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.
2nd Division (Portugal)
The 2nd Division was one of the two divisions of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP, "Corpo Expedicionário Português"), the main military force of Portugal that fought in the World War I Western Front on the side of the Allies. The Division was under the command of General Simas Machado until March 1918, when it became under the command of General Gomes da Costa.