British occupation of the Faroe Islands

British invasion of the Faroe Islands
Part of European theatre of World War II

British troops arrive in Tórshavn in 1940
Date10 May 1940 (1940-05-10)
Location
Result Unopposed British landing
Territorial
changes
  • United Kingdom assumes defence of the Faroe Islands for the duration
  • Merkið, the Faroese flag, adopted 25 April 1940
Belligerents
United Kingdom Faroe Islands
Commanders and leaders
Strength
  • local police constabulary

Operation Valentine, the British occupation of the Faroe Islands during the Second World War, began after Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of metropolitan Denmark and Norway. In April 1940, the United Kingdom occupied the strategically important Faroe Islands (part of Denmark) to forestall a German invasion. The Faroe Islands became part of the British Northern Garrisons, a chain of islands across the Atlantic Ocean, between Orkney and Iceland. British troops left shortly after the end of the war.