What did Iceland do in World War 2?

Answer 1

At the time, almost all war materials were transported by ship, not aeroplane. Halfway between the USA/Canada and Great Britain, Iceland was a strategic staging and transhipment point for the Allied war effort against Nazi Germany. Additionally, Allied heavy bombers and even fighter aircraft making way towards the UK from the USA/Canada used Iceland as a refueling depot and pilot rest area.

The above answer is not entirely correct. Iceland is not halfway between Britain and America/Canada. It is much closer to Britain. It also was not an important transshipment point. The idea was to get the Atlantic convoys through to Britain as rapidly as possible. Iceland as the contributor suggests, however, 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.

Answer 2

"Northern Ireland" (six of the nine counties of the province of Ulster) is part of the United Kingdom, and supplied troops and gave other support to the war effort. The Republic of Ireland remained neutral. Some from the Republic also joined the British military, but they generally tried to keep it quiet, as this was not a popular thing to do back home. Some in the Republic were German sympathizers, out of the ancient hatred for England.

Answer 3

At the beginning of World War II Iceland was in Personal Union with Denmark (they both shared the same monarch, King Christian X, but has different governments and were treated as separate independent nations). Although Iceland was fully independent, it deferred foreign policy decisions to Denmark. Following the lead of Denmark, Iceland officially declared neutrality when World War II began however on April 9, 1940 Germany invaded Denmark and seized control of the country in a campaign that lasted only six hours.

After the fall of Denmark, Iceland reiterated its declaration of neutrality however on May 10, 1940 the British Army "invaded" Iceland to secure it against German occupation. Although the Icelandic government officially protested, neither the government nor the military actively opposed the British landings or occupation. In order to free up the 25,000 man British garrison to fight the Germans, occupation duties were transferred to the still neutral United States on July 7, 1941.

This action was both a violation of Icelandic sovereignty and American-German neutrality. The Germans however feared that a strenuous protest would cause the United States to enter the war as an ally of Britain so they did nothing to stop the transfer of occupation duties. The Allies used the island as base for ships and aircraft and as a weather station throughout the war.

Although Iceland officially remained neutral for the duration of the war, the Icelandic government, military, and civilian population tacitly cooperated with the allies. In 1944 Iceland severed ties with King Christian X and declared itself a republic. US troops remained in Iceland until 1946.

Answer 4

Iceland along with Denmark stayed neutral (not on a side);

Iceland was ruled by Denmark before WW2 but when Germany invaded Denmark the British government sent forces to Iceland to prevent German troops from landing.

Officially Iceland was still part of Denmark but under the protection of the British, and later the American, government.

Answer 5

Iceland was a very poor country at that time and had no army. Iceland had a Danish king so the Denmark was in the war for Iceland.

Answer 6

Iceland was a very poor country at the years of World War 1, so the Danish fought for Iceland.