War, Cooperation, and Conflict: The European Possessions in the Caribbean, 1939-1945

(Hardback)

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This carefully researched study is the first to chronicle the history of Allied involvement in the defense of British, French, and Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. The study is extremely well researched and well written. . . . The definitive work in this particular area of historical research, based on all available sources in English, French, and Dutch, published and unpublished. Choice Although few military campaigns were fought in the Caribbean, the region had strategic importance throughout World War II for the United States and its allies. This carefully researched study is the first to chronicle the history of Allied involvement in the defense of British, French, and Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. The first chapter examines the events and diplomacy that led in 1939 to Britain's granting the United States permission to base military facilities in Bermuda, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and to the creation of the Caribbean Sea Frontier. Later chapters detail the troubled course of British-American cooperation as U.S. military commitments--and regional dominance--increased. Also described is the role of the Netherlands, with Britain and the United States, in the defense of the oil and bauxite reserves in the Dutch Caribbean territories, and the friction between Britain and the United States over French Caribbean possessions. The final chapters analyze strategic shifts occuring as a result of the war and influencing postwar settlements negotiated for the region.

Reviews

The first comparative and comprehensive study covering the activities in the British, French, Dutch, and American possessions in the Caribbean and Guianas during WW II. Although the region was not directly involved in major activities of the war, it still played an important and interesting role of strategic importance. Baptiste has diligently covered the framework of defense of the European Caribbean during the last year before the war, the initial activities in the Caribbean area at the beginning of the war, influence of the defeat of the Netherlands in the Dutch West Indies, US involvement, and the influence of the defeat of France in the French West Indies and Guiana. He also discusses establishment of the Caribbean/Western Atlantic bases, the entry of US forces into Dutch Surinam and their involvement in the defense of Aruba and Curacao, the battle of the Caribbean from February 1942 to August 1943, the struggle between Vichy France and the Free French in the Caribbean, and the entire Caribbean as part of the concern of the UN. The study is extremely well researched and is well written. Good index, lists of abbreviations, and a number of maps and charts.-Choice
"The first comparative and comprehensive study covering the activities in the British, French, Dutch, and American possessions in the Caribbean and Guianas during WW II. Although the region was not directly involved in major activities of the war, it still played an important and interesting role of strategic importance. Baptiste has diligently covered the framework of defense of the European Caribbean during the last year before the war, the initial activities in the Caribbean area at the beginning of the war, influence of the defeat of the Netherlands in the Dutch West Indies, US involvement, and the influence of the defeat of France in the French West Indies and Guiana. He also discusses establishment of the Caribbean/Western Atlantic bases, the entry of US forces into Dutch Surinam and their involvement in the defense of Aruba and Curacao, the battle of the Caribbean from February 1942 to August 1943, the struggle between Vichy France and the Free French in the Caribbean, and the entire Caribbean as part of the concern of the UN. The study is extremely well researched and is well written. Good index, lists of abbreviations, and a number of maps and charts."-Choice

Author Bio

FITZROY ANDRE BAPTISTE is a Senior Lecturer in African and Asian Studies, at the University of the West Indies (Trinidad).