Brazil during World War I

During World War I (1914–1918), Brazil initially adopted a neutral position in accordance with the Hague Convention as an attempt to maintain markets for its export products, mainly coffee, latex, and industrially manufactured items.

However, following the repeated sinking of Brazilian merchant ships by German submarines, President Venceslau Brás declared war against the Central Powers in 1917.

Later, however, demonstrators began attacking shops and properties owned by ethnic Germans or their descendants; examples were the Hotel Schmidt, the Germany Society, the club and the newspaper Deutsche Zeitung, and the Turnerbund.

(Additionally, the Minister of Foreign Relations Lauro Müller, a citizen of German origin with a pro-neutrality position, was forced to resign.)

[2][3] The administration of Venceslau Brás, which was in its last year in office, made statements implying that it did not intend to involve the country deeper into the conflict.

This report, regarding the entry of Brazil into the conflict, was coordinated by the parliamentary expert on foreign policy and military affairs, João Pandiá Calogeras.

[10] The Brazilian Army was enlarged to 54,000 men following the declaration of war, but this rapid expansion meant that most immediately available resources had to be directed to the training and equipping of new recruits.

Its members were attached to allied units, mainly in the French Army, to gain awareness of modern techniques employed in organization and combat on the Western Front.

[12] Also promoted was Major Tertuliano Potiguara, a controversial figure accused of war crimes in the Contestado campaign, who was wounded in action at the Battle of St. Quentin Canal during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

On August 9, 1918, the mission reached Freetown in Sierra Leone, with the fleet staying 14 days, during which the crew began falling ill with Spanish flu during a pandemic.

[17] On August 18, 1918, the Brazilian Medical Mission, led by Dr. Nabuco Gouveia and directed by General Aché, was established with 86 doctors, civilian pharmacists, administrative support staff, and a security platoon.

The hospital was opened in Paris, but the main roles performed by the Medical Mission were in providing treatment for French sufferers during the Spanish flu epidemic[18] and in ensuring the continuity of logistical support to the troops at the front.

[citation needed] From an economic point of view, although exports of latex and coffee initially fell sharply and created a crisis in the economy as the conflict continued, Brazil eventually began to find good trading opportunities.

It was during this time that Brazil underwent unprecedented industrial development, also making use of immigrant labor primarily composed of Europeans initially fleeing famine and then the war.