Portugal

Portugal in the First World War →

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1914

October

26
- Germans attack AngolaIn late October 1914 the Germans in South West Africa resolved to avenge the Naulila incident and struck at Portuguese posts in Angola.

November

23
- Portugal announces cooperation with BritainOn 23 November 1914 the Portuguese parliament authorised the government to take part in the war at Britain's side "when and how it deems necessary".

December

04
- Portuguese reinforcements sail for AngolaIn early December 1914 more Portuguese units sailed from Lisbon to Angola to strengthen the colony's defence against a German attack from the south.
11
- Bernardino Machado's government resignsIn December 1914 Bernardino Machado's government fell. The non-party cabinet did not survive republican quarrels over elections and Portugal's role in the war.
12
- Azevedo Coutinho becomes Prime Minister of PortugalOn 12 December 1914 naval officer Vítor Hugo de Azevedo Coutinho became Portugal's prime minister. His almost wholly Democratic cabinet met resistance at once.

1915

January

25
- Pimenta de Castro becomes prime minister of PortugalOn 25 January 1915, after an officers' protest, President Arriaga gave the Portuguese government to General Pimenta de Castro, who ruled without parliament.

May

June

19
- José de Castro becomes prime minister of PortugalOn 19 June 1915 José de Castro, acting head of Portugal's government since May, took the helm of a new cabinet made up mainly of Afonso Costa's Democrats.

August

06
- Bernardino Machado elected president of PortugalOn 6 August 1915 Portugal's Congress elected former prime minister Bernardino Machado president. He won only on the third ballot and took office on 5 October.

October

05
- Bernardino Machado takes office as presidentOn 5 October 1915, the fifth anniversary of the republic's proclamation, Bernardino Machado was sworn in as President of Portugal, succeeding Teófilo Braga.

November

29
- Afonso Costa prime minister againOn 29 November 1915 Afonso Costa, leader of the Democrats, became head of the Portuguese government for the second time, replacing José de Castro's cabinet.

1916

February

23
- Portugal seizes German shipsOn 23 February 1916, at Britain's request, the Portuguese seized 36 German and Austrian ships that had lain in the Tagus off Lisbon since the start of the war.

March

April

11
- Portuguese occupy KiongaAround 10 April 1916 the Portuguese took without a fight the Kionga Triangle at the mouth of the Rovuma, a disputed strip Germany had seized from them in 1894.

August

07
- Portugal decides to send troops to EuropeOn 7 August 1916 the Portuguese parliament accepted a British invitation to take part in the war in Europe. A corps from Tancos was to go to the Western Front.

December

03
- Bombardment of FunchalOn 3 December 1916 the German U-38 entered the Funchal roads on Madeira, sank three Allied ships and a barge, and then shelled the town with her deck gun.

1917

January

03
- Anglo-Portuguese military conventionOn 3 January 1917 Portugal and Britain signed a convention on a corps for France, to fight under British command. The first troops arrived in February.

February

02
- Portuguese land in FranceOn 2 February 1917 the 1st Brigade of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps landed at Brest. The Portuguese went on to Flanders to train under British guidance.

April

25
- Afonso Costa prime minister for the third timeOn 25 April 1917 Afonso Costa became head of the Portuguese government for the third time, replacing Almeida's "Sacred Union" with a cabinet of Democrats only.

June

04
- Portuguese in action on the Western FrontOn the night of 3/4 June 1917 the Germans first attacked Portuguese trenches near Neuve-Chapelle. The 35th Infantry Battalion from Coimbra repulsed them.

July

04
- Shelling of Ponta DelgadaOn 4 July 1917 the German submarine cruiser U-155, formerly the Deutschland, shelled Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The US collier Orion drove her off.

November

25
- Lettow-Vorbeck crosses the RovumaOn 25 November 1917 Lettow-Vorbeck forded the Rovuma into Mozambique and overran the Portuguese camp at Ngomano, capturing weapons, ammunition and medicines.

December

1918

April

09
- Key eventStart of the Battle of the LysOn 9 April 1918, in fog, the German Sixth Army struck on the Lys. The Portuguese 2nd Division broke, but the British held Givenchy and the line of the rivers.

May

July

01
- Clash at NhamacurraOn 1–3 July 1918 Lettow-Vorbeck routed the Portuguese-British garrison of Nhamacurra near Quelimane. Many defenders drowned and the Germans took vast stores.

September

29
- Lettow-Vorbeck returns across the RovumaAt the end of September 1918 Lettow-Vorbeck's force crossed the Rovuma and, after ten months in Mozambique, returned to German East Africa.

December