The Hukbalahap was the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), forme in 1942 to fight the Japanese Empire's occupation of the Philippines during World War II. It fought a second war from 1946 to 1954 against the pro-Western leaders of their newly independent country. The term is a contraction of the Filipino term "Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon", which means "People's Army Against the Japanese." The group is more commonly known as Huks.