11 Jun The Plot to Destroy the Panama Canal During World War II
By Natalie Warner
World War II occurred over 70 years ago, and yet, it still makes for some interesting conversations. One reason for this is due to how many countries were involved‑ even if they were not actively fighting in the war. Involvement of the Panama/US relations regarding the Panama Canal was no exception. Germany orchestrated a plan to attack the Panama Canal. The plan named Operation Pelikan, also known as Project 14, could have heavily altered the course of World War II.
The Panama Canal played a large role in transporting US troops and military supplies needed to participate in the Pacific Theater. It was thought that the destruction of the Canal would force the US military to go around Cape Horn in South America, resulting in an additional 14 days of traveling time. This theory motivated the planning stages of Operation Pelikan.
United States State Department officials recognized the vulnerability of the Panama Canal and considered it to be a high target for espionage. They knew that the Canal was not only critical for military purposes, but for commercial purposes as well. Both the US Army and US Navy partook in defending the 10 mi (16km) path of the Canal Zone.
Spies and the potential for espionage were everywhere. It was known that as far back as the 1930s, Japanese spies took undercover photos of the Canal. These photos also included pictures of military defense systems. The US government suspected that the Germans wanted to take the Panama Canal for their own military purposes. One theory was that Nazis would plan an attack on US soil. This was unlikely however, as the Nazis had already acquired landing strips in both Costa Rica and Colombia.
Planning Operation Pelikan
A replica of the Canal was created on a small, deserted island off Wannsee, Germany. Nazi officials brought in an engineer from Breslau, Germany, who was considered to be a leading expert on the construction of the Panama Canal. The goal was to experiment and identify ways to inflict the most irreparable damage during an attack.
The Gatun spillway was determined to be the most vulnerable target. One reason was that it lacked fortified military protection. Interestingly enough, the US military discovered the spillway’s vulnerability during a routine training exercise.
The plan
Operation Pelikan was completed in 1943. It was determined that two, Ju 87 Stukas with folding wings would be transported via U-boats to unnamed Colombian islands near the Panamanian coastline. Once at these islands, the bomber planes would be reassembled and armed with bombs to attack the Gatun spillway. Participants were to reconvene at an unknown, neutral South American country following the attack.
The operation was called off at the last minute for unknown reasons. Rumors suggested that the mission had been compromised. Operation Elster, an attack on the mainland of the US would replace Operation Pelikan.
Operation Pelikan was not the only instance that the Panama Canal was a target during World War II. The Panama Canal was and still is considered a valuable resource for marine transpiration. While the attacks never occurred, the loss of the Panama Canal could have heavily impacted resources during World War II.