World War II: Iceland

Iceland World war II
Figure 1.--The United States relieved the British in protecting Iceland from the NAZIs (June 1941). Here an Icelandic newsboy takes advantage of a new order issued by the U.S. military authoritiesv that all hitch hikers are to be given a lift. The photograph was taken July 31, 1942. Source: U.S. Army Signal Corps. No. 13412.

Iceland in the medieval era became a dependency of Norway ans subsequently the Danish crown. The Danish monarchy granted Iceland a constitution (1874). Denmark through the Act of Union recognized Iceland as a separate state with unlimited sovereignty. The country, however, retained its ties to Denmark as it continued to be nominally under the Danish monarchy. Iceland like Denmark and many other countries wsanted to remain neutral as Europe moved toward war. NAZI Germany requested landing rights for Lufthansa trans-Atlantic flights (1939). The Icelanders denined the request. After the War began, NAZI Germany invaded and occupied Denmark (April 1940). King Christian X remained it Denmark and did what he could to support his people. The NAZI action shocked Icelanders. The Germans in World War I respected Danish neutrality. The British after the NAZI invasion of Denmark requested bases to ensure that the NAZIs would not also take over Iceland. The Icelandic Goverrnment was still determined to remain neutral and rejected the British request. This seems somewhat difficult to understand. Surely it was obvious that the NAZIs would also seize Iceland once they had the military capability. The NAZIs did not have the naval capability in 1940 to hold Iceland even if they somehow could take it. The British hard-pressed in the North Atlantic were not prepared to take a chance. They proceeded to occupy Reykjavík (May 10, 1940). A German airbase in Iceland would have meant defeat for Britain in the Battle of the Atlantic. The British action was probably promted more to secure vital air bases for convoy protection than any imminent danger of NAZI invasion. Most Icelanders were displeased, but understood the British action. Many were in a sence releaved that it was the British, unlke the NAZIs in Denmark. The British wanted to ensure that the Germans would not be able to use the country as an air and naval base in the Battle of the Atlantic. Iceland in British hands played a key role in closing the air gap in which German U-boats could opperate. After the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941), some of the Arctic convoys ferrying supplied to that embatteled country were formed off Iceland. President Roosevelt ordered the American Marines (1st Marine Brigade) to replace the British (June 1941) even before America entered the War. The Brigade took responsibility for the defense of Iceland which released the British troops for duty elsewhere where the British were actively fighting the Germans. The Icelandic Government maintained an official neutral status during the War, but in fact cooperated closely with the Allies. A popular referendum voted for complete independence from Denmark which was confirmed by the Althing, the Icelandic parliament (June 17, 1944).

Danish Monarchy

Iceland in the medieval era became a dependency of Norway ans subsequently the Danish crown. The Danish monarchy granted Iceland a constitution (1874). Denmark through the Act of Union recognized Iceland as a separate state with unlimited sovereignty. The country, however, retained its ties to Denmark as it continued to be nominally under the Danish monarchy.

Neutrality

Iceland like Denmark and many other countries wanted to remain neutral as Europe moved toward war. NAZI Germany requested landing rights for Lufthansa trans-Atlantic flights (1939). The Icelanders denined the request. We are not sure just what the Germans had in mind. It may have been a corporate move or it may have been inspired by the military. Important information can be obtained through commercial contacts.

Icelandic Military

Iceland as a self-governin part of the Danish Kingdom relied on Demark for its defense. But as Denmark itself had no substantial military force this meant that Iceland could hardly rely on Denmark. and on its own the country could not afford to build a creditable militray force. Before the rise of the NAZIs there was no real security threat to Iceland. Iceland’s military was comprised of poorly armed 300 reservists and 0 active duty soldiers. This placed it as the smallest and most poorly armed army in World War II. In the iternational system that was developing, security for small countries such as Belgium, the Nethrlands, the Baltics, Luxembour and Denmark was possible. This had been a n issue in World War I when Germany invaded neural Belgium. With the rise of the gret totalitarian powers (Communist Soviet Union, Fascist Italy, NAZI Germany, and militarist Imperial Jaoan), however, fudamentally changed the world balance. Iceland and many other countries did not understand this.

German Invasion of Denmark (April 1940)

After the War began, NAZI Germany invaded and occupied Denmark and Norway (April 1940). King Christian X remained it Denmark and did what he could to support his people. The NAZI action shocked Icelanders. The Germans in World War I had respected Danish neutrality. The Icelanders after the NAZI invasion of Denmark assumed control for their own foreign policy and proclaimed its neutrality.

British Intervention (May 1940)

Iceland with its minimal army was incapable of defending the country. Its vulnerability and strategic importance raised concerns in Britain. The British after the NAZI invasion of Denmark requested bases to ensure that the NAZIs would not also take over Iceland. The Icelandic Goverrnment despite the NAI invasion of Denmark was still determined to remain neutral and rejected the British request. This seems somewhat difficult to understand. Surely it was obvious that the NAZIs would also seize Iceland once they had the military capability. The NAZIs did not have the naval capability in 1940 to hold Iceland even if they somehow could take it. The British hard-pressed in the North Atlantic were not prepared to take a chance. They proceeded to occupy Reykjavík (May 10, 1940). Four British warships with over 700 marines docked in Rejivik. The Icelandic Army sensibly surrendered the moment the British landed and cooperated with the occupying authorities. A German airbase in Iceland would have meant defeat for Britain in the Battle of the Atlantic. The British action was probably promted more to secure vital air bases for convoy protection than any imminent danger of NAZI invasion. Most Icelanders were displeased, but understood the British action. Many were in a sence releaved that it was the British, unlke the NAZIs in Denmark. The British wanted to ensure that the Germans would not be able to use the country as an air and naval base in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Battle of the Atlantic

The naval campaigns are often given superficial coverage in assessments of World War II in Europe. In fact, the most important battle of the War was the Battle of the Atlantic. Churchill was to write after the War that it was the the loss Battle of the Atlantic that was the only thing he feared. Battles could be lost or won, but the cutting of Britain's life lines to the Dominions and especially America would have made it impossible for Britain to have continued the War. It was no accident that Anglo-American military cooperation began in the North Atlantic well before America entered the War. Hitler on the other hnd gave lttle attention to the U-boat fleet until after the War began. Hitler and approved Plan-Z, a secret plan to prepare the Kriegsmarine for war with Britain by 1944. It involved the construction of seizemassive capital ships and two aircraft carriers. The Germans with U-boats, surface fleet, and long range aircraft hope to cut off Britain from its Empire and supply from the United States. Although neutral in the early years of the War, President Roosevelt was determine to support the Allies. A few days after the fall of France in 1940, a sjocked American Congress approvd the Naval Construction Act. The immediate impact of the fall of France in 1940 tremendosly increased the effectiveness of the German naval campaign, providing indespenseable French Atlantic ports. The Royal Navy had ben strongly depleted during the inter-war era by naval limitations traties. After France fell, the Royal Navy stood alone againt the German ans Italian navies. The Germans had a growing surface fleet and the Italian a fast modrn fleet that threatened to seize control of the Mediterannean. The the German u-boat operations proved highly effective, despite the fact that Hitler launched the War years beore the Kriegsmarine was prepared. Even before America entered the War, the U.S. Navy was deployed in the North Atlantic to protect British convoys. Anglo-American naval and scientific cooperaion resulted in the defeat of the u-boat campain by 1943. Combined with American construction of liberty ships, not only was Britain kept supplied, but America assembled a massive force of men and supplies in England that in 1944 was unleased on Hitler's Atlantic Wall.

Importance of Iceland

Iceland was vital in the Battle of the Atlantic. Before America entered the War, the German U-boats operated primarily in the eastern North Atlantic so as to avoid violating the Western Hemisphere security zone declared by President Roosevelt who eventually initiated an undeclared naval war. (Hitler was anxious to keep America out of the War until he defeated Britain and the Soviet Union and ordered his U-boat captains to avoid incidents with the Americans.) Iceland's primary importance was to provide air cover over the Western approaches to protect the vital Atlantic convoys which kept Britain in the War. U-boats could not attack while their were aircraft overhead because they became easy targets. American and British escorts also used Icelandic ports. After America entered the War, the U-boats could widen their attacks, but Iceland continued to be important in providing air cover over the Western approaches. Iceland played a key role in closing the air gap in which German U-boats could opperate.

Arctic Convoys

After the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941), some of the Arctic convoys ferrying supplied to that embatteled country were formed off Iceland.

American Intervention (June 1941)

President Roosevelt ordered the American Marines (1st Marine Brigade) to replace the British (June 1941) even before America entered the War. The Brigade took responsibility for the defense of Iceland which released the British troops for duty elsewhere where the British were actively fighting the Germans.

War Policy

The Icelandic Government maintained an official neutral status during the War, but in fact cooperated closely with the Allies.

Republic Proclaimed (1944)

While the British and Americans intervned in Iceland, they did not take any action aginst the Icelandic Government which continued to function without Allied interference. A popular referendum voted for complete independence from Denmark which was confirmed by the Althing, the Icelandic parliament (June 17, 1944). As part of the independence actio, a republic was proclaimed.






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Created: 4:56 AM 12/16/2007
Last updated: 7:01 AM 7/21/2016