Impression sketch
of Portuguese troops
embarking for Angola - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at :
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_campaign_in_Angola> [Accessed: 10
March 2016]
i
Amid the
countries of neutrality,
Wavered the
Portugal Republic
On the Iberian
Peninsula - a land
To mark the most
westerly country
Of Western Europe,
bordering
With Spain and the
Atlantic Ocean.
Since prehistory
these lands
Had been fought
over - to include
Celts, Romans,
nomadic Visigoths
And Suebi-Germans
- eventually
Leading to an empire of the county
Of Portugal and
times of intrigue.
1128 saw battle of Sao between
A son and mother - the successor,
Marmede, making a
self-declaration
As Prince of Portugal, to become
King of Portugal by 1143; a country
Developed by German connections.
Nomadic Goths
formed Visigothic
Kingdoms of Spain
and Portugal -
Over 400 years, Suebi-Germans
Evolved post Roman
provinces
Of Galacia within
north Portugal,
Until final
integration with Visigoths.
With a heady
history of turmoil,
Portugal’s
neutrality in 1914
Was formalised, forced
by hand
Of Britain - with declaration of war
On Germany, a belief was Portugal
Would be ineffective
in self-defence.
A wavering
relationship had
Developed between
Britain and
Portugal, whose
colonisation
In Africa almost
caused a war
In 1890 - With
Britain’s orders
To get out,
Portugal relented.
ii
ii
As a republic
by 1910 Portugal,
By 1914 was ruled
by the Party
Of Portuguese
Republic - surely
Joining the war
would serve
To save her African
colonies?
Britain persuaded
otherwise.
Swift tensions
had begun to form
Between Portugal
and Germany;
Beginning with U-boat operations,
That blockaded Britain and thus
The market of
Portuguese goods;
Meanwhile they clashed in Angola.
Portuguese and
Germans fought
Across African
borders, where
German success
led to occupied
Part of Angola,
but then retaken -
A British South
African campaign
Made defeat of
German troops.
Under unofficial
confrontations,
Official 1916
neutrality continued
Between Portugal
and Germany,
Until 23 February;
after request
By Britain, 36
German boats held
In Lisbon ports
became interned.
9 March1916 - this
final act led
Germany 's
declaration of war
On Portugal and
vice versa -
Within this first
day, news told
Hurried
departures of German
Families, leaving
the country.
Reports spread to give an order,
Signed by the
Marine Minister,
For Captain
Leotto Rego and
Officers of the
navy - allowing
German ships
waiting at anchor
On the Tagus, to
become utilised.
Alongside this,
likely official
Spanish words
concerned how
War's declaration
would not
Assist any situation of Spain's
Neutral position
- expectant
Of feeling the full effects of war.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Germany
And Portugal. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 March 1916. P.8. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12189264/Daily-Telegraph-March-10-1916.html
[Accessed: 10 March 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 10 March 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1Portugal
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