Colombia during World War II
| Colombia during World War II | |
|---|---|
A Colombian AT-6 Texan in 1940.
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| Location | Republic of Colombia |
| Date | 1939–1945 |
| Casualties | ~23 killed |
| Events | Severing of relations – December 1941 The Roamar Incident – July 21, 1942 Declaration of war – November 26, 1943 The U-154 Incident – March 29, 1944 The Pasto Coup – July 1944 |
| History of the Republic of Colombia | |
|---|---|
 Graphical timeline
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| 1899–1902 | |
| 1903 | |
| 1932–1933 | |
| 1939–1945 |
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| 1948–1958 | |
| 1958–1974 | |
| 1964–present | |
The history of Colombia during World War II began in 1939. Although geographically distant from the main theaters of war, Colombia played an important role in World War II because of its strategic location near the Panama Canal, and its access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Colombia also experienced major changes to its military and society, due to increased influence from the United States, but it was also able to maintain its sovereignty throughout the war, and avoid sending troops into battle.
Colombia ceased diplomatic relations with the Axis powers in December 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and finally entered the war on the Allies' side on November 26, 1943, after a series of German U-boat attacks on Colombian ships. Despite the declaration, Colombia did not send an army overseas, but its navy was active in countering U-boat operations in the Caribbean.
The economic dislocation created by World War II impacted Colombia significantly. Firstly, Colombia was cut off from European and Asian markets, leaving the United States as its primary market for exports. Secondly, Colombia's imports were also dramatically affected, and again the United States was the sole source of many goods, such as rayon yarn, steel, machinery, graphite, and lead.
One of the primary concerns was the price of coffee, Colombia's largest export and the main source of its foreign exchange. The American Office of Price Administration (OPA) attempted to have the maximum price of coffee frozen at the level existing on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, Colombia objected on the basis that the cost of producing and transporting coffee had increased due to wartime conditions, and, if the price was not adjusted to factor in these conditions, the economy would decline. The OPA relented, and agreed to raise prices immediately and to adjust them in the future based on increased production and transportation costs.
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