Japanese occupation of Portuguese Timor
Japanese occupation of Timor ティモール占領地 (Japanese) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motto: 八紘一宇 (Hakkō Ichiu) ("Eight Corners Under One Roof") | |||||||
| Anthem: 君が代 (Kimigayo) ("His Imperial Majesty's Reign") | |||||||
| Status | Military occupation by the Empire of Japan | ||||||
| Capital | Dili | ||||||
| Common languages | Japanese Portuguese | ||||||
| Emperor | |||||||
• 1942–1945 | Shōwa | ||||||
| Historical era | World War II | ||||||
| Currency | Japanese military yen | ||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of | East Timor | ||||||
Portuguese Timor was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II, between February 1942 until August 1945.[1] It led to a major humanitarian disaster, where about 15% of the population perished from famine, breakdown of agriculture, disease, overwork or military reprisal.[1]
The entire Portuguese administration was interned in the Liquiçá-Maubara concentration camps, the only exception being a group of former socialists and deportees styled the Red Brigades, who fled to the mountains to resist the Japanese.[1] Other pro-allied groups were evacuated to Australia and many Timorese would die as a result of their support for the allies.[1]
Portuguese dictator Salazar protested bitterly the violation of Portuguese neutrality, though he never broke official diplomatic relations with Japan.[1] By the war's end, Portuguese ships that arrived from Mozambique revived the administration and provided invaluable relief for the population.[1] Salazar also managed to win American support for Portugal's post-war role in Timor.[1]