Japanese occupation of Portuguese Timor

Portuguese Timor was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II, between February 1942 until August 1945. It led to a major humanitarian disaster, where about 15% of the population perished from famine, breakdown of agriculture, disease, overwork or military reprisal.

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. Other pro-allied groups were evacuated to Australia and many Timorese would die as a result of their support for the allies.

Portuguese dictator Salazar protested bitterly the violation of Portuguese neutrality, though he never broke official diplomatic relations with Japan. By the war's end, Portuguese ships that arrived from Mozambique revived the administration and provided invaluable relief for the population. Salazar also managed to win American support for Portugal's post-war role in Timor.