View source for Allied occupation of Iceland

{{short description|World War II Allied Occupation}}
{{About|the 1940 invasion|the 1627 raid|Turkish Abductions|the 1809 coup|Jørgen Jørgensen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Occupation of Iceland
| partof            = [[World War II]]
| image             = File:US Atlantic Fleet Ships steam out of Reykjavik harbour in July 1941.jpg
| image_size        = 250px
| caption           = Occupation of Iceland, July 1941: Seen from the quarterdeck of the U.S. Navy battleship {{USS|New York|BB-34|6}}, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Ships steam out of Reykjavik harbour, Iceland at the time of the initial U.S. occupation in early July 1941.
| date              = {{ubli|10 May 1940 – 16 June 1941 (UK & Canada)|16 June 1941 – 1945 (US)}}
| place             = Iceland
| result            = * British, then American occupation for the duration of the war
* Icelandic cooperation with Allied war effort
| combatant1        = {{ubli|{{flag|United Kingdom}}|{{flag|Canada|1921}}|{{flag|United States|1912}}}}
| combatant2        = {{ubli|{{flag|Kingdom of Iceland}} (until 1944)|{{flag|Iceland|name=Republic of Iceland}} (from 1944)}}
| commander1        = {{ubli|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[George Lammie]]|{{flagicon|Canada|1921}} [[Lionel Frank Page]]|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[John Marston (USMC)|John Marston]]}}
| commander2        = {{ubli|{{flagicon|Kingdom of Iceland}} [[Hermann Jónasson]]|{{flagicon|Kingdom of Iceland}} Einar Arnalds}}
| strength1         = {{ubli|22,000 [[British Army]]|2,659 [[Canadian Army]]|3,908 [[U.S. Marines]]|25 [[U.S. Navy]] ships|40,000 [[U.S. Army]]}}
}}
{{Scandinavia in World War II}}

The '''Occupation of Iceland''' during [[World War II]] began with a [[Invasion of Iceland|British invasion]] in order to occupy the island and deny it to Germany. The military operation, codenamed Operation Fork, was conducted by the [[Royal Navy]] and [[Royal Marines]]. The British forces were later replaced by Canadian and then American forces, even though the United States was not yet in the war.

== Invasion ==
{{main|Invasion of Iceland}}
The invasion of Iceland was a [[Military history of the United Kingdom|British]] [[military operation]] conducted by the [[Royal Navy]] and [[Royal Marines]] during [[World War II]] to occupy [[Kingdom of Iceland|Iceland]] and deny it to Germany. At the start of the war, Britain imposed strict export controls on Icelandic goods, preventing profitable shipments to Germany, as part of its naval blockade. Britain offered assistance to Iceland, seeking cooperation "as a belligerent and an ally", but [[Reykjavík]] declined and reaffirmed its neutrality. The German diplomatic presence in Iceland, along with the island's strategic importance, alarmed the British.<ref name="Stone 1998">{{cite web |url=http://sonic.net/~bstone/history/iceland.shtml |title=Iceland in the Second World War |accessdate=22 June 2008 |last=Stone |first=Bill |year=1998 |publisher=Stone & Stone}}</ref> On 9 April 1940, [[Operation Weserübung|Germany overran Denmark]], Iceland's former mother country, whose [[Christian X of Denmark|king]] was still the [[Personal union|Icelandic head of state]]. After failing to persuade the Icelandic government to join the Allies, the British invaded on the morning of 10 May. The initial force of 746 British Royal Marines, commanded by Colonel [[Robert Sturges]], disembarked at the capital Reykjavík. Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens. Requisitioning local transport, the troops moved to [[Hvalfjörður]], [[Kaldaðarnes]], [[Sandskeið]], and [[Akranes]] to secure landing areas against the possibility of a [[Nazi Germany|German]] counterattack.

On the evening of 10 May, the [[government of Iceland]] issued a protest, charging that its neutrality had been "flagrantly violated" and "its independence infringed", and noting that compensation would be expected for all damage done. The British promised compensation, favourable business agreements, non-interference in Icelandic affairs, and the withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war. Resigning themselves to the situation, the Icelandic authorities provided the invasion force with ''de facto'' cooperation, though formally maintaining a policy of neutrality. In the following days air defence equipment was deployed in Reykjavík and a detachment of troops sent to [[Akureyri]]. The initial invasion force was ill-equipped, only partially trained<ref name="Bittner 41">Bittner 41.</ref> and insufficient for the occupation and defence of the island. On 17 May, 4,000 additional troops of the [[British Army]] arrived to relieve the marines. In July, elements of the [[2nd Canadian Division]] and [[3rd Canadian Division]] were landed. Commonwealth occupation forces eventually totalled 25,000 infantry with support elements from the [[Royal Air Force]], Royal Navy and [[Royal Canadian Navy]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/70-7_03.htm |chapter=Chapter 3: Decision To Land United States Forces In Iceland, 1941 |first=Byron |last=Fairchild |pages=73–97 |title=United States Forces In Iceland |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |accessdate=2 July 2016}}</ref> One year after the invasion, military forces from the still officially neutral [[United States]] were stationed on the island by agreement with the Icelandic government, relieving the bulk of British ground forces. U.S. forces grew considerably after the U.S. entered the war on 11 December 1941, reaching up to 30,000 Army (including Air Force personnel) and Navy personnel at any one time. The RAF and RCAF continued to operate from two [[Royal Air Force station]]s through to the end of the war.

== Occupation ==
=== British occupation ===
Under Brigadier George Lammie, ''Alabaster Force'' was formed to permanently occupy Iceland and fortify the island's defence. On 17 May 1940, the British [[146th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|146th Infantry Brigade]], arrived to relieve the Royal Marine invasion force, who left 19 May. Stretched thin, Brigadier Lammie requested additional forces of the HQ of the [[49th (West Riding) Infantry Division]], a [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] (TA) formation under Major General [[Henry Curtis (British Army officer)|Henry Curtis]], and the [[147th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|147th Brigade]] arrived on 26 May, followed by numerous convoys of troops and supplies.<ref>{{cite book |title=World War II Sea War |volume=2: France Falls, Britain Stands Alone |first1=Donald A. |last1=Bertke |first2=Gordon |last2=Smith |first3=Don |last3=Kindell |publisher=Bertke |year=2011}}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Winston Churchill]], on his way home from visiting President Roosevelt, visited British occupation troops in 1940, and suggested the creation of a mountain and snow warfare school. Elements based in Akureyri formed the Tactical School, Winter Warfare Course which trained the 49th into a [[mountain warfare|Mountain]]/[[Cold-weather warfare|Arctic]] division. The 49th Division adopted a new divisional insignia, featuring a [[polar bear]] standing on an [[Drift ice|ice floe]].<ref name=iwm>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30071782|title=badge, formation, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division & Avonforce & Alabaster Force & Iceland Force|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref> Additional reinforcements over the course of the summer included field artillery, anti-aircraft guns, [[Bren Gun Carrier]]s, engineer and construction units, and support forces. The final British ground reinforcements, an infantry battalion and artillery battery, arrived in June 1941. By July 1941, there were over 25,000 British troops on the island.

Construction of airfields (including what became [[Reykjavík Airport]]), harbours, roads and other facilities began immediately. Hvalfjörður became a naval base for merchant escort and anti-submarine forces, with extensive facilities including a mine depot, pier and jetties, accommodation, a fresh water system, ammunition storage, a fleet bakery, bulk naval storage warehouse, recreation facilities, a direction-finding station and a fuel farm. The facility was protected by a minefield, anti-submarine gate and boom across the fjord, coastal guns, AA batteries, and anti-submarine trawlers. The Royal Navy [[Fleet Air Arm]] [[701 Naval Air Squadron]] provided initial air support, and the army built two airfields, [[RAF Kaldadarnes]] and [[RAF Reykjavik]], home to several RAF and RCAF squadrons until the end of the war. As naval base facilities grew, [[RAF Coastal Command]] aircraft were stationed for patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine duties. The [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Devonshire|39|6}} and the [[battleship]] {{HMS|King George V|41|2}} visited Akureyri harbour in May 1941, just before their [[Battle of the Denmark Strait|sea battle]] with the German warships {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||2}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}} in the [[Denmark Strait]] between Greenland and Iceland. The hospital ship ''Leinster'', based at Akureyri harbour, sailed on 24 May to care for the wounded after the destruction of {{HMS|Hood}} in the battle. Two hospitals were also built: No. 50 General Hospital was built at Reykjavík and operated from June 1940 to March 1942; No. 30 General Hospital operated from July 1940 to September 1941.

At the end of hostilities most British facilities were turned over to the Icelandic government. 199 Commonwealth soldiers are buried in Iceland in six cemeteries cared for by the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery.aspx?cpage=1|title=Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Iceland |date=1 July 2016 |website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref>

{|
|valign=top|
;[[British Army]]
* [[49th (West Riding) Infantry Division]]
** [[70th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|70th Infantry Brigade]]
*** 10th Battalion, [[Durham Light Infantry]]
*** 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
*** 1st Battalion, [[Tyneside Scottish]]
** [[147th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|147th Infantry Brigade]]
*** 1/6th Battalion, [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment]]
*** 1/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment
*** 1/5th Battalion, [[West Yorkshire Regiment]]
** [[146th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|146th Infantry Brigade]]
*** 4th Battalion, [[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment|Lincolnshire Regiment]]
*** 1/4th Battalion, [[King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]]
*** [[Hallamshire Battalion]], [[York and Lancaster Regiment]]
** Divisional Troops
*** 2nd Battalion, [[Kensington Regiment (Princess Louise's)|Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment]]
*** [[West Riding Artillery|69th (West Riding) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery]]
*** [[Kent Yeomanry|143rd (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery]]
*** [[Tower Hamlets Engineers|294th Field Company, Royal Engineers]]
*** 756th Field Company, [[Royal Engineers]]
*** 757th Field Company, Royal Engineers
*** 289th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
*** 23rd Bridging Platoon, Royal Engineers
*** 49th (West Riding) Divisional Signals Regiment, [[Royal Corps of Signals]]
|valign=top|
;[[Royal Navy]]
* {{HMS|Punjabi}}
* {{HMS|Firedrake|H79|6}}
* {{HMS|Foxhound|H69|6}}
* {{HMS|Devonshire|39|6}}
* {{HMS|King George V|41|6}}
* {{HMS|Cheshire|F-18|6}}
* [[USS Philip (DD-76)|HMS ''Lancashire'']]
* {{HMS|Echo|H23|6}}
* {{HMT|Andes}}
* {{HMT|Kingston Onyx}}
* {{HMT|Kingston Turquoise}}
* [[RMS Franconia (1922)|HMT ''Franconia'']]
* [[RMS Lancastria|HMT ''Lancastria'']]
* {{HMT|Ormonde}}
* [[MV Ulster Prince (1929)|HMT ''Ulster Prince'']]
* HMHS ''Leinster''
|valign=top|
;[[Royal Air Force]]
* [[No. 48 Squadron RAF|No. 48 Squadron]]
* [[No. 53 Squadron RAF|No. 53 Squadron]]
* [[No. 86 Squadron RAF|No. 86 Squadron]]
* [[No. 98 Squadron RAF|No. 98 Squadron]]
* [[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]]
* [[No. 204 Squadron RAF|No. 204 Squadron]]
* [[No. 209 Squadron RAF|No. 209 Squadron]]
* [[No. 210 Squadron RAF|No. 210 Squadron]]
* [[No. 221 Squadron RAF|No. 221 Squadron]]
* [[No. 269 Squadron RAF|No. 269 Squadron]]
* [[No. 279 Squadron RAF|No. 279 Squadron]]
* [[No. 280 Squadron RAF|No. 280 Squadron]]
* [[No. 330 Squadron RAF|No. 330 Squadron]]
* [[No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAF|No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron]]
* [[No. 251 Squadron RAF|No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight]]
|}

=== Canadian occupation ===
[[File:HMCS Skeena IKMD-04292.jpg|thumb|thumbtime=5:10|HMCS ''Skeena'' c.1941–43]]

{{Blockquote|I need hardly point out the strategic importance, not only of the security of the North Atlantic sea lanes, but to the defence of this continent, of maintaining control of Iceland.|Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King, 18 June 1940}}

On 18 May 1940, Britain requested Canada to garrison and defend Iceland with the [[2nd Canadian Division]], along with air force, anti-air, shore battery and coastal defence elements. "Z" Force, led by Brigadier [[Lionel Frank Page|L. F. Page]], with part of his brigade headquarters and [[The Royal Regiment of Canada]] embarked on the {{RMS|Empress of Australia|1919|6}} on 10 June, and landed at Reykjavik on 16 June 1940. The remainder of the 2,659 man "Z" Force, comprising [[Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal]], [[The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa]] (M.G.), a brigade signal section and details, arrived on 9 July. Canadian forces dispersed across the island and initiated work on defence positions, and preparations for the building of the aerodrome in [[Kaldaðarnes]], building roads, improving harbours, establishing guard over strategic assets, and setting up coast watch stations. On 9 February 1941, Canadian forces engaged a single German aircraft overflying the island.

Owing to pressing needs elsewhere including Canadian commitments to the defence of Britain, and to providing garrison troops in the West Indies, it was agreed to redeploy Canadian forces. Force headquarters and The Royal Regiment sailed for England on 31 October and rejoined the main body of the [[2nd Canadian Division]]. The Camerons, who had been allotted to the [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Division]], spent the winter on the island and departed for England on 28 April 1941. They were temporarily replaced by British garrison forces,<ref>{{cite book |last=Stacey |first=C. P. |authorlink=C. P. Stacey |year=1956 |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/detail-eng.asp?BfBookLang=1&BfId=27 |series=Official history of the Canadian Army in the Second World War |volume=I |title=The Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa |pages=83–86}}</ref> until 7 July 1941, when the defence of Iceland was transferred from Britain to the (still officially neutral) [[United States]], by agreement with Iceland. Canadian army, navy and air force units were dispatched to and continued to operate in and around Iceland throughout the war. [[No. 162 Squadron RCAF]] was seconded to RAF Coastal Command and stationed at [[RAF Reykjavik]] from January 1944 to cover the mid-ocean portion of the North Atlantic shipping route. Aircraft from this squadron attacked two U-boats in 1944, sinking {{GS|U-342||2}} on 17 April 1944.
{|
|valign=top|
;[[Canadian Army]]
* [[4th Canadian Infantry Brigade]]
** [[The Royal Regiment of Canada]] (infantry regiment)
** [[Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal]] (infantry regiment)
** [[The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa]] (infantry regiment)

;[[Royal Canadian Navy]]
* {{HMS|Royal Scotsman}}
* {{HMS|Royal Ulsterman}}
* {{HMCS|Skeena|D59|6}}
|valign=top|
;[[Canadian Merchant Navy|Merchant Navy]]
* {{RMS|Empress of Australia|1919|6}}
* {{RMS|Antonia}}
* SS ''Tregarthen''
* SS ''Stonepool''
* SS ''Dracola''
* SS ''Yearwood''

;[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
* [[No. 162 Squadron RCAF]]
* RCAF Marine Craft ''Beaver''
* RCAF Marine Craft ''Eskimo''
|}
{{clear}}

=== United States occupation ===
[[File:Iceland during WW2.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=5:10|Footage of Iceland in November 1941 to early spring 1942, during US occupation]]
[[File:Iceland during WW2 reel 2.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=3:37|Reel 2]]
Britain needed its troops elsewhere, and requested that US forces occupy the island. The US agreed on 16 June 1941. The [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]] of 194 officers and 3,714 men from [[San Diego]] under the command of Brigadier General [[John Marston (USMC)|John Marston]] sailed from [[Charleston, South Carolina]] on 22 June to assemble as Task Force 19 (TF 19) at [[Argentia, Newfoundland]]:<ref name="morison">{{cite book|title=The Battle of the Atlantic September 1939 – May 1943 |last=Morison |first=Samuel Eliot |authorlink=Samuel Eliot Morison |publisher=Little, Brown and Company|year=1975|pages=74–79}}</ref> TF 19 sailed on 1 July. Britain failed to persuade the [[Althing]] to approve an American occupation force, but with TF 19 anchored off Reykjavík that evening Roosevelt gave approval for the invasion. The [[United States Marine Corps]] commenced landing on 8 July, and disembarkation was completed on 12 July. On 6 August, the [[United States Navy]] established an air base at Reykjavík with the arrival of Patrol Squadron VP-73 [[PBY Catalina]]s and VP-74 [[PBM Mariner]]s. [[United States Army]] personnel began arriving in Iceland in August.<ref name="morison"/>

{|
|valign=top|
;[[US Marines]]
* [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]]
** [[Marine defense battalions|5th Marine Defense Battalion]]
** [[6th Marine Regiment (United States)]]
*** [[1st Battalion 6th Marines]]
*** [[2nd Battalion 6th Marines]]
*** [[3rd Battalion 6th Marines]]
** [[2nd Battalion 10th Marines]]
** A Company of the [[2nd Tank Battalion]]
** A Company of the [[2nd Service Battalion]]

;[[US Army Air Force]]
* [[33rd Pursuit Squadron]]
* [[24th Special Operations Wing]]
|valign=top|
;[[US Army]]
* [[5th Infantry Division (United States)|5th Infantry Division]]
** Division Headquarters
*** [[2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|2nd Infantry Regiment]]
*** [[10th Infantry Regiment (United States)|10th Infantry Regiment]]
*** [[11th Infantry Regiment (United States)|11th Infantry Regiment]]
** 5th Division Artillery
*** [[19th Field Artillery Regiment|19th Field Artillery Battalion]], (18x [[M2 howitzer|105mm Howitzers]])
*** 46th Field Artillery Battalion, (18x 105mm Howitzers)
*** 50th Field Artillery Battalion, (18x 105mm Howitzers)
*** [[21st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|21st Field Artillery Battalion]], (18x [[M114 155mm howitzer|155mm Howitzers]])
** [[7th Engineer Battalion (United States)|7th Combat Engineer Battalion]]
** 5th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
** [[204th Brigade Support Battalion (United States)|5th Medical Battalion]]
** Special Troops
*** 705th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
*** 5th Quartermaster Company
*** 5th Signal Company
*** Military Police Platoon
*** Band
* [[61st Air Defense Artillery Regiment|61st Coast Artillery]]
|valign=top|
;[[US Navy]]
* {{USS|Arcturus|AKA-1|6}}
* {{USS|Arkansas|BB-33|6}}
* {{USS|Benson|DD-421|6}}
* {{USS|Bernadou|DD-153|6}}
* {{USS|Brooklyn|CL-40|6}}
* {{USS|Buck|DD-420|6}}
* {{USS|Charles F. Hughes|DD-428|6}}
* {{USS|Cherokee|AT-66|6}}
* {{USS|Ellis|DD-154|6}}
* {{USS|Fuller|AP-14|6}}
* {{USS|Gleaves|DD-423|6}}
* {{USS|Hamul|AK-30|6}}
* {{USS|Heywood|AP-12|6}}
* {{USS|Hilary P. Jones|DD-427|6}}
* {{USS|Lansdale|DD-426|6}}
* {{USS|Lea|DD-118|6}}
* {{USS|Mayo|DD-422|6}}
* {{USS|Nashville|CL-43|6}}
* {{USS|New York|BB-34|6}}
* {{USS|Niblack|DD-424|6}}
* {{USS|Orizaba|ID-1536|6}}
* {{USS|Plunkett|DD-431|6}}
* {{USS|Salamonie|AO-26|6}}
* {{USS|Upshur|DD-144|6}}
* {{USS|William P. Biddle|AP-15|6}}
* [[VP-34|VP-73]] ([[United States Navy]])
|}

== Outcome ==
{{See also|Invasion of Iceland#Aftermath|Iceland during World War II#Aftermath and legacy}}
Britain invaded to forestall a German occupation, to provide a base for naval and air patrols, and to protect merchant shipping lanes from North America to Europe. In this the invasion and occupation was successful. The presence of British, Canadian, and US troops had a lasting impact on the country. Foreign troop numbers over the period of occupation were as follows:{{citation needed|date = March 2019}}

* 1940: 20,000
* 1941: 25,000
* 1942: 30,000
* 1943: 30,000
* 1944: 15,000
* 1945: 7,000

In some years this equaled 25% of the population or almost 50% of the native male population.{{citation needed|date = March 2019}}

Icelanders were and remain sharply divided about the war and occupation which is sometimes referred to as {{lang|is|blessað stríðið}} or "the Lovely War".{{Contradictory inline|article=Invasion of Iceland|section=Aftermath|reason=One article uses the translation "the Lovely War" and the other uses the term "Blessed War" for the meaning of blessað stríðið.|date=July 2025}} Some point to the subsequent economic revival, others to loss of sovereignty and social upheaval. The occupation required the building of a network of roads, hospitals, harbours, airfields and bridges across the country, and this did have enormous positive economic impact. On the other hand, Icelanders severely censured the sexual relationships between troops and local women, which were causing considerable controversy and political turmoil. Women were often accused of prostitution and of being traitors. Two hundred and fifty-five children were born from these liaisons, the {{lang|is|ástandsbörn}} ("children of the situation"). In 1941, the Icelandic Minister of the Judiciary investigated "the Situation" ({{lang|is|[[Ástandið]]}}), and the police tracked more than 500 women who had been having sex with the soldiers. Many were upset that the foreign troops were "taking away" women, friends, and family. In 1942 two facilities opened to house such women who slept with the soldiers. Both closed within a year, after investigations determined that most liaisons were consensual. About 332 Icelandic women married foreign soldiers.{{citation needed|date = March 2019}}

During the occupation, on 17 June 1944, Iceland declared itself a republic after a [[Icelandic constitutional referendum, 1944|constitutional referendum]], and while continuing to cooperate with the British, Canadian, and American military they remained officially neutral throughout the war. As the war drew to a close the [[Keflavík Agreement]] signed in 1946 between the United States and the Republic of Iceland stipulated that the American army would leave the country within six months, and Iceland would take possession of [[Naval Air Station Keflavik]] (now [[Keflavík International Airport]]).

Although the British action was to forestall any risk of a German invasion, there is no evidence that the Germans had an invasion planned. There was however German ''interest'' in seizing Iceland. In a postwar interview with an American, [[Walter Warlimont]] claimed, "Hitler definitely was interested in occupying Iceland prior to [British] occupation. In the first place, he wanted to prevent 'anyone else' from coming there; and, in the second place, he also wanted to use Iceland as an air base for the protection of our submarines operating in that area".<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=5347798|title = Hlutleysi Íslands á hverfandi hveli |language=is |trans-title=Iceland's neutrality in a vanishing hemisphere |last = Whitehead|first = Þór|date = 2006|journal = Saga|doi = |pmid = |access-date = |page = 22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160402041200/http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=5347798|archive-date = 2 April 2016|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref> After the British invasion, the Germans drew up a report to examine the feasibility of seizing Iceland, [[Operation Ikarus]]. The report found that while an invasion could be successful, maintaining supply lines would be too costly and the benefits of holding Iceland would not outweigh the costs (there was, for instance, insufficient infrastructure for aircraft in Iceland).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Hverjar voru áætlanir Þjóðverja um að ráðast inn í Ísland í seinni heimsstyrjöldinni? |language=is |trans-title=What were the Germans' plans to invade Iceland during World War II? |website=Vísindavefurinn|date=30 June 2005|url = http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=5103|accessdate = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ''[[Ástandið]]''
* [[Invasion of Iceland]]
* [[Iceland in World War II]]
* [[British occupation of the Faroe Islands]]
* [[Expansion operations and planning of the Axis Powers]]
* [[Battle of the Atlantic]]
* [[Greenland in World War II]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
* {{cite book |last=Bittner |first=Donald F. |year=1983 |title=The Lion and the White Falcon: Britain and Iceland in the World War II Era |publisher=Archon Books |location=Hamden |isbn=0-208-01956-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Cadogan |first=Sir Alexander George Montagu |year=1971 |title=The diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan, O.M., 1938–1945 |editor-last=Dilks |editor-first=David |location=London |publisher=Cassell |isbn=0-304-93737-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Karlsson |first=Gunnar |year=2000 |title=Iceland's 1100 Years: History of a Marginal Society |publisher=Hurst |location=London |isbn=1-85065-420-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Magnúss |first=Gunnar M. |year=1947 |title=Virkið í norðri: Hernám Íslands: I. bindi |trans-title=Fortress North: Iceland Occupation: Volume I |publisher=Ísafoldarprentsmiðja |location=Reykjavík}}
* {{cite book |last=Miller |first=James |year=2003 |title=The North Atlantic Front: Orkney, Shetland, Faroe and Iceland at War |publisher=Birlinn |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1-84341-011-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Stacey |first=C. P. |authorlink=C. P. Stacey |year=1970 |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/detail-eng.asp?BfBookLang=1&BfId=31 |title=Arms, Men and Governments: The War Policies of Canada, 1939–1945 |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa |id=D2-5569}}
* {{cite book |last=Stacey |first=C. P. |year=1955 |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/detail-eng.asp?BfBookLang=1&BfId=27 |title=Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Vol. I: Six Years of War |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa}}
* {{cite book |last=Whitehead |first=Þór |authorlink=Þór Whitehead |year=1999 |title=Bretarnir koma: Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld |trans-title=The British are coming: Iceland in World War II |publisher=Vaka-Helgafell |location=Reykjavík |isbn=9979-2-1435-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Whitehead |first=Þór |year=1995 |title=Milli vonar og ótta: Ísland í síðari heimsstyrjöld |trans-title=Between hope and fear: Iceland in World War II |publisher=Vaka-Helgafell |location=Reykjavík |isbn=9979-2-0317-X}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |title=Command Decisions |editor=Kent Roberts Greenfield |url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/70-7_0.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230145455/http://www.history.army.mil/books/70-7_0.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 2007 |first=Byron |last=Fairchild |chapter=Decision to Land United States Forces in Iceland, 1941 |chapter-url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/70-7_03.htm |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |year=2000 |origyear=1960 |id=CMH Pub 70-7}}

== External links ==
* [http://hrafninn.wetcanvas.com/page64.html Address by Markús Örn Antonsson (Icelandic Ambassador to Canada)], 21 October 2006.{{dead link|date=May 2012}}
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/timeline/410707awp.html "Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to Congress on the US occupation of Iceland"], U.S. State Department (7 July 1941).

{{Iceland topics|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:1940 in Iceland]]
[[Category:Allied occupation of Europe|Iceland]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Battle of the Atlantic]]
[[Category:British military occupations|Iceland]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1940]]
[[Category:Iceland in World War II]]
[[Category:Invasions by the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Invasions of Iceland]]
[[Category:History of the Royal Marines]]
[[Category:Military history of Iceland during World War II]]
[[Category:World War II invasions|Iceland]]
[[Category:World War II occupied territories|Iceland]]
[[Category:World War II operations of the Western European Theatre]]
[[Category:Military history of Canada during World War II]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Canada]]
[[Category:Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II]]