Portuguese Colonial War

February 4, 1961 – April 25, 1974 · Portuguese Angola

Result Carnation Revolution

Portugal fought independence movements in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. The war ended after the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, and the colonies became independent.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

MPLA

Portugal

MPLA

UNITA

African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde

FNLA

Portugal

José Eduardo dos Santos belligerent leader

Agostinho Neto belligerent leader Lúcio Lara belligerent leader

Aristides Pereira belligerent leader

João Bernardo Vieira belligerent leader

Luís Cabral belligerent leader

Joaquim Chissano belligerent leader

Samora Moisés Machel belligerent leader

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Amílcar Cabral belligerent leader

Álvaro Holden Roberto military commander

Jonas Malheiro Savimbi military commander

Américo Tomás belligerent leader

António de Spínola belligerent leader

Francisco da Costa Gomes belligerent leader

António de Oliveira Salazar belligerent leader

Marcelo Caetano belligerent leader

Strength and losses

Casualties: c. 41,000
Killed: 41,000–46,000

Units

Portuguese Air Force

Battles 4

Angolan War of Independence February 4, 1961 – April 25, 1974 · Alvor Agreement
Indian annexation of Goa December 1961 – December 19, 1961 · Indian victory
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence January 23, 1963 – September 10, 1974
- Operation Green Sea November 22, 1970
Mozambican War of Independence September 25, 1964 – September 8, 1974 · Lusaka Accord
- Operation Gordian Knot July 6 – August 6, 1970 · Portuguese victory