Invasion of Iceland
| British invasion of Iceland | |||||||||
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| Part of The Scandinavian theatre of World War II | |||||||||
The British heavy cruiser HMs Berwick | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | Kingdom of Denmark | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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| Units involved | |||||||||
| 2nd Battalion | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 1 suicide | None | ||||||||
On 10 May 1940, during World War II, the United Kingdom landed Royal Navy and Royal Marines forces at Reykjavík and occupied Iceland without resistance. The operation, codenamed Operation Fork, was launched after Germany's rapid conquest of Denmark, to which Iceland was linked by a personal union, and amid British fears that Germany might establish bases on the strategically important island. Iceland had declared neutrality at the start of the war and rejected British requests for cooperation, but the UK proceeded with an unannounced landing to pre-empt any German move.
British troops quickly secured Reykjavík, detained German nationals, and occupied key communication and transport sites before spreading out to potential landing grounds and harbours. Iceland issued a formal protest against the violation of its neutrality, while Britain promised compensation, non-interference, and eventual withdrawal. Over the following months the initial marine detachment was replaced by British, Canadian, and later American forces, whose presence—eventually numbering tens of thousands—had lasting military, economic, and social effects on the country.
Although Germany examined but never executed plans to seize Iceland, the Allied occupation helped secure North Atlantic shipping routes and enabled the establishment of major naval and air bases. Iceland became a republic in 1944, and foreign forces remained until the final withdrawal of US troops in 1947. A treaty signed in 1951 allowed US troops to maintain a presence, which lasted until 2006.