Memre Boekoe barracks
Paramaribo, Suriname
Jeeps at a military parade (1947)
Memre Boekoe barracks is located in Paramaribo
Memre Boekoe barracks
Memre Boekoe barracks
Location within Paramaribo
Coordinates5°49′36″N 55°10′42″W / 5.82668°N 55.17828°W / 5.82668; -55.17828
TypeHeadquarters / Barracks
Site information
OwnerSuriname Ministry of Defence
OperatorSuriname National Army
Site history
In useWorld War II to Present
Garrison information
OccupantsSurinamese Land Forces

The Memre Boekoe barracks (Dutch: Memre Boekoe-kazerne) is a military installation in Paramaribo, Suriname. It was constructed during World War II as barracks for the American soldiers stationed in Suriname. It was originally named Kampement Gemenelandsweg. In 1950, it was renamed Prins Bernhard kampement. After the independence of Suriname on 25 November 1975, it was renamed Memre Boekoe barracks after Fort Boekoe, a fort used during the Boni Wars. It is currently used as the headquarters of the Surinamese Land Forces.

History

Suriname was a major producer of bauxite which is used to make aluminium, a vital resource for the aircraft industry. Between 1940 and 1943, Suriname supplied 65% of American imports of bauxite. On 1 September 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made an offer to Queen Wilhelmina, to station 3,000 soldiers in Suriname.[1] The number of troops was later revised to 2,000 soldiers who started to arrive from November 1941 onwards.[2] To house the troops, land was bought from farmers near Paramaribo, and Kampement Gemenelandsweg was constructed. It would become the largest barracks in Suriname.[3]

After World War II, the barracks were turned over to the Netherlands Armed Forces in Suriname. In 1950, it was renamed Prins Bernhard kampement after Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld.[4] The barracks were the first stop for soldiers serving in Suriname.[5]

After the independence of Suriname on 25 November 1975, it was renamed Memre Boekoe barracks meaning "remember Boekoe" which refers to Fort Boekoe, a fort used during the Boni Wars by the Aluku to defend against the colonial troops.[6] Memre Boekoe was designated the headquarters of the Surinamese Land Forces.[7]

On the night of 24 to 25 February 1980, Desi Bouterse committed a coup d'état. The first objective was to take the Memre Boekoe barracks. Lieutenant van Aalst who was on guard duty that night was killed during the fighting. During the coup, the barracks were used to intern captured politicians.[8][9] On the night of 10 to 11 March 1982, Surendre Rambocus committed a counter-coup, and captured Memre Boekoe.[10] Rambocus was betrayed and subsequently captured. He was killed on 8 December 1982 as part of the December murders.[11]

The Memre Boekoe barracks are still in use as the headquarters, however it is no longer in use as barracks to house soldiers.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Het Prinses Irene detachement in Suriname". Parbode (in Dutch). 22 February 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Tweede wereldoorlog". TRIS Online (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Prins inspecteerde kampement". Trouw via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 3 November 1955. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Prins Bernhard maakt rondreis door Paramaribo". Nieuwe Haarlemsche courant via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 14 February 1950. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Prins Bernhard kampement". Tris Online (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  6. ^ John Jansen van Galen. "Een staatsgreep en Suriname: het leken onverenigbare begrippen". NPO Radio 1 (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Nieuwe leiding Nationaal Leger Suriname geïnstalleerd". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  8. ^ "NPS-leider Rusland: '25 februari 1980 was ondermijning van de democratie'". Suriname Mirror (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Wat gebeurde er in dit jaar in de maand Februari". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  10. ^ "De Slachtoffers". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Soerendra Rambocus". Decembermoorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
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