March 10, 2025 • 7 mins
On this episode of Our American Stories, Iceland's strategic location made it difficult to remain neutral during World War II. Here’s the History Guy with the story.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American People.
And to search for the Our American Stories podcast, go
to the iHeartRadio app, to Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts. Up next, the story comes to us
from a man who's simply known as the History Guy.
(00:33):
His videos are watched by hundreds of thousands of people
of all ages on YouTube. The History Guy is also
a regular contributor for us here and Our American Stories.
Iceland's strategic location made it difficult to remain neutral during
the events of World War II. Here's the History Guy
(00:53):
with the story.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic of approximately
one hundred three thousand square kilometers. Its population of about
three hundred and fifty thousand people today makes it the
most sparsely populated nation in.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Europe, and in nineteen forty.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Its population was just one third that number. Iceland had
gained independence from Denmark in nineteen eighteen through the Danish
Icelandic Act of Union. In the Act, the two states
had formed a personal union, meaning that Iceland recognized the
King of Denmark, but Iceland gained full control of state affairs.
Iceland controlled its internal business and declared neutrality, but shared
defense in foreign affairs as well as the monarch. Most
(01:33):
of the nation's population was engaged in farming or fishing,
and they had a small coast guard no standing army.
Its position was, however, strategic, sitting in the North Atlantic
be a perfect location for air and naval bases to
either protect or to interdict trade between Europe and the
United States. At the outbreak of the Second World War,
Britain imposed export controls on icelandic exports to Germany as
(01:55):
part of its blockade, further depressing Iceland's economy, which had
been hit hard during the Great Depression. Britain, however, offered
Iceland assistants and sought to make them an ally and
a belligerent that would allow Britain to not only operate
bases from Iceland, but also to prepare a defense against
any German attempt to take the island. But Iceland refused,
instead choosing as dead Denmark to remain neutral, dissollowing visits
(02:18):
by military vessels at aircraft of the belligerents. Germany invaded
Denmark Keple nine nineteen forty as a prelude to their
invasion of Norway. Outmatched, the Danish armed forces were only
able to resist for a brief battle. The German ground
campaign lasted only six hours, and the Danish government capitulated
for fear that resistance would cause the Germans to bomb
the capital of Copenhagen. The invasion demonstrated that Hitler did
(02:40):
not feel the need to respect neutrality. Despite the conquest
of Norway, Denmark continued to affirm both their independence and
their neutrality. This put Great Britain in an awkward position,
as they were now considering invading Iceland in order to
prevent Germany from doing the same.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
The fear was not unfounded.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
After the conquest of Denmark and Norway, German Admiral Eric
Raider had presented a plan to invade Iceland called Operation Icarus.
Just as concerning to the British, the German presence in
Iceland had increased during the nineteen thirties. The German diplomatic
delegation had grown, and trade between the nations had increased.
Given the lack of a strong defense force, it was
even conceivable that the Germans, already in Iceland might be
(03:20):
enough to stage at coup in April, Britain occupied the
Faroe Islands, a small group of islands halfway between Norway
and Iceland that were a county of Denmark, under the
pretense of protecting the islands from German invasion. The government
in the Faraoh Islands protested but acquiesced to the British
occupation under the agreement that the British would not interfere
with their internal affairs. Indi end, Britain didn't need to
(03:43):
fear a German invasion of Iceland. While Germany determined that
it might be possible to take the island, they also
determined that they couldn't defend it against the Royal Navy,
and so that any garrison there would be cut off.
At the time, Hitler was still placing his hopes in
a negotiated peace with Great Britain, but unaware of Germany's plans,
written and decided to occupy Iceland. Churchill was even concerned
(04:04):
that further negotiations with Iceland could call the Germans to act,
and so on May sixth, the War Cabinet approved an expedition.
The operation had to be prepared quickly, so the unit
involved that the Second Royal Marines did not have adequate
time to prepare, and many of the troops were not
conditioned for sea travel. Traveling in cramped conditions aboard the
cruisers HMS Berwick and Glasgow, accompanied by destroyers HMIS Fearless
(04:26):
in fortune, many of the marines became seasick and one
of the new recruitees committed suicide. The British plan cod
named Operation Fork, called for surprise, but confused orders meant
that a supermarine Walrus float plane launched by HMS Berwick,
the scout for German submarines, flew over the capital of Reikievik,
alerting the Icelandic government. They dispatched their small force of
(04:47):
police officers with orders to tell the British that they
were in violation of Icelandic neutrality. The vanguard of the
British force, four hundred marines aboard HMS Fearless, arrived at
the port. The situation could have been tense, even though
the ice Slantic force was greatly outnumbered.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
However, there was no confrontation.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
The British consul asked the Icelandic police to hold back
the crowd so that the Marines could disembark, and they complied.
The British moved quickly to capture of the Germans that
they knew were on the island. The German consul complained
that Iceland was in neutral state and was promptly informed
that Denmark and Norway had been neutral states as well.
Iceland protested and officially maintained a position of neutality. However,
(05:25):
the de Factor cooperated with the British occupiers, who promised
favorable business agreements, not interference in Icelandic affairs, and the
withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war,
as well as to pay compensation for any damages. In addition,
the British agreed to hire no more than two thousy
two hundred Icelandic civilians so as not to disrupt the
island's farming and fishing industries.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
The island was occupied by.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
British and Canadian forces, but with troops needed elsewhere, Britain
asked the United States to take over the occupation in
June nineteen forty one. The change required the agreement of
the Icelandic Parliament and occurred six months before Pearl Harbor,
and so the US, still a neutral nation occupied neutral Iceland.
Iceland actually supported the shift, as England's survival in the
(06:06):
war was not guaranteed at that point, and they feared
an English defeat would result in a German occupation. The
US and Britain built bases in Iceland that were used
for air and naval patrols that helped to defend the
crucial line of supply between America and Canada in Britain
and the Soviet Union. It was during the occupation in
May nineteen forty four that Iceland held a referendum that
(06:27):
allowed the dissolution of the Union with Denmark and the
adoption of a new constitution. Allied forces vacated Iceland in
nineteen forty seven, but US forces were back in nineteen
fifty one to occupy a base after Iceland joined the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The occupation of Iceland during the
Second World War is still controversial among Icelanders. The United
(06:47):
States in Britain built things like roads, bridges, ports, hospitals,
and airports, and because there was so much economic development
due to the war, some Icelanders referred to the war
as the Blessed War, but others begrud the insult to
the nation's sovereignty, as well as the impacts some culture
that came to an island where at some times the
occupying forces represented fully a quarter of the population.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Greg Hengler and especial thanks as always
to the History Guy the story of Iceland and it's
American occupation during World War II. Here on our American Stories.
Here are in our American Stories, we bring you inspiring
(07:33):
stories of history, sports, business, faith, and love. Stories from
a great and beautiful country that need to be told.
But we can't do it without you. Our stories are
free to listen to, but they're not free to make.
If you love our stories in America like we do,
please go to our American Stories dot com and click
the donate button. Give a little, give a lot, help
(07:54):
us keep the great American stories coming. That's our American
Stories dot Com.
This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American People.
And to search for the Our American Stories podcast, go
to the iHeartRadio app, to Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts. Up next, the story comes to us
from a man who's simply known as the History Guy.
(00:33):
His videos are watched by hundreds of thousands of people
of all ages on YouTube. The History Guy is also
a regular contributor for us here and Our American Stories.
Iceland's strategic location made it difficult to remain neutral during
the events of World War II. Here's the History Guy
(00:53):
with the story.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic of approximately
one hundred three thousand square kilometers. Its population of about
three hundred and fifty thousand people today makes it the
most sparsely populated nation in.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Europe, and in nineteen forty.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Its population was just one third that number. Iceland had
gained independence from Denmark in nineteen eighteen through the Danish
Icelandic Act of Union. In the Act, the two states
had formed a personal union, meaning that Iceland recognized the
King of Denmark, but Iceland gained full control of state affairs.
Iceland controlled its internal business and declared neutrality, but shared
defense in foreign affairs as well as the monarch. Most
(01:33):
of the nation's population was engaged in farming or fishing,
and they had a small coast guard no standing army.
Its position was, however, strategic, sitting in the North Atlantic
be a perfect location for air and naval bases to
either protect or to interdict trade between Europe and the
United States. At the outbreak of the Second World War,
Britain imposed export controls on icelandic exports to Germany as
(01:55):
part of its blockade, further depressing Iceland's economy, which had
been hit hard during the Great Depression. Britain, however, offered
Iceland assistants and sought to make them an ally and
a belligerent that would allow Britain to not only operate
bases from Iceland, but also to prepare a defense against
any German attempt to take the island. But Iceland refused,
instead choosing as dead Denmark to remain neutral, dissollowing visits
(02:18):
by military vessels at aircraft of the belligerents. Germany invaded
Denmark Keple nine nineteen forty as a prelude to their
invasion of Norway. Outmatched, the Danish armed forces were only
able to resist for a brief battle. The German ground
campaign lasted only six hours, and the Danish government capitulated
for fear that resistance would cause the Germans to bomb
the capital of Copenhagen. The invasion demonstrated that Hitler did
(02:40):
not feel the need to respect neutrality. Despite the conquest
of Norway, Denmark continued to affirm both their independence and
their neutrality. This put Great Britain in an awkward position,
as they were now considering invading Iceland in order to
prevent Germany from doing the same.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
The fear was not unfounded.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
After the conquest of Denmark and Norway, German Admiral Eric
Raider had presented a plan to invade Iceland called Operation Icarus.
Just as concerning to the British, the German presence in
Iceland had increased during the nineteen thirties. The German diplomatic
delegation had grown, and trade between the nations had increased.
Given the lack of a strong defense force, it was
even conceivable that the Germans, already in Iceland might be
(03:20):
enough to stage at coup in April, Britain occupied the
Faroe Islands, a small group of islands halfway between Norway
and Iceland that were a county of Denmark, under the
pretense of protecting the islands from German invasion. The government
in the Faraoh Islands protested but acquiesced to the British
occupation under the agreement that the British would not interfere
with their internal affairs. Indi end, Britain didn't need to
(03:43):
fear a German invasion of Iceland. While Germany determined that
it might be possible to take the island, they also
determined that they couldn't defend it against the Royal Navy,
and so that any garrison there would be cut off.
At the time, Hitler was still placing his hopes in
a negotiated peace with Great Britain, but unaware of Germany's plans,
written and decided to occupy Iceland. Churchill was even concerned
(04:04):
that further negotiations with Iceland could call the Germans to act,
and so on May sixth, the War Cabinet approved an expedition.
The operation had to be prepared quickly, so the unit
involved that the Second Royal Marines did not have adequate
time to prepare, and many of the troops were not
conditioned for sea travel. Traveling in cramped conditions aboard the
cruisers HMS Berwick and Glasgow, accompanied by destroyers HMIS Fearless
(04:26):
in fortune, many of the marines became seasick and one
of the new recruitees committed suicide. The British plan cod
named Operation Fork, called for surprise, but confused orders meant
that a supermarine Walrus float plane launched by HMS Berwick,
the scout for German submarines, flew over the capital of Reikievik,
alerting the Icelandic government. They dispatched their small force of
(04:47):
police officers with orders to tell the British that they
were in violation of Icelandic neutrality. The vanguard of the
British force, four hundred marines aboard HMS Fearless, arrived at
the port. The situation could have been tense, even though
the ice Slantic force was greatly outnumbered.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
However, there was no confrontation.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
The British consul asked the Icelandic police to hold back
the crowd so that the Marines could disembark, and they complied.
The British moved quickly to capture of the Germans that
they knew were on the island. The German consul complained
that Iceland was in neutral state and was promptly informed
that Denmark and Norway had been neutral states as well.
Iceland protested and officially maintained a position of neutality. However,
(05:25):
the de Factor cooperated with the British occupiers, who promised
favorable business agreements, not interference in Icelandic affairs, and the
withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war,
as well as to pay compensation for any damages. In addition,
the British agreed to hire no more than two thousy
two hundred Icelandic civilians so as not to disrupt the
island's farming and fishing industries.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
The island was occupied by.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
British and Canadian forces, but with troops needed elsewhere, Britain
asked the United States to take over the occupation in
June nineteen forty one. The change required the agreement of
the Icelandic Parliament and occurred six months before Pearl Harbor,
and so the US, still a neutral nation occupied neutral Iceland.
Iceland actually supported the shift, as England's survival in the
(06:06):
war was not guaranteed at that point, and they feared
an English defeat would result in a German occupation. The
US and Britain built bases in Iceland that were used
for air and naval patrols that helped to defend the
crucial line of supply between America and Canada in Britain
and the Soviet Union. It was during the occupation in
May nineteen forty four that Iceland held a referendum that
(06:27):
allowed the dissolution of the Union with Denmark and the
adoption of a new constitution. Allied forces vacated Iceland in
nineteen forty seven, but US forces were back in nineteen
fifty one to occupy a base after Iceland joined the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The occupation of Iceland during the
Second World War is still controversial among Icelanders. The United
(06:47):
States in Britain built things like roads, bridges, ports, hospitals,
and airports, and because there was so much economic development
due to the war, some Icelanders referred to the war
as the Blessed War, but others begrud the insult to
the nation's sovereignty, as well as the impacts some culture
that came to an island where at some times the
occupying forces represented fully a quarter of the population.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Greg Hengler and especial thanks as always
to the History Guy the story of Iceland and it's
American occupation during World War II. Here on our American Stories.
Here are in our American Stories, we bring you inspiring
(07:33):
stories of history, sports, business, faith, and love. Stories from
a great and beautiful country that need to be told.
But we can't do it without you. Our stories are
free to listen to, but they're not free to make.
If you love our stories in America like we do,
please go to our American Stories dot com and click
the donate button. Give a little, give a lot, help
(07:54):
us keep the great American stories coming. That's our American
Stories dot Com.
Host
Lee Habeeb
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