ALLIED TROOPS IN ARUBA

At the outbreak of war in Europe in 1940 Aruba was deemed strategically important to the Allies because of the Lago Oil Refinery (ESSO, Standard Oil of New Jersey) at San Nicholaas [San Nicholas] and the Eagle Refinery (Royal Dutch Shell) in Oranjestad. For this reason even before America entered the was allied troops of different nationalities were stationed on Aruba.

In the early morning hours of April 9, 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway and the rest of Europe realize Germany is on the move again.  Then in May 10 of 1940 Germany launched the Battle of the Netherlands [Slam om Nederland] by pounding the Netherlands with airstrikes, and on May 15, 1940 Holland surrendered to the Nazis. At the same time Germany attacked Holland they also attacked France, Belgium and Luxembourg.  France held out longer than Holland against the onslaught of German forces, but  on June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with Nazi Germany.

With the action in Europe France, Holland and Britain realized that the refineries on the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curacao were in danger of being taken by the Germans and these refiners were the source of the majority of the gasoline that powered what war machinery the allies had.  On the evening of May 10, 194 180 French marines from the island of Martinique arrived on Aruba to aid in the island's defense. These French troops were the closest available and France was still not occupied by Germany.

With the armistice between France and Germany the loyalty of the French troops became questionable.  The United States had not entered the war so it was left to Britain to send troops to defend Aruba and Curacao.  On July 6, the French marines were replaced with 120 British soldiers. In September the British soldiers were replaced by the 4th Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders.

CLICK HERE OR ON PHOTO TO SEE MORE ABOUT THE 4TH BATTALION QUEENS OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS

 In December an artillery unit from the Royal Netherlands East Indian Army [Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger, KNIL] arrived on Aruba. It was these troops that installed the 7.5 inch guns at Juana Morto.

CLICK HERE OR ON PHOTO TO SEE STORY OF THE 7.5 INCH GUNS
In January 1942 the Highlanders were replaced by 1,000 soldiers from the United States of America.  U.S. soldiers were stationed on Aruba until the end of World War II in 1945.  It was the U.S. troops who installed the 105 mm Howitzers at Colorado Point.

CLICK HERE OR ON PHOTO TO SEE MORE ABOUT THE HOWITZERS AT COLORADO POINT
Prior to the war the 253rd C.A. (TD) was a semi mobile 155 mm gun regiment of the Puerto Rico National Guard. In June 1944, the regiment had been reorganized at Camp O’Reilly in anticipation of being sent to replace those elements of the 252nd C.A. on Aruba and Curaçao. With arrival of the 253rd in the Netherlands West Indies in November 1944, the departure of the continental coast artillery troops began in earnest. Battery A of the 253rd was posted on Curaçao and took over the 90 mm AMTB battery manned by the 815th Battery and the 155 mm guns formerly manned by Battery F, 252nd C.A.; while Battery B of the 253rd took over the 155 mm guns manned by Battery A of the 252nd on Aruba.
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