World War I: Portugal


Figure 1.--An imprtant Portuguese Catholic miracle occurred during the dark days of World War I. Three Portuguese shepard children grazing their sheep reported a vision of Mary (1917). Our Lady of Fátima (Nossa Senhora de Fátima). It ocvurred at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto. They were at first dismissed, but gradually the vission gained widesporead acceptance by the faithful. God revealed Himself through the maternal face of Mary, who has conveyed a message from God to humanity of the 20th century. The Fátima appearance seemed to have gained fame due to the secrets told by the children, prophecy and eschatological revelations. The connections to the Second World War and possibly future wars. The Virgin's alleged request for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was particularly important.

Portugal sided with its traditional ally the the British in World War I. The Portuguese Parliament declared its support for the Allies (August 7, 1914). While supporting the Allies, Portugal did not actually enter the War for 2 years. The Portuguese Army even before the War began fought border skirmishes with German troops in East Africa. Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) bordered with German East Africa. German agents attempted to incite tribes in Angola which bordered on the German colony Southeast Africa (Naminia). The Royal Navy's command of the Seas, however, made German operations in Africa impossible.The Portuguese Government seized German ships in its harbours (February 1916). Germany responded with a declaration of war. After formally entering the war, Portugal contributed forces to the Western Front. About 100,000 Portuguese troops fought in the War, both on the Western Front and in Mozambique.

Portuguese Republic (1910-14)

King Manuel II was crowned (1908). The young monarch was unable to control the rising popular demand for arepublic. A popular inserection and finally an army revolt forced King Manuel II to abdicate. This was the end of the Portuguese monarchy which dated to the Reconquista. He went into exile in England. A Republic was proclaimed and a provisional government assumed power. Manoel de Arriaga assumed control of the Government. A new constitution was approved (1911). It was a liberal constitution which for the first time separated church and state. The new Government was decidely anticlerical resulting in strained relations with the Vatican. This and other liberal reforces would also alienate conservative forces which woyld reexert themselves after the War.

European Diplomacy

Europe in the late-19th and early 20th century divided into two armed camps. The basic allieances werte the treaties between France and Russia and the Dual Alliance betweem Germany and Austria which became known as the Central Powers. They were eventually joined by Italy. Britain was an outlier. German naval policy drove it toward Russia and France, but Britain made no commitment to fight a land war on the Continent. Portugal remained outside the alliance system, in oart because it was not seen as an important military power. Portugal had atradition of alying itself with Britain. Even so, Britain neogtiated a secret memorandum with Germany agreeing on dividing Portugal's colonial empire among themselves.

Pro-Alled Neutrality (1914)

World War I erupted as a surprise to the Great Powers (August 1914). Portugal remained neutral and did not enter the War. While neutral, Portugal made no secret that it favored the Allies. The Portuguese Parliament declared its support for the Allies (August 7, 1914). The Government interned German ships in Portuguese harbors when the War broke out. While supporting the Allies, Portugal did not actually enter the War for 2 years. Despite the clashes with German troops in southern Angola, Portugal remained formally neutral and the German government honored Portuguese neutrality.

African Colonies (1914-16)

Portugal's location far from the Western front and Germany meant that it was unaffected by the fierce fighting on the Western front. This was not the case in Portugal's African colonies which did border on German colonies. The Portuguese Army even before the War began fought border skirmishes with German troops in East Africa. Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) bordered with German East Africa (modern Tanzania). German agents attempted to incite tribes in Angola which bordered on the German colony Southeast Africa (Namibia).

Maritime Commerce

Portugal's location on the western portion of the Iberarian Peninsula meant that the War did not affect its important ports. Britain maintained control of the seas with the powerful Royal Navy and thus trade with its colonies were not significantly affected. The U-boat campaign to cut Britain's sea lanes did affect Portugal to some extent, but was primarily focused on the British Western Approaches. Thus trade with the colonies was largely unaffected. Trade wuth Britain, however, was affected and Britain was a important market for Portugal.

Interned German Ships (1916)

As the War progressed, British maritine shipping became increasingly important. Losses to the U-boats created a shortage of merchant shipping. Britain demanded that Portugal confiscate the German ships interned in Portuguese ports so they could be used to replace ships sunk by the Germans. Portugal complied. They confiscated the ships (February 24, 1916) and then sold them to the British.

Declaration of War (1916)

It was Germany that finally made the decision for war. Germany saw the confiscation of their intened ships as an act of war. Both Germany and Austria-Hungary thus declared war on Portugal. Ireland had two objectives The most important was to safeguard Portugal’s colonial possessions which bordered on German colonies. Northern Mozambique as a special problem because Germnan forces were attempting to hold out from British forces there. The Portugues also wanted to support the Allies on the Westen Front with a Portuguese E expeditionary force. Portugal is a very small country and not in a position to make a major contribution. Because of its need to confront the Germans in Africa, its military effort had to be split. . What they were able to mmuster, was a small force incapable of acting independently. Because of Portugals's historic relationship with Britain, it was organized within the British forces in France.

Government Instability

Portugal was making a transition from a monarchy to a republic. There was thus from the beginning an element of governmental instability. This affected the militarynpreparations and planning. Portuguese governments changed frequently under the Republic. There were a series of unstable governments, including 8 presidents, 44 governments, and a declining economy. Sidonio Pais staged a coup d'etat (1917). Prime Minister Sidonia Pais was assassinated (1918). Because of this instability, the Portuguese effort was not well thought-out and executed. [Malaquias] Jose Luis Malaquias About 100,000 Portuguese troops fought in the War, both on the Western Front and in Mozambique.

Western Front (1916-18)

Portugal after entering the War dispatched army units to the Western Front. The force committed to the Weatern Front was poorly prepared and under equipped. The Portuguese forces were deployed at a critical point in the battlefield. In itself a poor decision. They were assigned a sector at La Lys and kept at the front for much longer than was appropriate. They were, as a result, exhausted and with depleted resources. They should have bee relieved. Tragically, the political chaos in Lisbon meant that the Portuguese did not have evacuation transport. They were about to be releaved with British trasport. But the Germans struck becfore thos occurred. The Germans were aware that the Portuguese were vulnerable--basically a wek spot in the Allied line. Once they they recognized the Portuguese force was going to be relieved, they decided to act and exploit the situation. They launched an attack focusing on the Portuguese sector. The Portuguese were deployed in the British sector of the front, near the hinge with the French--a critical point. The Germans struck at this point of the front in their massive Spring Offensive hoping to separate the British and French (1918). The Portuguese force suffered a substantilal defeat. The Germans succedded in breaking through the exhausted, poorly equipped and supplied Portuguese troops. [Malaquias] Once source suggests it would be a contributing factor in the 1926 coup, which was conducted World War I veteran officers. An estimated 10,000 Portuguese soldiers were killed or wounded. The influenza epidemic was even more deadly. An estimated 60,000 Portuguese perished (1918).

Africa: Rhodesia/Mozambique (1916-18)

The Royal Navy's command of the Seas made any German operations in Africa impossible. British forces (primarily South African troops) deployed to Kenya moved into German East Africa (modern Tanzania) (1916). German Commander Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck concluded that conventional operations were no longer possible. Cut off from Germany by the Royal Navy, he decided that the only alternative to surender was a guerilla campaign. This would not prevent the British from seizing the German colony, but it would continue to tie down British forces. He retreated south to Rhodesia (modern Zimbabewe) and (Portuguese) Northern Mozambique. There Lettow-Vorbeck operated without any communication with Germany (wireless stations had limited range and the British controlled the international cable network). The Royal Navy made reinforcements and resupplying impossible. Even so, he managed to hold out until the end of the war.

Our Lady of Fátima (1917)

An imprtant Portuguese Catholic miracle occurred during the dark days of World War I. Three Portuguese shepard children grazing their sheep reported a vision of Mary (1917). Our Lady of Fátima (Nossa Senhora de Fátima). It ocvurred at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto. They were at first dismissed, but gradually people began to to the site. Their vissions gained widespread acceptance by the faithful. God revealed Himself through the maternal face of Mary, who has conveyed a message from God to humanity of the 20th century. The Fátima appearance seemed to have gained fame due to the secrets told by the children, prophecy and eschatological revelations. The connections to the Second World War and possibly future wars. The Virgin's alleged request for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was particularly important.

Versailles (1919)

At the Versailles peace talks, Portugal was awarded the port of Kionga From German East Africa which became part of Portuguese Mozambique. Britain got the rest of the colony which became the new British colony of Tanganika (modetn Tanzania).

Sources

J Malaquiaa, Jose Luis. Quora post (Septemberv20, 2019).






CIH -- World War I







Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main World War I country page]
[Return to Main World War I conduct page]
[Return to Main Portuguese history page]
[About Us]
[Aftermath] [Alliances] [Animals] [Armistace] [Biographies] [Causes] [Campaigns] [Casualties] [Children] [Countries] [Declaration of war] [Deciding factors] -------[Diplomacy] [Economics] -------[Geo-political crisis] [Home front] [Intelligence]
[Military forces] [Neutrality] [Pacifism] [People] [Peace treaties] [Propaganda] [POWs] [Russian Revolution] [Terrorism] [Trench warfare] [Weaponry]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to Main World War I page]
[Return to Main war essay page]
[Return to CIH Home page]




Created: 3:11 AM 2/24/2008
Last updated: 5:50 PM 9/23/2019