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LOCAL Wednesday 16 February 2022

Feb 16, 1942

Commemorating 80 years of the attack on Aruba during World War II

SAN NICOLAS — The small Antilla was anchored at and in December 1940 the
island of Aruba played a Malmok. Since it was now a first batch appeared. To
very important role in the ship belonging to a nation meet the need for shelter
Second World War. At that with which the Netherlands for the military, construc-
time, the Lago was one of was at war, the ship was sur- tion was done in Oranjes-
the largest refineries in the rounded by soldiers and the tad and in Savaneta. In
world in terms of produc- crew was ordered to sur- Oranjestad, a shelter for
tion. The gasoline refined render. When threatened officers was built, which
at Lago was used for the with violence, the crew after the war served as a
Allied planes and so the is- boarded lifeboats and the so-called pasanggrahan
land became a vital point captain set the ship on fire. and then continued to
in the Western Hemisphere: It broke in half and sank just serve as a government of-
for the Americans to de- offshore. The crew was de- fice for decades. Behind
fend and for the Germans tained and later transferred it, the NCO's quarters was
to attack. Torpedoes were to the internment camp on built, which later became
fired on ships and on the Bonaire, as well as other the Recipient's Office. The
Aruban coast. Germans living or staying buildings along the harbor The photograph below was taken in 2005 by Steve Fremgen. This
on the island. On the eve- of Oranjestad, which after is what remains of the foundations for gun emplacements on top
Already in 1939, when the ning of May 10, 180 French the war were converted of Colorado Point during World War II. This was part of the gun
threat of war was in the marines landed in Aruba into a cinema, restaurant system intended to defend the island and refinery. The guns
air, the first measures were to assist in the defense of and department stores were removed in 1945, soon after the war was over. These foun-
taken for the defense of the island. The Lago was by businessman De Veer, dations are 77 years old at this time. These guns could rotate
the island and the refinery. reinforced with anti-aircraft were converted during 360 degrees.
At Juana Morto, the high- guns and Oranjestad and the war as canteens and diers arrived in Aruba, after wire and guarded by
est point on the eastern San Nicolas were darkened dormitories. In Savaneta a which the Scots left again. American soldiers.
part of the island, a coastal at night, as were the two camp was built for Scottish Heavy American bomb-
battery was built with views refineries, the Lago and the troops (The Cameron High- ers visited Aruba and the The Attack
over the refinery and the Arend. landers) and after the war Dakota airport was actu- On the night of February
North and West coasts. In July 1940, the French for the Dutch Marine Corps. ally too small for that. The 16, a large-scale attack
Aruba was regularly visited troops were relieved by runway was extended and by the German submarine
by German ships in those English and Scottish troops. In late 1941, America be- had to be re-paved. Large U-156 took place. Several
years, but when the Ger- Aruba itself only had a came involved in the war camouflaged parking torpedoes hit ships lying
mans invaded the Nether- small regiment of soldiers, and the entire Caribbean spaces for the American off the coast or in port. The
lands and war broke out the Volunteer Korps Aruba came under American planes were built around Pedernales was the first, the
between the two coun- (V.K.A.). That is why con- surveillance. In January the airport. The area was Oranjestad the next to be
tries, only the German ship scription was introduced 1942 the first American sol- cordoned off with barbed hit. Both ships caught fire
and sank. More followed
that night. The number of
victims was large. Some
Arubans, still unaware of
the importance of being
darkened during a bom-
bardment in the dark,
turned on their lights in the
house and drove the car,
headlights on, to the coast,
hoping to spot the subma-
rine.

Continued on Page 10