Brazil entered the First World War on October 26, 1917 on the side of the Entente . Initially, Brazil declared neutrality ( August 4, 1914 ). But after Germany declared unlimited submarine warfare, as a result of which several Brazilian ships were sunk, Brazil declared war on Germany.
Brazil's contribution to the Entente victory was more than modest. From a military point of view, Brazil’s participation in the war was purely symbolic. However, Brazil is the only country in South America that participated in the fighting of the First World War. The Brazilian fleet participated in the fighting in the Atlantic Ocean , as well as units of the Brazilian army were sent to the Western Front .
Brazil supported the Entente, after Germany declared unlimited submarine warfare, some Brazilian ships were sunk. This finally convinced the Brazilian government to declare war on the Central Powers . Brazil declared war on Germany on October 26, 1917 .
49 German ships were interned in the country's ports.
Conscious of the weakness of the army, unable to cope even with the rebellious peasants , the generals refused to send troops to Europe to help the Entente.
With the entry into the war, Brazil created the Naval Division under the command of Admiral Pedro Max Fernando Frontin, which included the Brazilian naval ships. Brazilian ships patrolled the waters of the Atlantic . Almost all of them were in poor condition or were obsolete. Almost all ships lacked a fire protection system, there was no detection system for enemy submarines, and so on.
In addition, Brazilian pilots fought as part of the British Air Force on the Western Front . Also, the regiment of the Brazilian army fought as part of the French troops. On August 18, 1918, Brazil sent a medical mission to Europe .
After the war ended, Brazil disbanded the Naval Division and all other formations that participated in the war.
See also
- Brazil in World War II
- Argentina in the First World War