Iceland in World War II

Initial British targets for the 1940 Invasion of Iceland: Reykjavík along with its harbour and seaplane landing site (Vatnagarðar), nearby landing grounds at Sandskeið and Kaldaðarnes to the east, the nearby anchorage at Hvalfjörður to the north, the harbour at Akureyri in the far north, and the nearby landing grounds at Melgerði. The harbour at Hafnarfjörður, near Reykjavík, was also secured early on.
Training of Icelandic soldiers in 1940

At the beginning of World War II, Iceland was a sovereign kingdom in personal union with Denmark, with King Christian X as head of state. Iceland officially remained neutral throughout World War II. However, the British invaded Iceland on 10 May 1940.[1] On 7 July 1941, the defence of Iceland was transferred from Britain to the United States,[2] which was still a neutral country until five months later. On 17 June 1944, Iceland dissolved its union with Denmark and the Danish monarchy and declared itself a republic, which it remains to this day.[2]

  1. ^ Bittner, Donald F. (December 1975). "A Final Appraisal of the British Occupation of Iceland, 1940–42". The RUSI Journal. 120 (4): 45–53. doi:10.1080/03071847509421214. ISSN 0307-1847.
  2. ^ a b KARLSSON, GUNNAR (2017). ICELAND'S 1100 YEARS : history of a marginal society. C HURST & CO PUB LTD. ISBN 978-1849049115. OCLC 986911706.

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