trapped forever. They chose to run, as best they could.
Some Portuguese units converged upon the capital, while others fanned out in every direction, making use of the opportunity to expand their bridgeheads and perhaps set up traps for other units..
Back at home, in Lisbon, some more of the defensive militia and garrisons which had been recruited to protect the Portuguese capital were deployed into positions. The scramble to find troops for catch-as-catch-can operations had slowed, so these units – the militia, especially – were expected to remain in the capital to respond to any threats.
By mid-September, the fears of July seemed far away. The feeling that victory was slipping away had been replaced by the confidence that comes after being frightened by a shadow – the belief that neither was there any danger now, but there really never had been any danger in the first place. The Allies, it seemed, were more or less beaten already, and continued Portuguese expansion simply proved that.