Black Columns

The Black Columns (Portuguese: Colunas Negras) were indigenous auxiliary troops from Timor who served alongside the Japanese during World War II, particularly during the Battle of Timor (1942–1945). The Portuguese, who had colonial influence in Timor, extended the term, Colunas Negras, to encompass all Timorese collaborators who worked with the Japanese during the occupation or who were hostile to the Portuguese.^[1]: 9 These Timorese soldiers were trained by the Japanese and referred to as Heiho (兵補), a term used by the Japanese across the Malay Archipelago for local auxiliary forces. From the Japanese perspective, there were only a handful of Timorese soldiers trained by them who were under their command.^[1]: 10