[14] However such preparations were insufficient when the Japanese arrived,[13] as efforts to form groups such as the Vernielingscorps (designed to implement a scorched-earth policy), Militieplicht (a militia obligation meant to maintain Dutch control), and organizations like Landswacht, Staatswacht, and Hulppolitie received little support from the public.

To protect retreating forces from Central Sumatra, the KNIL Command established a defensive perimeter on the west bank of the Batanghari River, setting up positions around Musang Island on 1 March.

Compounded by the approach of the Japanese army, and the realization that they could not rely on assistance from the local population, leaving them in a precarious situation, as if confronting two adversaries—an external military threat and the increasing internal discontent from the people of West Sumatra.

Led by Chatib Suleiman, Leon Salim, and several supporters, they established the Komite Penegak Merah Putih (Committee to Uphold the Red and White) and planned to raise the Indonesian flag at Padang Panjang due to its perceived symbolism.

[28] The surrender of KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) Major-General Roelof T. Overakker, along with approximately 2,000 men, at Kutacane—west of Kabanjahe in Northern Sumatra—facilitated the Japanese takeover and ended Dutch rule over Sumatra.

Its hilly topography, flanked by towering mountains and valleys, most notably Sianok Canyon, offered natural defense advantages, making it an ideal base for military operations during the Japanese occupation.

Historian Gusti Asnan noted that a slight difference from the division of administrative units by the Japanese was the exclusion of Fuku Bun Bangkinang and the inclusion of the Kampar Regency in Rio Shū (Riau Province).

Slogans created by the Japanese, such as "Inggeris dilinggis" (the British will be crushed), "Amerika diseterika" (America will be ironed out), and "Belanda kurang-ajar" (the Dutch are insolent), were used as propaganda tools to foster anti-Western sentiment among the people of West Sumatra.

[38] The editorial team comprised a mix of staff from both previous dailies, with Marah Nurdin and Lie Oen Sam serving as editors-in-chief, alongside Suska, Mulkan, and Oel Tin Djin as representatives.

[74] However, youth awareness had already begun to develop, and instead of disbanding, members quickly reorganized under a new name, Ikatan Pencinta Kemajuan (Association of the Lovers of Progress; IPK), which had a significant membership and established branches.

Nearby, in the Solok area—known for its strong anti-Dutch sentiment—the local Muhammadiyah organization welcomed the arrival of Japanese troops with a celebratory procession, including music and the ritual slaughter of two buffaloes as a gesture of gratitude.

[85] At early morning, led by Colonel Fujiyama, the first Japanese soldiers silently entered the city of Padang on 17 March 1942, and ten days later the Dutch military commander in Sumatra surrendered unconditionally.

A day after the arrival of the Japanese, Captain Sakaguchi, speaking in French,[102] was the first to introduce himself at the meeting with Sukarno presenting his official identification card as a member of the Sendenbu (宣伝部, Propaganda Department).

One notable development during this period was the establishment of the Komite Rakjat (People's Committee) by Sukarno,[116] as a temporary government to maintain calm in the region as Japanese troops consolidated their power.

For Yano Kenzo, this initiative served as a means to bring together the diverse components of West Sumatran society—including adat leaders, Islamic groups, the intelligentsia, nationalists, and even socialists—closer to the Japanese administration, with himself acting as a bridge between them.

[167] Even with accommodating policies, the Japanese attempted to introduce Shintoism,[170] the state religion of Japan, but found little success among the Minangkabau people, who remained firmly rooted in Islamic teachings.

[187] For Japan, the Heiho held both military and economic value, as thousands were deployed not only to battlefields but also to perform grueling physical labor on heavy infrastructure projects in Burma, Thailand, and the Philippines.

[187] By May 1943, the system failed to bring results;[188] with General Masazumi Inada, the architect of the a native army across the Southern area, once concluded that the Heiho units could not solve problems, even tended to jeopardise Japan's defense.

Padang, as the main and most strategically significant city on the west coast of Sumatra, served as the primary stronghold against a potential Allied invasion from the Indian Ocean, which was expected to target the Japanese occupation's central command in inland Bukittinggi.

[223] During the Japanese occupation, he rose to the rank of Keishi (district chief of police) after undergoing training in Syonan-to (Singapore), funded by first governor of West Sumatra, Yano Kenzo.

[232] By the closing stages of World War II, economic hardship imposed by the 25th Army and widespread pressure felt by the people of Sumatra led to growing disillusionment and discontent toward the Japanese occupying forces.

Seeking independence, these groups operated both covertly and openly, as public sentiment turned increasingly against the Japanese, particularly with the realization that the Allies were gaining the upper hand in the war and dissatisfaction with the direct rule of the 25th Army over the region.

Local leaders in Padang Panjang, including Dr. A. Rahim Usman, Bagindo Azizchan, and Jusuf, sought to address these concerns by forming a committee to oversee the recruitment process.

[45][46] Efforts to promote adult education aimed at advancing societal progress and intelligence were limited for a significant period with the situation during the Japanese occupation remained largely unchanged from that during the Dutch colonial era.

While initially driven by strategic considerations[207] as well as economic value from resources such as oil, rubber, and tin,[123] this belief was later reinforced by political demands requiring Japan to reject the use of the term and concept of Indonesia.

[257] After the fall of the Tōjō Cabinet, Madjid Usman, who was in Kōfu under house arrest at the time, was invited by members of the Taisei-Yokusankai (Imperial Rule Assistance Association) to Tokyo, including prominent journalists such as Akira Asano, Rintaro Takeda, Uio Tomisawa, and other notable Japanese figures.

[281] It was not until 21 August 1945 that the Sumatra Radio Transmitter resumed broadcasting with a brief announcement in Indonesian, declaring:[277] "His Majesty the Emperor [Tenno Heika] has ordered the cessation of the war, and the former Japanese cabinet has been dissolved.

If questioned about the proclamation by the Allies, Yano assured Jahja that he would turn a blind eye and feign ignorance regarding the matter, effectively allowing the Indonesian efforts to proceed without interference.

[284] Initially, Moehammad Sjafei was hesitant to accept the responsibility of leadership in West Sumatra, requiring persistent persuasion from figures like Ismael Lengah, Jahja Djalil, Arifin Aliep, Kaharani Sini, Abdul Aziz, Sulaiman, B.M.

Republican forces in West Sumatra maintained control over their region and successfully operated their own administration until the end of 1948, largely unaffected by the limited Dutch presence confined to the port city of Padang.