Iceland in WW 2. Operation Ikarus, value therof etc.

[ískallin]

It is may 1940.
The germans are about to attack Iceland before the british have settled.

The german invasion force consits of Scharnhost, Gneisenau, Bremen, Europe, Potsdam and Neidenfels.
The ships are laden with gerbigsjager and a small number of tanks.

Against these forces are three brigades 147. and 146. and 70

Would iceland in the hands of germany make a difference?
Would the germans be able to hold it?

[Alternative Scenario]

Two answers:

1. Iceland was a very useful air and naval base for allied ops - so denying its use to the British in 1940 would have been a coup!

2. It could never have been held - it would presented the British (and Canadians) with ideal opportunity to beat post a victory over the Nazis (no many upto 1942) therefore they would committed a disproportionate force to retake it! I think that German surface units would have been an ideal target for British aircraft carriers getting some practice before Taranto. I suppose it would have similarities with the US/Japanese battle for the Aleutian Islands - the Japs got a beating for their audacity!

[Siege40]

I suppose it depends on how defendable Iceland is, it's not really easy to supply, except out of Norway. Maybe. My question is how's the weather? How long is the Operational season for Navies? Regardless, if the British failed to land, they'd bomb the hell out of that 'Nordic Island'.

Siege40

[Sam H.]

Even if Germany had managed to invade and occupy Iceland, there is no way the Kreigsmarne could have kept the island supplied. The British navy would have blockaded the island and drove the Germans from it. Iceland was vital and Britian, they would have done what ever it took to keep it.

I believe the US even based troops on the island before the US entered the war.

[ískallin]

On Iceland you can expect snow in June(not often though) and there is almost continus darkness for a few months and with icebergs blocking ports in deep winter. So i would say there would be may, june, july and august and maybe september other months would likely be to cold, snowy and windy.

And i would say that Iceland is easily defended, tanks would be useless unless wery light ones and maybe 2 or three divisions could drive almost everything back into the ocean.

But as you said supplies would be the problem.

[Alternative Scenario]

Thanks for the local perspective!

I think that you have provided a clue to the biggest problem 2-3 divisons would not have constituted the invasion force - so holding it with a smaller German Mountain troop formation would have been a military disaster waiting to happen!

A further question would the local Icelandic population have fought against the Germans as well?

[ískallin]

The population hadn't any weapons.
It could mostly just be boring to the germans, but anything beside that i think some resistance might have bin formed by some patriots, but it's impossible to say...

[Kurt_Steiner]

Once the USA enter into war, it's a questions of time until Iceland is recovered by the Allies. Nevermind, there is the logistical problem of supplying the forces so distant from Germany, with the RN controlling the seas.

[Karri]

http://www.wandertheke.de/iceland_map.jpg

It could serve as a good base for German submarines

[Tim Smith]

It is may 1940.
The germans are about to attack Iceland before the british have settled.

The german invasion force consits of Scharnhost, Gneisenau, Bremen, Europe, Potsdam and Neidenfels.
The ships are laden with gerbigsjager and a small number of tanks.

Against these forces are three brigades 147. and 146. and 70

Would iceland in the hands of germany make a difference?
Would the germans be able to hold it?

Impossible scenario. The Germans were too busy fighting in Norway in May 1940 to spare any forces to invade Iceland. The Norwegian campaign did not end until June 1940, and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were both very badly damaged in the process.

The only way to free up the forces required is to cancel the invasion of Norway, and without Norway, Iceland as a German base is totally pointless and impossible to maintain.

So the earliest the Germans could launch an invasion of Iceland would be July 1940, and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (and the heavy cruiser Hipper) would not be available.

[Andy H]

It could serve as a good base for German submarines

Geographically yes, but on all other issues, a big No.

Germany would have a hell of a job getting any type of bomb proof pens built and no doubt the British and later the Allies would use Greenland as a bomber base etc, with or without Greenlands express wishes either way. The logistical angle has already been covered by others

Andy H

[Herskapr Oðins]

It is may 1940.
The germans are about to attack Iceland before the british have settled.

The german invasion force consits of Scharnhost, Gneisenau, Bremen, Europe, Potsdam and Neidenfels.
The ships are laden with gerbigsjager and a small number of tanks.

Against these forces are three brigades 147. and 146. and 70

Would iceland in the hands of germany make a difference?
Would the germans be able to hold it?

Impossible scenario. The Germans were too busy fighting in Norway in May 1940 to spare any forces to invade Iceland. The Norwegian campaign did not end until June 1940, and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were both very badly damaged in the process.

What are you talking about?
By the end of April, there were about 60,000 German soldiers in Southern Norway doing almost nothing,
they could spare the few divisions needed for an invasion of Iceland just fine.

[Kurt_Steiner]

The ships were not in shape to fight, however.

[Herskapr Oðins]

Was'nt Iceland self-sufficent with food?
Could'nt the Germans just stockpile lots of military goods and stick the winter out?

[Kurt_Steiner]

How do you get them there with the Royal Navy sailing the seas?