Portugal during World War II
Upon the start of World War II in 1939, the Portuguese Government announced on 1 September that the 600-year-old Anglo-Portuguese Alliance remained intact, but that since the British did not seek Portuguese assistance, Portugal was free to remain neutral in the war and would do so. In an aide-mémoire of 5 September 1939, the British Government confirmed the understanding. As Hitler's occupation swept across Europe, neutral Portugal became one of the Continent's last escape routes. Portugal managed to remain neutral throughout the war despite extraordinary pressures from both sides, notably over the strategically located Azores islands and over the wolfram (tungsten) trade.
NRP Adamastor
During World War I, Portugal took part in fighting against Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's troops during the campaign in southern Africa. In 1917, German forces entered Portuguese Mozambique. Although they defeated the Portuguese and British land forces, "Adamastor" and another cruiser were sent to the important port of Quelimane, at which point the Germans decided not to attack the city.