Though saddened by the referendum, King Christian X (who was under house arrest by the Germans) sent a letter of congratulations to the Icelandic people on becoming a republic.

@sunnyjim1355

10 ай бұрын

wow, what a cuck.

My father in law was stationed on Iceland as a B-17 mechanic during WW2.

@Mondo762

5 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Also he grew up speaking Danish (Both parents were Danish) so he fit right in with the local people. Lucky guy compared to most GI's during WW2.

@justdustino1371

5 жыл бұрын

@@Mondo762 Yeah I'd say he was lucky! They had a way ferrying big bombers from the US to England via Canada, Greenland and Iceland and Keflavic was definitely on the frontlines of the Cold War. I live in the Deep South and we had some Danish immigration here before the Civil War due to the lumber industry.....most are Rassmussens....and we have a middle-aged Icelandic woman who lives here, she is drop-dead gorgeous!!!!! She sells hot tubs.

@dad1442

5 жыл бұрын

I was in the Air Force and was stationed there in 1985, had a great time seeing the sites and got a chance to swim in the blue lagoon.

@robertbeermanjr.2158

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks to your Father in law for his service

@karlt8233

5 жыл бұрын

I did a one month detachment to Keflavik in 85. When I was there it was brutally cold and the winds were always near gale force strength. we did have a few days of decent weather and the places I got to visit were awesome. beautiful rugged land outside the city

Day without history that deserves to be remembered is a day lost I say!

@samiam619

5 жыл бұрын

Galvars Amen! I consider the weekend a waste of history!

@dannynicastro3207

5 жыл бұрын

Samuel Hayden ...I agree to disagree...LOL from PhilaPa with blessings and affection to our Icelandic Allies of a Kind. Great video. Nice if all would remain "neutral", nowadays. But WISHES are pigs with wings and horses that can talk. G'nite all.🕊🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

@Delgen1951

5 жыл бұрын

If you do not know where you have been, how can you know where you are, or where you are going? History a road map of life, sadly underused.

@robertbeermanjr.2158

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Well said

@LEGOpachinko

5 жыл бұрын

We learn from history that we do not learn from history. ― Georg Hegel

"It's position was, however, strategic" as all Risk players know.

@EdMcF1

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, but it's not Irkutsk, is it?

@remandstimpy

5 жыл бұрын

Never get involved in a land war in Asia

@saxonrains

5 жыл бұрын

As was kamchatka my beloved RISK homeland.

@cshaffer1847

4 жыл бұрын

the Siam of the north

Operation Icarus seems like a name given by an Admiral who wasn't really too keen on the plan in the first place....

@neurofiedyamato8763

5 жыл бұрын

A fitting name for an operation that have low chance of success.

@zeitgeistx5239

5 жыл бұрын

@Shane McDowall and same for Sea Lion and Crete and North Africa.

@ivarkristinsson5510

5 жыл бұрын

The British invasion of Iceland was codenamed "Operation fork", it clearly was rushed.

@Gamenetreviews

4 жыл бұрын

I was thinking how poetic it would have been if they called the Invasion of Russia that.

Sounds like Iceland got the best deal any occupied country ever got

@frankryan2505

5 жыл бұрын

Was talking to a local guy over there and he reckons it was the best thing that ever happened.. Built infrastructure on the island and gave people jobs.. The jobs bit is the important part as a lot of people lived in a form on indentured servitude until then (you had to as your "boss " for permission to get married.

@tolfan4438

5 жыл бұрын

@@toqtoq3361 I agree Australia is out of the way location they're definitely not in the crossfire is it good thing. But I seem to remember Australian troops fighting the Germans so they wouldn't be part of the axis you all didn't do very well

@Spongebrain97

5 жыл бұрын

@Sander Skovly overall though the germans still pushed around the nordic countries as well. That's why you saw Jews and other minorities fleeing to Sweden and why Finland didnt participate in invading the USSR since they were only interested in defending their immediate borders

@prichards5113

5 жыл бұрын

@@tolfan4438 what do you mean; wouldn't be part of the axis: Australia is part of the Commonwealth - the British empire and I have to stop there as I have no words to express my sincere disappoint at this post.

@tolfan4438

5 жыл бұрын

@@prichards5113 that would make it part of the allies. The axis where the bad guys

I ferried a few airplanes over the years, Iceland was always a stop for much need fuel, something to eat and some rest- And then there is the trout and salmon fishing if you are into fly fishing you will know what I am talking about.

@BK-qp8zp

5 жыл бұрын

We loved the Icelandic cod (ysa, pronounced esa with a long e). Stationed there in the early 80s.

Great video as always. I'm Icelandic and have never met anyone who was upset about "the invasion", although quite a few were less pleased about the US presence during the cold War. Personally I feel that we benefitted hugely from allied army presence and it probably sped economic development up by decades.

@Rschaltegger

5 жыл бұрын

I have been a few times to Iceland, awesome place...but the wind. When even our Tour guide said fuck this, we go back to the bus it means something. But man..Reykjavik kills your wallet with the prices.

@bjornodin

5 жыл бұрын

@@Rschaltegger yeah, my wallet certainly feels light most of the time!

@fot6771

4 жыл бұрын

@@bjornodin We were certainly repaid for improving your economy by having North England and Scotland's fishery economies destroyed..

@richardgeslison5937

4 жыл бұрын

Greetings from one of the few Americans of Icelandic descent! Iceland is truly beautiful, I got to visit a few years back. The family friend we stayed with took us to a small pond and told us when the US left after WWII, they didn't want to bring the trucks a jeeps they had. Too expensive, so they left them on this frozen over pond to sink. He lamented at the waste, the local farmers would have loved that equipment that sits useless at the bottom...

@nesii9599

2 жыл бұрын

Mjög satt.

Local will tell you that the US Armed Forces Radio station was the biggest change. For the first time they heard, popular Western music.

@lakrids-pibe

3 жыл бұрын

?? They didn't have access to danish radio? Or does that not count as "western"?

Always learn something new from The History Guy

@bigblue6917

5 жыл бұрын

That's why were here. 👍

@im1who84u

4 жыл бұрын

Just as a side note here. England, believe it or not, was also occupied by the Germans! It was one of the smaller islands, but none the less.... England. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Yet another little-known piece of history "that deserves to be remembered" with my morning coffee. Thanks again, THG!

@sunnyjim1355

5 жыл бұрын

Oh, we of a certain age in Britain remember. And we also remember Iceland playing the victim card in the 'Cod War', crying to the US that if they didn't get their way then they wouldn't be joining NATO, and so the US shat on the UK. Yeah, we remember.

@CarlXVIGustafBernadotte420

5 жыл бұрын

@@sunnyjim1355 atleast they're not crying about it in 2019

@im1who84u

4 жыл бұрын

Just as a side note here. England, believe it or not, was also occupied by the Germans! It was one of the smaller islands, but none the less.... England. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

One of the British units involved was the 49th (West Riding) Division, which got its nickname of the Polar Bears from their divisional arm patch of a polar bear on an ice floe, which referenced their time in Iceland. A sub unit of 49Div was the 70th Infantry Brigade, consisting of 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry. When out on the town in Iceland they would end the night singing The Blaydon Races, a traditional Geordie song. Apparently many of the Icelanders thought that The Blaydon Races was the British national anthem.

@notsosilentmajority1

5 жыл бұрын

Aha....... And that my friends, is the rest of the story......

My father was on a Normandy beach on the morning of 6 June 1944. He trained in southern England and spoke of the training accident known as Slapton Sands. He avoided being a casualty in that incident--by sheer fate--when, ironically, he was instead sent to London to learn to swim in full invasion gear in a swimming pool. I think Slapton Sands deserves to be remembered to your viewers.

@geoffreyroberts2000

4 жыл бұрын

Dave, there's a Sherman tank that was recovered from the sea as a memorial at Slapton and the disaster is well remembered by the locals and US Embassy if you have never been able to visit. The locals were evacuated from their homes as it was a live fire training area and weren't able to return until after the war.

The U.S. also used Iceland as a base for PBY aircraft to carry out antisubmarine patrols during WWII, it proved to be a very important and beneficial location.

@kelliintexas3575

3 жыл бұрын

My grandpa was there then & assigned the 801st Maintenance Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, “Screaming Eagles.”

@colbeausabre8842

Жыл бұрын

Then Captain Daniel commanded the Naval Air Station. His next assignment was commander of the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal, which participated in the capture of U505 in mid 1944. There was also a substantial naval base - for a deal of the war Task Force 99, the battle force of the Atlantic fleet operated their reainforcing the British Home4 Fleet at Scapa Flow

Almost up to 300k subscribers! I am glad your channel is doing so well.

@oilersridersbluejays

5 жыл бұрын

I'm one and proud of it!

I look forward to each and every video. Thank you History Guy

Thanks once more for filling in the details.

The use of Iceland was vital to the allies in WWII. Initially for securing the Atlantic supply route, and later as a muster point for the supply convoys to Murmansk. So it was all rather sensible and necessary from a strategic point of view, but a bit unsettling for the Icelandic people.

@cgaccount3669

5 жыл бұрын

It might have been kind of exciting for the locals. Lots of activity, jobs, and no death or oppression. Not many invaded countries have it that good.

@garyhewitt489

5 жыл бұрын

@@cgaccount3669 They certainly resented the British takeover. Military personnel posted there reported the locals as unfriendly, but not hostile. The Brits were happy to hand it over to the US and I dare say the Icelanders were happier with the US presence more money PX goods etc..

Love the content, especially the little snippets. Just became a supporter today. History Guy deserves his work to be supported!

"I had to violate their neutrality to save their neutrality." Great video!

@Caomhanach

4 жыл бұрын

@Steve Sherman The United States of America were neutral in War II in Europe until Germany declared war on them. Neutral for almost 40% of the duration of the war. How would you characterize them?

@Deruvez

4 жыл бұрын

@Steve Sherman haha people that tries to convince others that they are much more intelligent and knowledgeable cause of one sentence haha, crawl back into your hole

@bf2840

4 жыл бұрын

Steve Sherman I do believe that you must come from a bigger country that doesn't care anything about the smaller countries around you. If England and Germany want to have a fight, don't take it out on any others. The big countries in the World just love to fight on foreign soil, so that they don't being lumbered by their own wars.

@im1who84u

4 жыл бұрын

Just as a side note here. England, believe it or not, was also occupied by the Germans! It was one of the smaller islands, but none the less.... England. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

@tuxedosteve1904

4 жыл бұрын

@Steve Sherman iceland produces 25% of the worlds strongman so fuck of.

Thank you for another great episode, ive noticed talking to my overseas friends that most of them had never heard of the fishing dispute often called the cod war, it migth be intresting to see an episode on that

Always love your channel

Thank you so very much for your content. You are one of the very best channels here and you represent the best of the potential of same.

Ever since I found your channel I have been binge watching all your videos. Keep up the great work.

I always love your videos thank you very much this was something I had no idea about so I thank you for helping me learn something new. I am 60 years old and I have always loved history.

Thank you THG I have read about this in conjunction with the convoy battle's of the Atlantic but I am so glad that you have touched this . So many people reading the other books are not made aware of the background. thanks again.be safe

Excellent. I don't know how you find such interesting snippets so consistently. Keep them coming - thanks.

Thanks history guy. Always interesting and keep up the good work!

Great channel sir and the hat cap collection is very nice. History is a great subject and topic. You narate in a very entertaining and educational style. Best of luck on your channel sir.

@657449

5 жыл бұрын

Truth has no agenda.

I have been waiting for you to talk about this subject 🙂

@Qvorum

4 жыл бұрын

Same

Once again, marvellous content, cheers!

Love your new graphics, font and banner. It’s a perfect stylistic representation of you and your channel. As always so well done. Thank you.

Koh-pen-hah-gen is the German pronunciation. In Englandish, it's Koh-pen-hay-gen. The actual Danish pronunciation requires a few beers first.

@TheFunkadelicFan

5 жыл бұрын

Cobnhavn, hic!

@grondhero

5 жыл бұрын

We prefer to call it English, instead of Engliah. ;)

@imallearsru

5 жыл бұрын

Stay with the Viking history "A few meads first" 😉

@guttormurthorfinnsson8758

5 жыл бұрын

kaupmannahöfn

@carlcushmanhybels8159

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for correcting him. I'd noticed on an earlier post, THG saying the city the German way. It's been a long time since WWII and the 1864 War, but Danes definitely prefer (and English-ize-it them selves as): 'Koh-pen-hay-gn.' 'Cobnhavn' or 'Kyuobnhavn' does sound like the Danes' own way.

My grandfather was initially stationed in Iceland, after America entered the war. He lied about his age to get in, at 16. He seemed to really enjoy being stationed there. Iceland sounded like one long drunken party for the soldiers there in the early war. I still have some of his old photos taken with his British & Canadian friends, apparently off-duty but still in their different uniforms. He also mentioned that the soldiers were very restricted in where they were allowed to go, and regarding fraternizing with the locals. I suppose that's why they hit the bottle so hard in their off time; not much else to do.

@Temp-hg3kq

3 жыл бұрын

Do you know where he was stationed in Iceland?

@NefariousKoel

3 жыл бұрын

@@Temp-hg3kq - Not sure. Unfortunately he had Alzheimer's in later years, by the time I had become more inquisitive of such things. Incoherent at that point. I was of the understanding that foreign troops were always restricted to a small part, or parts, of Iceland. Was it always the Reykjavik and Keflavik areas?

Once again another interesting video. Well done and thank you History Guy.

As always; Great enjoyable historical report! Thanks again for sharing.

Iceland was occupied by a battlegroup formed around the Second Battalion Royal Marines (2RM), this would later be reformed as 43 Commando Royal Marines (43 Cdo) in which my grandfather served in Italy and Yugoslavia, and later served in Sri Lanka

@gnumblinjones69

5 жыл бұрын

Well my great grandfather was in the pacific campaign I know he went into Hiroshima after the bombs he was a US Marine Corpsman (Medic) I don’t know what battles he was in but he enlisted in 1941

@Peoples_Republic_of_Devonshire

5 жыл бұрын

@@gnumblinjones69 shit that must have been hard for him. Hope he wasn't too badly effected

As we've come to expect from you, excellent. You must do a video on Iceland's and the UK's Cod War from the 1970s!

I truly enjoy your videos. Keep making them and educate us. Thank you

Just recently found THG and am enjoying your channel greatly. Your insights and attention to details make for fascinating viewing. Thank you.

A piece of WW2 I never knew about. Thank you.

Iceland would’ve played a pivotal part in WWIII also- according to Tom Clancy and Larry Bond...

@alwayscurious3357

5 жыл бұрын

Nice someone who also read Red Storm rising

@1953Johnnyp

5 жыл бұрын

Where's the wild weasel?

@TheIndianalain

5 жыл бұрын

@@alwayscurious3357 My favorite Tom Clancy's novel. The invasion of Iceland by Soviet troops is really the pivot of the whole book!

@dirkstarbuck6126

5 жыл бұрын

Alain Michel Mine too. So many aspects of the book have always intrigued me. But the American Air Force “Leftenant” and the three Royal Marines on the run, setting up for the retaking of the island have always stuck out.

@samiam619

5 жыл бұрын

Great book. Also my favorite. Time to read it again! (3rd time)

Well you did it again. You gave me a piece of our history that was unknown to me. Thank you so much.

Thank you for an accurate overview of the occupation of my home. It's VERY rare to find videos on the history of Iceland in English. Most are full of errors, misunderstandings and various foreign myths. I will be sure to recommend this video, and all others posted by you on the subject, to all the new residents of the country. Thank you so much again.

A great episode as usual! I was aware of the British occupation, and of the incident where the police met the vanguard and held back the crowd, but I had no idea that the US had taken over the occupation, nor indeed quite how many troops they stationed in Iceland! It does make a lot of sense in retrospect, though

Icelandic history student here. Funnily enough one of the most controversial things about the occupation has been “the situation” (ástandið in icelandic) when mass moral panic spread amongst the country’s older generation about the young women dating and/or getting knocked up by the occupying soldiers. It got so bad that black soldiers were forbidden from being stationed on the island (since any black children would’ve obviously been fathered by foreigners) and the reigning prime minister ratified a program that would spy on certain “promiscuous” types (the first and only spying program in our history). Despite what has been claimed in these comments I’d definitely say that more than 1% of people can trace their ancestry to occupying soldiers. The sad truth is that many women who dated or married these soldiers were ridiculed for their actions and labelled as sluts; “kanamella” literally meaning “american’s whore”. Most of these american husbands or boyfriends ended up leaving when the occupation ended, turns out many of them had wives back in the US and had no intention of staying. The women were thus forced to raise the children alone as well as live with the public stigma that came with it. I don’t think there’s been any comprehensive study on how many people are descended from the occupying soldiers but if there has been the taboo surrounding the subject might have played a part in lowering the numbers.

Thanks History Guy for yet another fine presentation. You are very much appreciated. I noted at 5:19 the early P-38 Lightnings, either E or F models, much like the famous "Glacier Girl" which was an F model.

Thanks a million, History Guy!

Iceland’s a beautiful place, and when I asked about this quirk of WW2 in a restaurant I was told by a local that it was the best thing that could possibly have happened during the war.

@orionsghost9511

4 жыл бұрын

"best thing that could...have happened during the war." Yes, that's probably true. Just surviving is a great victory during a war, so yea.

THG is going to reach 300,000 subscribers this weekend. Congrats THG

@bruno640

5 жыл бұрын

Steve Dietrich: He only needs TWO-more as of this moment, if I'm countin' my-fingers correctly? (But then again, I can only go to 9½...a half-one got lost somewhere's along the years, lol!)

Highly informative & educational, world class professional presentation. Another great from The History Guy.

Thank you!

Another great video, but I think that's the late war Australian war cabinet at 2:59 rather than the early war British cabinet.

Very interesting. Always nice to hear the history of these little known events.

It’s a touch premature, but congratulations on 300-thousand subscribers. What an accomplishment! 😃

There are pictures of the RM marching into Reykjavik and almost 3rd of them had marching training rifles made of wood. So yes they were not prepared.

Great video - Like many I was almost totally unaware of this particular episode of the war. One minor point that grated a bit though - HMS Berwick is pronounced "Berrick", not "Burwick"! Keep up the good work though!!

@im1who84u

4 жыл бұрын

Just as a side note here. England, believe it or not, was also occupied by the Germans! It was one of the smaller islands, but none the less.... England. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

@JDJLalor

4 жыл бұрын

@@im1who84u The Bailliewicks of Jersey and Guernsey aren't part of the United Kingdom. They have the same status as the Isle of Man - Crown Dependencies. But, yes, you can say that some British territory was occupied - just not Engand!

@JDJLalor

4 жыл бұрын

@@im1who84u Strictly speaking, the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey aren't part of the United Kingdom. They have the same status as the Isle of Man - Crown Dependencies. But, yes, you can say that some British territory was occupied - just not England!

another great episode!!! Love your work, from one teacher to another

I always enjoy your history lessons. Wish schools would have taught this way when I was in high school. You make learning history fun and interesting, especially little known history that, as you say, "needs to be remembered!" Thank you for keeping history alive!

3.03 as previously mentioned is the Australian war cabinet. John Curtin (15th PM), Chifley (16th PM) are clearly visible.

I often wonder why people vote "down" on HG posts. Why? Were they bored? If so, why were they here? On this one, are they Icelandic? Perhaps they don't like bow ties? HG's stories are not political. I don't see controversy, at least not in this day and age. You can't change history. So, why?

@subduedreader5627

5 жыл бұрын

The only thing I can think of that makes any sense, and isn't just downvoting to vownvote, is that they have some issue with the presentation.

@Deipnosophist_the_Gastronomer

5 жыл бұрын

I'm a fan of the bow ties :)

@Legitpenguins99

5 жыл бұрын

Im convinced it has to due with "the era of the political snowflake" that cant accept any world view but their own. Even though that term is generally used by the right to describe the left, ive seen just as many right wing "snowflakes" or maybe even more advocating for revision than ive seen on the left

@John-ij3vi

5 жыл бұрын

Some times I find my phone thumbs up or down without my intending to do either so that may be some of it.

@MichaelSHartman

5 жыл бұрын

I have noticed many exceptional channels and videos receiving mysterious down votes. It has occurred to me that either there are those who are not happy with anything, those bored with everything, the anti-intellectual, rivals, or mean spirited people.

Another nice one, HG!

Great job. Very interesting as usual.

Thank you for this short. Although I knew of the "use" of Iceland by the Allies in WWII, the machinations of the countries involved were not in any of my college history studies. I know to a small degree that Switzerland faced similar problems.

My father was drafted in the Army in the first draft in January 1941 for a term of one year. On December 6th, his unit was on a ship headed out to an unknown location in the Pacific. The next day the ship was ordered back. In 1942 they were sent to Iceland. In 1944 they were told to get ready to move and everyone figured that since they were away for two years, they would be rotated home. The rumor was that they would travel to England and take the Queen Mary home. When they got to England, the ship was in port so they believed the rumor. At a formation, a senior officer said that they would be getting a pay bonus. Everyone cheered. Then he said that from that day on they would be all paratroopers. No one cheered. They went for glider training for the planned European invasion. They were held in reserve and luckily didn't have to make a combat flight. The glider pilots were the ones who flunked out of bomber school. He was with the 101st Airborne in the Signal Corp and was at Bastogne and the later invasion of Germany.

Interesting! Thank you for bringing this to our attention!

Excellent content. Bravo!

You give History a Presence.

Due to the influx of American troops in Iceland, a whole generation of Icelanders was born of American descent. About 1% of the population today in Iceland can trace their roots to the American servicemen.

@FindecanorNotGmail

5 жыл бұрын

I've been told that the word "Kjot" would have entered the Icelandic language from these American servicemen ...

@ScoobyShotU

5 жыл бұрын

1% that's it? Lol that's nothing..

@peterstadlmaier3107

5 жыл бұрын

And that was a good thing because Icland has a problem with it's limited genpool due to it's isolation.

@Legitpenguins99

5 жыл бұрын

@ I beleive the dutch are still much taller on average. Height can really vary though in America as we are extremely diverse as people came here from all over the world

@normanboyes4983

5 жыл бұрын

How can a whole generation be of American descent? That’s exaggerating m8.

Very accurate video. Probably the most accurate and informative on the subject on KZread right now.

TY History Guy.

Small error. Wikipedia's picture of the HMS Glasgow and USS Quincy at 3:25 has the two ships swapped. The Glasgow is actually the ship that only has the stern showing on the left while what's identified as Glasgow is really Quincy. If you look closely, you can see the US flag flying from the foremast of the Quincy. It's really an error on the part of Wikipedia, not yours.

5:18 The P-38, my favorite warbird.

@patrickwentz8413

5 жыл бұрын

BRRRR. I could not imagine being in a P 38 in Northern Europe or Iceland. It had an inadequate heater and was much better in the Pacific where the pilots could just roll the windows down to stay cool!

@skydiverclassc2031

5 жыл бұрын

Years ago I got to see one up close for a bit at the Camarillo CA airport and museum. I don't know if it is still there as the owner was going through a divorce and he was planning to fly it out to points unknown to prevent his wife from seizing it as communal property.

@michaelparr3928

5 жыл бұрын

Two points: 1. The title of the video is 'The 1940 occupation of Iceland', but the thumbnail picture shows a P-38 aircraft. The P-38 had not entered service yet in 1940. 2. As for the use of P-38s in Iceland & Northern Europe because of its supposed poor heater; the US Army Air Force first deployed P-38s to the Aleutian Islands in in Alaska in 1941 - you think it isn't cold there.

Another fine presentation! I was stationed there 45 years ago and it's still a source of many good memories. Probably my best year in the AF.

Very interesting short. Thanks for sharing this.

The great American chess player and world champion Bobby Fischer won the championship in Iceland in 1972. He later moved to Iceland and died there in 2008.

@asd36f

5 жыл бұрын

And keeping with chess, Iceland has the most chess grandmasters per capita of population than any other country in the world - one for every 24,167 members of the population.

@fisherking7798

4 жыл бұрын

@@asd36f So they have about twelve? Well you have to do something on those long winter nights

This is one bit of history I'm surprised I didn't know. Upon reflection, however, this isn't a story sexy enough for Hollywood to address or big enough to be handled in a class that wasn't about the Atlantic Theater. I was aware that allied aircraft operated from Iceland, but I had just assumed that was handled through diplomacy.

Great doc, well done!

I had no idea! Thank you for a valuable history lesson.

I remember my grandmother telling me about how poorly outfitted the british were for the weather conditions here in Iceland. And how some of the housewifes felt sorry for them, and would invite some patrols in and feed them something warm and nourishing.

To think that the U.S.A. was involved in the war, before the war began! Thank you, Sir! Brings to mind the saying - "In wartime, the laws fall silent."

@zeitgeistx5239

5 жыл бұрын

You must not be aware of the US destroyer torpedo'd before Pearl Harbor and how the US and Germany were actively fighting in the Atlantic months before Pearl Harbor.

@SSHitMan

5 жыл бұрын

There were actually 3 fighter squadron of the RAF made up entirely of American pilots.

Love your videos! Please consider doing one about War Plan Red.

Allies ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED Iceland as a base for anti-submarine patrols. I don't see how they could rationally have done otherwise.

@JohnP538

5 жыл бұрын

Both Churchill and FDR sidestepped their own county's laws many times during WWII. If William Stephenson is to be believed, Churchill was dispatching SOE agents to Europe long before he was empowered to, with the king's approval.

@robertbeermanjr.2158

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Wolf packs assembled near Iceland regularly

@SilverCanary1

5 жыл бұрын

until the longer range planes like the Sunderland and B17 came on the scene Iceland was essential for anti-sub warfare. It also added an extra safety net for failed/failing aeroplanes too...

@johnbane6199

5 жыл бұрын

they were the same as nazis

@SilverCanary1

5 жыл бұрын

@@johnbane6199 jfc man!

The British occupation of the Faroe Islands gave them an airfield which is now the site of Vága Airport, gave them a reason to fly their own flag (the fishing fleet could not fly the flag of occupied Denmark) AND a lasting love of Cadbury's chocolate products.

@njaln

5 жыл бұрын

Cadbury, and chocolate in general, was often traded for eggs or milk, between the Faroese and the occupying force! :)

@UnintentionalSubmarine

5 жыл бұрын

And apparently they also got some interest in fish 'n chips, which makes a fair bit of sense given the farming capacity and the focus on fishing.

@im1who84u

4 жыл бұрын

Just as a side note here. England, believe it or not, was also occupied by the Germans! It was one of the smaller islands, but none the less.... England. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

@teviottilehurst

3 жыл бұрын

@@im1who84u Guernsey isn't part of England not even UK.

@im1who84u

3 жыл бұрын

@@teviottilehurst Oh, sorry. I saw the movie and thought it was part of England. Is it its own country?

Very interesting, never knew that. Thanks

Thanks for being a shining light!

FASCINATING! (As always)...

I never even considered Iceland during the war, yet how obvious a strategic location. While forced at least it was a nice occupation as far as occupations go. I take it that airstrip became their airport?

@alwayscurious3357

5 жыл бұрын

Keflavik became a NATO airbase in the Cold War

@fisherking7798

4 жыл бұрын

@@alwayscurious3357 Keflavik was and as far as I know still is the airport for Iceland, I was there during the cold war and not a fighter or bomber in sight

I like how the history guy uploads historical videos that coincide with current events. Please tell me if any news stories inspired this video.

I had no idea! Thank you! Love the tie... 👍

I was stationed at Thule, Greenland, a.k.a. "Bluie", for 'some' of the early 1980's. Many of us were somewhat envious of those in the Navy, who were stationed "on the Ice", especially during times of contact, when they'd "rub-in the fact that they so loved being in Iceland". (add "not that there's anything wrong with Greenland!)

One of the first things the invading British force did was to capture Mr. Werner Gerlach, the German ambassador in Iceland. According to rumors, he had a powerful secret radio sender/antenna hidden in his Mercedes Benz. The sender/antenna had been embedded in the convertible top of his car.

great channel

Great videos. Thank you so much...rr Normandy, Fra.

The "Iceland" chapters of Tom Clancy's _Red Storm Rising_ are some of the best in the book.

@alwayscurious3357

5 жыл бұрын

I found my spirit animal there. Lt. Edwards... shy and nerd. Lel

@patpatterson12

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! The significance of the island because of the supply convoys is explained wonderfully, including the scene where the tanker returns from the supply dump without a full load. And Clancy/Bond tell the story of the occupying Soviets so well, it’s almost easy to root for them.

@alwayscurious3357

5 жыл бұрын

@@patpatterson12 The saddest part though is Edward's Squad was almost wiped out or was heavily wounded. Only He, Sgt. Smith, and Vigdis were shown to be alive when the US Marines got there.

@thedungeondelver

5 жыл бұрын

@@alwayscurious3357 And he got the girl!

@alwayscurious3357

5 жыл бұрын

@@thedungeondelver Yeah... Funny thing though I was talking to a woman that was in Iceland. First thing that came to mind is... Vigdis.. She had the same description lel

The War Cabinet that decided to occupy Iceland seems to Be the Australian War Cabinet of the timeLooks like John Curtin and Ben Chifley(with the cigar)to me?

@kerrgraeme

5 жыл бұрын

Jeff Keeley true I was about to post that myself. I had many meetings in that room.

@russdority6295

5 жыл бұрын

I think Chifley has a pipe.

@kerrgraeme

5 жыл бұрын

Russ Dority A block new wing Victoria Barracks Melbourne, 1st floor. Perfect match including the ash trays and maps. Can’t identify the map but that one pulled down should be Borneo.

History Guy : I like this stuff, and I like you as well. Keep it coming.

Respect & Gratitude Professor!!

I love your content but feel this one was delivered about 10% too fast. Some words sounded truncated and made me have to work a little harder to comprehend what was being said. Perhaps the idea that this was supposed to be a short episode spurred you to speed up a little? If so, I would say fight that impulse. I don't think the internet is going to revolt if a "short" goes over five minutes.

My wife's grandad was a part of this. God bless and keep you safe eric bagnell we still miss you . Except the part when he gets me drunk on every Christmas day when he plies me with a pint of bitter AND a LARGE Shot of whiskey at eleven in the morning . My wife always said never refuse . So I didn't . Morale of the story is never ever refuse your elders no matter how much the hangover is going to Hurt for the rest of the week . PS and I thought I could drink him under the table Smh