Reorganization of the Brazilian Army in the Old Republic

The reorganization of the Brazilian Army in the Old Republic divided Brazil's territory into military regions and created divisions, brigades and, in the infantry, regiments to group the numerous military units dispersed throughout the country.

The official consensus in the early 20th century was that the Army was inefficient and backwards, with a low budget, poor facilities, and uneven weaponry making teaching and maintenance difficult.

Thus, successive modernizations and reorganizations took place, especially during the administrations of ministers Hermes da Fonseca (1907–1909), Caetano de Faria (1914–1918) and Pandiá Calógeras (1919–1922) in the Ministry of War.

Several of the important changes took place during the presidency of Afonso Pena (1906–1909), as the country had good economic conditions after the government of Campos Sales (1898–1902).

The reforms took place under the influence of the "Young Turks" [pt], officers who spent time in Germany and returned in 1912, and the French Military Mission, hired in 1919.

Existing units had "glades" of staff shortages, which is observable in the actual availability of officers (2,551 out of 3,583 predicted) and doctors (216 out of 369 in 1920).

[5] According to data published in 1941 by the Minister of War, Eurico Gaspar Dutra, the actual effectives were 20,000 in 1920 and 50,000 in 1930.

Mechanization began in 1921, with the Assault Car Company, made up of French Renault FT-17 tanks.

[8] As the Brazilian Air Force was only created in 1941, the Army and Navy operated their own planes, in addition to airships.

[9] One of the targets of these reforms was the organization of troops, hitherto rudimentary, with battalion-level units (infantry battalions and cavalry and artillery regiments) dispersed throughout Brazil and grouped only in military districts, according to the states of the Federation where they were based.

[10] In the first half of the 20th century most Western armies organized their forces into infantry and cavalry regiments and divisions.

Cavalry regiments in the British and French model were equivalent to infantry battalions, with 500 to 800 men, however the American model provided for a 3 to four battalion or squadron system with the same personnel as in infantry but lesser, the same case in Germany.

In the interwar period in the US since 1940 the command chain was shortened by the abolition of the brigade rank, with three regiments (ternary organization) under the division.

The then lieutenant colonel Estevão Leitão de Carvalho, named commander, did not describe the situation of the regiment he encountered as abnormal.

[26][37] In 1908 the districts were abolished, creating 21 enlistment regions in the states and 13 permanent inspections under the Ministry of War.

[41] Two were created in 1921, the first in Recife and the second in Porto Alegre, but in 1927 their headquarters were transferred to Rio de Janeiro.

16th Infantry Battalion (Salvador) Fortifications of São Paulo, Barbalho, Santo Alberto, São Diogo, Morro de São Paulo, Monte Serrat, São Lourenço, Santa Maria, São Marcelo and São Bartolomeu Fortifications of Macapá and Óbidos In Santa Catarina: In Maranhão: In Ceará: In Piauí: In Alagoas: In Paraíba: In Rio Grande do Norte: In Goiás: In Espírito Santo: In São Paulo: In Minas Gerais: 1st Coastal Artillery Group (Santa Cruz Fortress, Rio de Janeiro) 2nd Coastal Artillery Group (São João Fortress, Federal District) 1st Coastal Artillery Battery (Copacabana Fort, Federal District) 2nd Coastal Artillery Battery (Vigia Fort, Federal District) 4th Coastal Artillery Battery (Laje Fort, Federal District) 5th Coastal Artillery Battery (São Luís Fort, Rio de Janeiro) 6th Coastal Artillery Battery (Imbuí Fort, Rio de Janeiro) 7th Coastal Artillery Battery (Marechal Hermes Fort, Rio de Janeiro) 3rd Coastal Artillery Group (Itaipu Fort, São Paulo) 1st Cavalry Division (Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul) 2nd Cavalry Division (Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul) 3rd Cavalry Division (São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul) 4th Coastal Artillery Group (Óbidos Fort, Pará)[k] 3rd Coastal Artillery Battery (Marechal Moura Fort, Santa Catarina) 8th Coastal Artillery Battery (Marechal Luz Fort, Santa Catarina) 5th Coastal Artillery Group (Forte Coimbra, Mato Grosso)[m]