Suriname during World War II

The history of Suriname during World War II was mainly focused on protecting the bauxite industry and guarding the borders with French Guiana which was part of Vichy France.

From November 1941 onwards, 2,000 American troops were stationed in Suriname who transformed Airstrip Zanderij into a major airport, and constructed defensive works.

[2] Suriname was a major producer of bauxite which is used to make aluminium, a vital resource for the aircraft industry.

[4] On 1 September 1941, three months before Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made an offer to Queen Wilhelmina to station 3,000 soldiers in Suriname.

[1] In December 1941, the troops started to transform Airstrip Zanderij into the largest airport of South America at the time.

[10] The border with French Guiana, part of Vichy France, was a major concern, and was defended by the Schutterij.

[13] Governor Johannes Kielstra used the state of emergency to increase his power and circumvent the Estates of Suriname.

[14]: 160  In 1943, he would use his increased authority against political opponents like Eddy Bruma and Otto Huiswoud who were arrested and imprisoned without trial.

[15][16] On 23 July,[17] Wim Bos Verschuur, a member of the Estates, petitioned Queen Wilhelmina to remove Kielstra from office.

At Camp Victory, which was given with extraterritorial rights to the Dutch government-in-exile, formed as part of the 1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL).

The soldiers were very poorly treated by their Dutch commanders, with being denied medical care, social services and only paid in virtually worthless Japanese Invasion Money.

They were also forbidden to visit the town of Casino and not to mix with the local population, due to the racist ideology of their Dutch officers.