Liberia in World War II

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American troops in Liberia during World War II

Liberia did not become militarily involved in World War II until January 1944, with the election of William Tubman, at which time the country declared war on Germany and Japan. However, even before the start of Liberia's official military involvement, the nation participated in the war for two years under the terms of a Defense Agreement with the United States. Apart from Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka) and the Belgian Congo, Liberia possessed one of the few remaining sources of rubber for the Allies. To guarantee a steady supply of rubber from the world's largest rubber plantation, operated at Harbel by the Firestone Company since 1926, the US government built roads throughout the country, created an international airport (known as Robertsfield Airport), and transformed the capital, Monrovia, by building a deep water port (the Freeport of Monrovia).

In 1943, the deployment of the 25th Station Hospital represented the first African American medical unit to be sent overseas, to Liberia.^[1]

In 1944, with its entry into the war, Liberia adopted the US dollar and became one of only four countries in Africa to join the newly formed United Nations.

The Africa-Middle East Theater of Operations was "established on March 1, 1945, was mainly concerned with the liquidation of the Army's property holdings and other interests in Africa, Palestine, and the Persian Gulf area. The North African installations of the Mediterranean Theater and its base commands at Casablanca were transferred to the new Theater in March 1945; the United States Army Forces in Liberia were transferred to it in April 1945."^[2] "The United States Army Forces in Liberia were subsequently under the North African Service Command, which was the former Mediterranean Base Section, at Casablanca. By 1946 all [the Town Commands] except the agency at Casablanca were discontinued."^[2]

See also[]

• Liberia in World War I

References[]

• Sherman, Frank. Liberia: The Land, Its People, History and Culture. Intercontinental Books, 2010.

External links[]

• The Minister in Liberia (Walton) to the Secretary of State, No. 116, Monrovia, June 9, 1943. Received June 23. "alleged reprehensible conduct on the part of American soldiers toward Liberian citizens residing outside the designated military area, which protests were brought by the American Minister to the attention of the Commanding General of USAFIL."