What Did Iceland Do in World War 2? | British Occupation of Iceland 1940-1945

[@historywithhilbert]

Thanks for watching everyone! Let me know your thoughts on the new series below! Play Call of War for FREE on PC, iOS or Android: 💥 callofwar.onelink.me/q5L6/His... Receive an Amazing New Player Pack, only available for the next 30 days!

[@aphexon.]

No hard K`s in Reykjavik

[@_OZZIE_RASCAL]

I played this game, pretty awesome I decided to be France and mid game my side automatically surrended to germany🏳🏳

[@historywithhilbert]

@@_OZZIE_RASCAL If anything it sounds accurate!

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Like it, those side stories are always interesting. I eagerly await the one about the snakes who like to smoke! ;)

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Hilbert who do favor more like MM or FL, I sub to both, it's a thing I do you who know do look like mum or dad or their side of the family

[@svavarkjarrval8757]

As an Icelander with an interest in Iceland's history, I'd like to share a few potential corrections and additional facts: 1. The pronunciation of the Icelandic terms in the video wasn't bad. Good job! 2. The prehistory in the video is a bit off regarding the years. Iceland gained sovereignty in 1918 (although still the Kingdom of Iceland) and then independence in 1944 with the foundation of the Republic of Iceland (June 17th 1944 being known as Iceland's Independence Day). Home rule in Iceland is taught to have begun in 1904 but since the English Wikipedia lists it as 1874 and extended home rule in 1904, I won't blame you for that. 3. Regarding the third point of using an army, it was suspected that the chief of police was a Nazi so they didn't want to risk him warning the Germans if the English invaded. One of the first building they invaded was the communication building in order to prevent any Icelandic effort in that regard. 4. Today, the embassies of Germany and Britain share the same building, each occupying a different half. 5. The children of soldiers had the last name of Hermannsson, not Hansson. The latter is based on the name Hans, which was already a fairly known name at the time. Hermannsson literally means ‚son of a soldier‘ with the female version being Hermannsdóttir (‚daughter of a soldier‘).

[@ingislakur]

vel gert gamli

[@discotequilasunset]

vel gert gamli

[@MegaTechnoMouse]

Frálíkt gamli

[@majomhaha5026]

you mean kingdom of denmark vel gert gamli

[@paulw314]

Thanks for that. 🇬🇧 ❤ 🇮🇸 It’s cool it was so friendly!

[@maddie9602]

"The Mongolian cavalry who fought the Japanese on the Chinese steppe" That's a story I'd be interested in hearing.

[@random1493A]

Battle of Khalkhin Gol

[@exudeku]

@@random1493A ah, where the Gigachad Zhukov starts his career with a bang

[@natashagupta4691]

🟥 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@historywithhilbert]

It's on my list to cover in the series!

[@fallofcamelot]

It’s an amazing story too.

[@taufiqutomo]

UK: You are being defended. Please do not resist.

[@scottanos9981]

Also, we are taking your fish.

[@Mylifesuckslol]

USA: I'm proud dad

[@Rio.Swift.official]

Don’t act like the Germans wouldn’t do the same

[@AyubuKK]

When you wanna be neutral, that means you gotta see everyone as a potential threat.

[@historywithhilbert]

*Cries in Benelux*

[@alanebrahim6073]

That’s Switzerland.

[@ousamadearudesuwa]

@@alanebrahim6073 and Sweden

[@kaspervletter290]

@@historywithhilbert we just wanted to make cocaine

[@HS-su3cf]

At the present Denmark and Norway have agreements to defend Iceland, because they are so cute and cuddly.

[@natashagupta4691]

🛑 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@historywithhilbert]

I suppose historically that makes sense :P

[@sodoff4451]

Isn't Iceland part of NATO?? If yes an attack on Iceland would mean an attack on NATO.

[@ajbridgewater]

@@sodoff4451 Yes, they are even a founding Nato member. I actually met members of the Iceland Crisis Response Unit in Afghanistan in 09 serving under NATO ISAF.

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

After all, they come from the lands of the ice and snow the midnight sun and the where the hot springs flow :D

[@ChipsDeluxe]

My grandma is from Iceland and she always tells a story about a German guy that disappeared after the British occupation. She still has his tea kettle in her house.

[@scalion44y22]

I'm from Iceland and I know a farmer who inherited a binocular left by a German spy, that left it behind when he got out of there. I was told it was very advanced for its time, able to see more clearly through rain and bad weather in general. It was at least 30cm long.

[@historywithhilbert]

A lot of the Germans on Iceland were shipped back to Britain after the occupation - hopefully nothing more sinister than that :O

[@SuperSanic..]

@@historywithhilbert like the germans of Prussia?

[@bottletree33]

@@scalion44y22 I would like to see this binocular.

[@Kallikukurinn]

Icelander here. Nice to see a video on us and I must say that your pronunciations of our places was superb, well done. One thing I have to add is that when the British left the Canadians in command of Iceland, that was really negatively looked at as the relationship between the Canadian soldiers and the local population was pretty poor. I am not sure if this is true, but a lot of people say that most of the Canadians had been convicts that been drafted into the war and that was why they were so rude to the locals. We did like it better when the Americans were here compared to the British, mostly because of the brief pause of the war around our waters. But Ástandið definitely did sour the relationship between the locals and the soldiers, despite them being a bit of a blessing in disguise given the jobs and the money they brought to our country. One of the greatest tragedies that happened to us was the sinking of Goðafoss in 1944 by a U-boat where 43 Icelandic people died in a single day. I know a woman who lost her husband to a German U-boat and then there is my own grandmother who lost a grandfather of hers to a German U-boat as well, but that was in the war before the Second World War. We definitely came out of the war economically well compared to most other countries and after the war, we did not really want the Americans to leave, but we also did not want them fraternizing among us, so we made a deal where they would stay in their military bases most of the time only coming into town during certain days or weekends where they were allowed to go to bars and dance in the new dance clubs that were starting to sprout up. I don't know what it would have been like if the Germans had taken over instead of the British. I think there was a slight more favorability towards the British than there was towards the Germans but I shudder at the thought of that same Icelandic local shoving a cigarette into the barrel of an MP40. I don't think it would end the same way it ended with the British. One final thing I will leave people with. The son of the first President of Iceland, Sveinn Björnsson, Björn Sveinsson Björnsson was a Nazi supporter who joined the Waffen SS in 1941 as a war correspondent and a propagandist. At first, he was with the 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking" during the invasion of the Soviet Union but was later transferred to occupied Denmark where he ran a newspaper and a radio station for the Germans and helped with recruitment for the SS. At the end of the war, he was arrested by Danish authorities but he was later quietly returned back home to Iceland, most likely because his father managed to either pressure the Danes or cut some deal. After the war, he lived a quiet life and later denied having partaken in any acts of the Nazi regime. This is something that is still not widely talked about here, most likely because it would cast a negative light on his father Sveinn who was our first president.

[@nataliekennedy4646]

He Studies peoples languages that’s why he is so good at it

[@natashagupta4691]

🔷 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@sofiaormbustad7467]

The german soldiers were relatively well liked in Norway tbh. If course we hated the Gestapo and the SS. My grandpa, from the very west of Norway ironically, had some memories of playing with football with german soldiers, due to the war and rationing the children had to make footballs out of old newspapers and they could not take strong kicks etc, but the german soldiers gave them from like 1943-44 a real football, twice; and they would often even play against the children and have fun (football, like in european football, soccer). The soldiers even shared candies with the children from time to time, and this was the first time my grandpa (born in 1937) probably tasted candy, so he talked alot about that. The germans also brought with them both money and work force; like ALOT if not the majority of Norway's infrastructure was built by the germans; railroads, airports, harbours, car roads, tunnels and bunkers obviously. In Northern Norway there is a saying that if the war had just dragged out some few more months, there would be a railroad to Tromsø by this point (the germans finished alot of the work between Bodø and Narvik, but not enough for the norwegian government to finish it after the war, so when you drive the car there today you just see bridges ending in open air or tunnels through the mountain and even some railtracks). Well, it was the forced labourers which did most of the work, or even local norwegians, my great grandpa was even "drafted" to begin building a railroad in Nordmøre, but it was in march or april 1945, so not alot was done before the peace, and the railroad was never finished either. Alot of POWs died building this infrastructure sadly. I guess it may be something similar happening in Iceland, but the germans would probably prioritice airports and harbours shielded in thick betong; and probably alot of car roads. And of course alot of german-icelandic children, probably alot more than american-icelandic children as the germans basically supported mixing the germanic races, lol.

[@historywithhilbert]

Wow thank you so much for all this extra info this is great!

[@Hollywood2021]

Thank you for for sharing! It’s hard to imagine Canadians being rude

[@panqueque445]

US in 1946: "Don't worry, we'll leave in 6 months" US in 2006: "So sorry did I say 6 months? I meant 60 years lmao"

[@natashagupta4691]

◻️ SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@lojzasmetak2879]

@@natashagupta4691 no

[@ingislakur]

we even wanted them to stay longer (icelander here)

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

oh where did the time go sorry about chaps :D

[@typicalvillageguard4452]

@@ingislakur though, I can see the benefits for why

[@haraldurarnason9729]

Your pronunciation is the best I have heard from a non native Icelandic speaker

[@scalion44y22]

@@beatsandskiesmtg nah, he prepped for sure, I agree with OP

[@natashagupta4691]

⭕ SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@historywithhilbert]

Þakka þér - I learnt Icelandic pronunciation for Old Norse as part of my degree so hopefully didn't make too much of a pig's ear of some of the names :P

[@tomhart9006]

Good video! My mother’s uncle was in the US Army and was stationed on Iceland during his entire WW2 deployment. He was a radio operator triangulating the locations of u-boats.

[@robdavies82]

When I was in Reykjavik a couple of years ago, I had a wander around the old harbour (most of the buildings now converted into restaurants for tourists) and I was reading some information boards dedicated to German migrants after the war. Basically, Reykjavik was growing as a city and a lot of people living in Iceland wanted to move to the city from the countryside and this was having an impact on farming in some rural areas. So Iceland (so had a good trade relationship with Germany) paid for a few hundred German women to move to Iceland and work on the farms. Even today, there are a lot of families now with German heritage thanks to this. Not war related, but interesting. Also, visit Iceland, it’s amazing.

[@MrPicky]

It is war related since the women came to work in Iceland after WWII. Guess they would never have gone to Iceland if it wasn't for WWII.

[@hilmarheathkliff9511]

fun fact: the american airforce regularly carries out training around iceland and probably has a refuelling station of its own at the airport they built for us.

[@godlovesyou1995]

Not really a fact if it's 'probably'. Also, the US does training in dozens of countries.

[@Donuts_rule678]

Also fun fact: nasa trains there astrounouts and test moon buggy’s there because the terrain is a lot like the moon

[@hilmarheathkliff9511]

@@godlovesyou1995 well my friend claims that they do in fact have a refuelling station at keflavíkurflugvöllur and just last month they were training in the area. Im pretty sure i heard a couple of helicopters fly over where i live in that time.

[@pyrrhocratic]

@@godlovesyou1995 It is a fact. When I was a kid U.S jets would routinely fly past my town and shatter everyone's eardrums

[@MrPicky]

Yes the US train sometime in Iceland. Keflavik Airport is a NATO airbase and there are regularily planes from NATO countries, and Sweden (non-NATO country) guarding the Icelandic air space since we do not have any army (or air force). We do have a coast guard which is the "closest to" an army. So Keflavík is definately a refueling station for NATO ;)

[@nielslund5959]

As an Icelander I gotta say that at 6:50 you pronounced these words really well compared to most people’s pronounciations.

[@aledjenkins4893]

Thanks for this video my Grandfather was in the RAF and based in Iceland for a time. It was strategically important for providing air cover to the north Atlantic convoys

[@valx7586]

Thank you! Now I finally have a good video to begin my hoi4 Iceland run with

[@tobytheshihpoo]

My grandfather fled to Iceland at the outbreak of WW2 and basically was dragged back to the UK in handcuffs and conscripted.

[@Game_Hero]

He should have went to Greenland instead.

[@NiklasMJ]

@@Game_Hero that got occupied too though, however it is much easier to hide there soo might have been the right call after all.

[@natashagupta4691]

🔳 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@gubernatorial1723]

Yezzz, I'm wondering where to hide now m'self. And I'm already in New Zealand (we're subject to American influenced mental cases).

[@millevenon5853]

​@@gubernatorial1723as an American, we treat our Vassals quiet well

[@JawsOfHistory]

A bit of additional information about Iceland before/during/after the war: 1) Heinrich Himmler travelled to Iceland in the mid-1930's. But found that the country's impoverishment clashed with Nazi ideals of white supremacy and the whole project was scrapped before it could ever take off.. 2) The Icelandic government secretly communicated with the British and knew of the invasion force beforehand. They also agreed with first the British and then the Americans that no black soldiers would be stationed in the country - and if it couldn't be avoided, they were to remain on army bases at all times - to "maintain the purity of the nation" (not exactly our proudest moment ...) 3) Ástandið (direct translation meaning 'the situation') was a crises of national identity. It resulted in some of the most invasive civilian espionage in world history. With the police keeping recording the comings and goings of people, following people who were suspected of being inclined to fraternise, listening in on phone calls, opening and reading private letters and paying people to report on their neighbours. With some historians going so far as to say this [although it must be said on a much smaller population scale] went further than anything that the STASI did during the Cold War. And most of this was only discovered after the war by historians and scholars going through the archives. 4) When the British invaded, they stormed the public radio/telephone center of the city, breaking down the door and charging in with guns . An even that was later reframed with a retro-actively staged photograph, which was supposed to emphasise the peaceful takeover, not an actively strategic invasion of a defenceless country. 5) Blessað stríðið; whilst definitely seen in a more positive light today and that's what it means in its literal translation. As languages tend to change and fluctuate in time. It originally had a more sarcastic meaning. As the vast majority of people wanted to avoid the war, and in earlier times "blessed" was used sarcastically by a deeply pious population that did not blaspheme. Often the "blessed war" could equally be a reference to the army building an airport and laying roads between towns. As it could be a reference to an island without an army being dragged into the "damned war". As in "blessed weather we're having", during a hail blizzard or "where is that blessed X" about someone who is more than an hour late.

[@xgcsurreal2608]

So basically "blessed" as in the way the Brits use "bloody"?

[@MrRaffi1997]

@@xgcsurreal2608 that's pretty much an accurate comparison, i still remember my grandmother had some really sweet sounding exclamations of shock.

[@gubernatorial1723]

@@MrRaffi1997 Enjoy hearing about Icelandic ways.

[@robertwatson9940]

Is Kamala Harris allowed to visit In Iceland because she is half Indian half Zimbabwe

[@micahistory]

An interesting story. Shows you how being neutral in a war often means nothing

[@quentintin1]

@Quantum Passport well, contrary to Iceland, Switzerland had the means to guarantee their neutrality and they are ready to conduct an effective defense at a moment's notice (unlike Norway, Danemark or the low countries

[@vydrakk]

@@quentintin1 Boloney, the swiss were never challenged, your comment reeks of Swiss nationalism and a lack of military knowledge at the time

[@quentintin1]

@@vydrakk i never said they were challenged, but unlike many other neutral countries, they have/had the best chance at keeping it that way

[@micahistory]

@Quantum Passport yes

[@PatriotMapper]

Can you do Afghanistan during World War II? Afghanistan was officially neutral, but there is some interesting information regarding Afghan-Axis relations during the war.

[@AddictedRevolutionary]

Just search "ww2 by countries" on internet to get your answer

[@PatriotMapper]

@@AddictedRevolutionary That doesn't mean a 'What Did Afghanistan Do in World War 2' video wouldn't be entertaining.

[@natashagupta4691]

◽ SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@tzvi7989]

@@AddictedRevolutionary same with Iraq too

[@lynnmaners9165]

In Tom Clancy’s novel, “Red Storm Rising,” the Soviet occupation of Iceland is at the center of the action.

[@historywithhilbert]

Is it a good read?

[@thelordofcringe]

@@historywithhilbert one of his better ones!

[@lynnmaners9165]

History With Hilbert Yes, it is an excellent read. In many ways, Tom was an alternate history science fiction writer, and this is a good example of that. Otherwise, people tend to think of him as a techno thriller writer, beginning with "The Hunt for Red October." I have suggested to an Icelandic friend that he could set up a small side business offering tours of all the sites mentioned in "Red Storm Rising." It wouldn't be a huge business, but there are lots of fans of classic Clancy everywhere. I would have loved to see a quality film bases on "Red Storm Rising."

[@icelandinreallife2042]

Very good read.

[@MrPicky]

@@historywithhilbert Not if you know your way about Iceland. It is like the author didn't look at a map or had some problems understanding it (especially measuring distances). I read the book once and it may be a good read for those who have never been to Iceland or don't know the surroundings. There are some parts of the book that sound silly or stupid to us Icelanders (something that physically can't be done). So when you read something that sounds too silly or stupid then you stop "believing the story" and loose interest in it.

[@aharonvarna5992]

Haven't watched yet, but Iceland is kinda like the Malta of the Atlantic isn't it?

[@Snp2024]

@Zeno the Filipino and with pickled shark

[@PrinceOfLillies]

@Zeno the Filipino hahaha the ‘translate to English’ turns that into “anger ? !!” Lmao

[@darkjudge8786]

No. Not even close

[@Freyja666]

@@PrinceOfLillies makes my stomach angry thinking about it

[@natashagupta4691]

🔴 SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@gumunduratli579]

The German Consul General in Iceland Dr. Werner Gerlach was obsessed with the Sagas and tales of Iceland and its Viking past until he had bean here for year, then he wrote back to his superiors saying they should forget about Iceland because they are no longer Vikings and have be poisoned my the Brits and that no Jew could live here because Icelanders are harder to do business whit. there was a Big fear for Germans to come to Iceland at the time and when the ships came in the Bay people in Akranes were watching them come in the bay from the harbor and one man with binoculars say I think they are German (the ships) and everyone began to cry and the the man screamed No they are British and every one started to sing.

[@pope3529]

Sounds like British propaganda lmao

[@gumunduratli579]

@@pope3529 not really if you know Icelanders.

[@writerconsidered]

What was he expecting, Vikings roaming around in 12 century long boats in silly helmuts? What a delusional puts.

[@seymourpro6097]

Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes were also part of the "North Atlantic Ferry Route" which enabled the aircraft produced in Canadian factories to be flown in short hops into the European theatre of war. Hence the runways laid down in those places, which still assist in the aviation of those places.

[@bobmcbob9856]

Yugoslavia had a lot of interesting obscure events and things going on like the republic of Užice, the Partisan-Četnik civil war, and the life of Mustafa Golubić

[@Thx1138sober]

The worst nightmare of my life, dreaming that I was in an Icelandic spelling bee.

[@Smari123]

funny fact, the shiping company Eimskip, had a swastika logo back then, and this disturbed the brithish when they landed in iceland

[@scalion44y22]

its not "a swastika logo" dingus

[@meuspeus5483]

@@scalion44y22 How is it not a swastika logo? :S

[@svavarkjarrval8757]

It's not the symbol exactly but very close to it.

[@MrRaffi1997]

@@meuspeus5483 the arms are shorter and it's not tilted 45°, it's basically the Jainism symbol the swastika is based on, a symbol of good luck which the NSDAP used as an inspiration for their party symbol.

[@CivilizedWasteland]

the swastika isn't based on the janisim symbol, its a symbol found throughout European history not sure why you guys try to act smart when you're so clueless

[@willek1335]

That minor altercation with the marine, his rifle, and the civilian. :'D What just happened? Please extrapolate.

[@birgirdav]

There isn't too much recorded about this. The marines were still pretty green and it showed during the landing. Some random fisherman saw his chance to be a bit macho around nervous soldiers and did so. As I recall the soldier got a stern yelling at for getting disarmed and nothing more happened.

[@Veryconfused-66]

More addition from Icelanders, as I see I am not the only one to brave the comment section here. We did not gain independence, we gained self governance. And also, I was taught in school that our government asked the english to invade, so we would not have to take a formal stance on the war. And with "blessað stríðið". Blessað does mean blessed, but it is also a casual way of reference. Er í lagi með blessaðan bílinn? (Is the blessed car ok?) We also use the word to say hello, and goodbye. "Blessaður" or "Vertu blessaður" (be blessed). And a note on the fishermen could have been expanded. Many of those fishermen were transporting fish to the UK. My great grandfather went many trips to the UK on his ship. My grandmother used to tell me the stories, where during day they would travel as fast as they could. Because no matter what, the U-boats would see them during the day. When darkness came, they would turn of the engines. Everybody had to whisper. If they wanted to smoke, they would have to do so under the deck. There is actually a monument in Hull to honor the Icelandic fisherman. But otherwise, a good video Hilbert. Excellent pronunciation.

[@SidBonkers51]

My Father who was in the Royal Artillery during the war was stationed in Iceland for some months and I seem to remember him saying that he had been involved in helping to build a runway there.

[@TheMiksu68]

It's interesting that situation of Iceland and northern Finland were a quite of similar in 1941-45. Both were occupied by friendly states. And both occupiers developed an infrastructure. Many of roads in Finnish Lapland were constructed by Germans and in Iceland by Americans.

[@robertwatson9940]

Germany was not a friendly invader of Finland. They put lots of men in army and they died fighting.

[@buidseach]

My Grandfather who was evacuated from Dunkirk was then based in Iceland but was badly burned in an accident at one of the Air Bases.

[@kaushiksheshnagraj7176]

Wow this video is fantastic. Every line is a point. Your channel deserve more subscriber. According to my account your channel is the best channel on KZbin I liked your channel very much. Your channel is my favourite .I liked your all videos. Please keep it up this type of work in future please. Your all videos are stunning. I am your old subscriber from 500 subs But can you please make a video on Skanderbeg?

[@uzairahmed8309]

Fantastic video

[@RealFemale69]

Bro it was released 4 minutes ago and it's 17 minutes long, how tf so you know?

[@uzairahmed8309]

@@RealFemale69 I’m from the future 😂😂😂

[@aaronmarks9366]

One small addition: Iceland later became one of the founding members of NATO when it acceded to the organization on August 24, 1949. It is currently the NATO member state with the smallest population.

[@robertwatson9940]

You have to spend 2 of GDP on military equipment in NATO.

[@live.life.on.purpose]

Great video! 👏 👏 No mention of Icelandic Spar which was vital to Americans during WWII.

[@jamiekelly4663]

Great episode i would love to see a series about neutral countries and that stayed neutral throughout the war

[@cnppreactorno.4965]

An episode in Mongolia in WW2?

[@briancolucci7855]

*watches video* *opens Hearts of Iron 4*

[@mattdickson2]

great video!

[@n543576]

LOL! excuse me what At 10:23!? The entire time I was wondering what's to be scared about Iceland theres like barely anyone who lives there, but then I remembered oh ya......forgot there ancestors were Viking badasses so that explained the whole cigarette moment.

[@snorkz455]

Nice video bro

[@mattressmccabe1686]

10:45 that guys beard

[@nicotjondronegoro6782]

Hilbert you should make a video on Brazil's involvement in World War 2 as they were the only country in Latin America that was involved in the war which is pretty interesting in and of itself

[@steinerstine2845]

Mexico was also involved

[@Dutch_Uncle]

Suriname and French Guiana were also participants, and had US troops along with construction of the airports still in use today. The airports provided the shortest link to Dakar and West Africa. Airports in Sierra Leone and Liberia are also from this time.

[@sykurpudi1]

I happen to be in possession of a book pondering that exact topic, I.E. German occupation of Iceland in the second world war. It's an interesting read, talking about the population first accepting the occupation quite nicely, but then turning to resistance and sabotage.

[@Brynjar1985]

Very informant history about my country

[@baalzagoroth4693]

Gotta love Jamie Hyneman on the thumbnail there lol

[@williamh24076]

My dad, US Army, Army Corp of Engineers was stationed in Iceland. I would love to know what units / Battalions etc where there as his service records were destroyed in the 1973 National Personal Records Center fire.

[@magillanz]

what was Jamie from Mythbusters doing in Iceland during WWII? I see he is in this video a couple of times

[@hilmarheathkliff9511]

your pronunciation of akureyri put a little smirk on my face. ive certainly heardf far worse but there was a weird norwegian rhythm to how you said it.

[@historywithhilbert]

My apologies! I'm learning Norwegian at the moment which might have influenced it!

[@kylehillstead3365]

@@historywithhilbert jeg lærer norsk også fra gang til gang

[@tv9mpeti]

I'm interested to hear about what Ireland was up to during WWII.

[@robbiemcdonnell8482]

We called WW2 " the emergency" we were technically neutral having just gained independence from the U.K. we didn't want to fight a war with them and was in no shape to do so but saying that we were "neutral" on the side of the allies allowing allie POWs to escape with ease but not Nazis.

[@Hrafnhednar]

12:45 Hansson, means Hans son, Hans is his father is what it means, not his son

[@ÞorkellSigvaldason]

It also works like he said. There were also cases of children being given the last name Hermannsson or Hermannsdóttir, Hermann being a perfectly legit Icelandic name that sounds remarkably similar to the word for soldier.

[@Hrafnhednar]

@@ÞorkellSigvaldason true

[@einarkristjansson6812]

Thanks for the video. Regarding the landing of more troops to Iceland on May 17 1940 there is some misunderstanding. These were soldiers of the Duke of Wellington Regiment Riding West and some soldiers from Lancaster. The Canadians came also but when I do not remember.

[@090giver090]

I believe German occupation of Island wouldn't change an overall cource of WW2 in general (Germany wouldn't be able to hold on to Iceland for too long as majority of ots resources and manpower was in greater demand elsewhere). But the war would be MUCH less blessed for local population. Germans would definitely try to make an island an air force and u-boat base, so Iceland would be throroughly blockade the island and mine the waters around it that will greatly impede fishing also Icland would be subjected to British and American bombing runs against german presence and finally icelanders will bear swift but probably brutal ground fighting when US and UK come in force to evict germans for good.

[@williamshortfilm5818]

Very intresting! How about "The French Pilots who fought in the Soviet Union" (Normandie Niemen), or "The Spanish Republicans who fought with the Free French and took part in the liberation of Paris"

[@Game_Hero]

Do you actually play that mobile game?

[@Zaeyrus]

For the Algorithm! Where Wilhelmus?

[@irishengineering6472]

What about the Irish part in the war, (neutral although still important)

[@amaanali5836]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXMdJebh7NkoZI

[@amaanali5836]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioqldINnfcaUi5o

[@_OZZIE_RASCAL]

I always heard Ireland was nuetral but because of a dislike for the uk were semi nazi lovers ?

[@natashagupta4691]

♦️ SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@ieatmice751]

@@_OZZIE_RASCAL yeah there were a lot of people who supported the nazis in Ireland

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Catching up here Hilbert, I must your family has the talent, oh congrats on being an uncle again

[@terrygorman588]

How on earth is the UK not mentioned as one of the major powers?

[@jonathanwebster7091]

Very very very technically, Iceland was a Norwegian possession until 1814 rather than a Danish one; when (along with the Faroes and Greenland) it was transferred to Denmark with the Treaty of Kiel. Yes, prior to 1814, Norway was itself de facto under Danish control, but yeah.

[@jonerlandson1956]

What did anybody do during world war II but wonder what the hell was going on?...

[@natashagupta4691]

⬜ SERCH ADITYA RATHORE-HE ALSO MAKES INFORMATIVE CONTENT LIKE HISTORY WITH HILBERT

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

As for myself, I'm female and a aunt, great aunt, and now a great-great-aunt and going to one with twins my oldest great-niece is going to have twins eeeee so excited

[@barberism24]

i really really really really love history, particularly ww2. Do you recommend making content even if little not no experience with video creations or drawings. Would simple power point work?

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

You actually got me to out in to the forrest with an axe and chop wood while jelling - "Āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā!" - boiling rage is my reaction to the poluting of blood during war. Im quite sure Thor would agree with me and strike down with lightning all of those garrison troops in iceland the moment they start - "Going out with local girl." Why do I subject myself to this, I know I can not handle the evils of the world. Knowlage is power sure but not enough power for it to matter to me, should I just prefer the bliss of ignorance. No, I rob myself of innocence trough the understanding of evil so my wife does not.

[@thekuan7002]

The 3rd guy on the right in the thumbnail looks like a cartoon version of Jamie Hyneman.

[@gamiezion]

"call of war is a game that should be entirely free to play. but isn't"

[@In_Our_Timeline]

iceland was chilling during WW2

[@galahad-history]

3:39 Danish resistance? I only remember one small skirmish with Danish national guard... It was one of the biggest fails during ww2

[@thescottishanimeguy9946]

There was a few battles involving Danish and German troops. They were very small scale but it amounted to more than a single skirmish.

[@willhovell9019]

Some recent films have featured some of the defence mounted by Danish troops , even bicycle platoons. But the King of Norway was disappointed in his brother the King of Denmark and how quickly his Government capitulated

[@flawlessbinary7449]

Imagine the COD war being more interesting than Iceland in ww2.

[@gregoryriley9946]

OK, I'll chomp the comment bait. In my unexpert opinion, no, Germany taking over Iceland would have had a neglible effect on the war considering the fact that Germany had already made the fatal error of engaging in a two front war and later was unable to secure the necessary petrol supply to continue the war (not to mention other tactical blunders along the way). Any advantage gained over northern Atlantic air and sea control would have had little to no effect in the long run. Supplying Iceland-based troops would have been as much of a pain in the heiny.

[@MrPicky]

Also Iceland is large (i.e. larger than Ireland) and difficult to defend. At wintertime it can be impossible to move from one place to the other (at least during WWII) due to snow. As an example during this period you could not drive around the country. It would have been impossible to go from the southern part to the east because of large glacial river. There was no option to drive from the southern part to the eastern until 1974. Putting up a bridge wasn't easy since glacial rivers change their "route" from time to time.

[@ares106]

11:01 two wrongs don’t make a right.

[@johnpentony8316]

My father spent WW2 in Iceland. He arrived in 1942.

[@TheMiksu68]

And he was in safe 😃. I suppose serving in Iceland was like holiday to British and American soldiers.

[@saniaamirbaaz8850]

I don’t know if you’ve already done this but can you do a video on what Scotland did in ww2 or what Myanmar do in the Vietnam war.

[@andrewscappaticcio4547]

I can tell you what Scotland did in WW2 and WW1 . They died in their tens of thousands , fighting the Nazis and Japanese .

[@azeemaziz4321]

Well Scotland was part of the British army as they are part of the Uk so it wouldn’t be much difference to what the English did

[@azeemaziz4321]

As they a part of the UK they obviously are part of the British army what consists of the Welsh English and Northern Irish. so they as whole worked together as one army so the British army participation in the war is the exact same story for the Scottish

[@DW-dr8ck]

Love Iceland, simple as

[@Liam1991]

Skip to 1:05 people! You can thank me later!

[@arbenkraja9500]

Can you make a video for Albania

[@piganagun9069]

Chilled

[@godlovespuppies-yb5kl]

Just to add to the story Canada sent a Infantry battalion to "Defend Iceland". My poor Grandfather went from garrison duties in Jamaica to Iceland! Thank God being Canadian meant, well its a bit cool out today! Canada was replaced by other British units so they could use their battalion to fight in Italy and Normandy.

[@robertwatson9940]

So the 4000 Canadians went to Nomandy. 20 000 Americans arrived.

[@hannesproductions4302]

Björn Sveinsson has left the chat...

[@fenrisulv66]

As in Denmark and Sweeden the name "Hansson/ Hansen" means the son og Hans (the name Hans) and has meant that for more than 1000 years.

[@MrPicky]

Same applies to Iceland with the exception as laid out in the video. Hans sonur means "his son" in Icelandic (son is: (here is) sonur (about) son (from) syni (to) sonar). It is very well known in Iceland that in the past the surname Hansson or Hansdóttir could either mean that the father is Hans or someone that the mother either didn't know the name of or didn't register it.

[@icelandinreallife2042]

Recently there came out a pretty good alternate history novel about how the Germans occupy Iceland and not the British. In the beginning things go on quite normal, much of the story just mirrors what happened during the summer of 1940 just now with German soldiers. But then slowly but surely Iceland starts to slowly get more ''fascistic'' and it's government is coaxed into taking an ever more active role as an Axis partner. It's quite disturbing at times. Örninn og Fálkinn by Valur Gunnarsson, don't know if it exists translated into other languages.

[@christianbuczko1481]

The alternative to us invading would have been horrific.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you ,

[@lawrencek1900]

Russia/USSR had joined the war as Germany's ally in September 1939 and continued to supply war materials to them.

[@RoyalMela]

Yes. They had signed Molotov-Ribbentrop pact on how to split Europe between them. Russia was in war from 1939 onward. Not with Germany though.

[@darkjudge8786]

The "valiant" Danish defence that lasted 2 hours? Of course they made the right call but sod off with pretending it wasn't an immediate surrender.

[@bf2840]

6 hours, not 2. Denmark had seen, what had happened to Belgium, Holland and Polen. And Denmark that it didn’t had a chance. And it was invaded by a greater and stronger army than the Danish.

[@zymelin21]

the danish army had Bicycle companies!! defending against an armored corps. who would win, and how fast? Remember the polish Cavalry (yes on horseback) riding out against german tanks!!

[@BA-gn3qb]

Try drinking a shot for every time he says Iceland.

[@janvanhoyk8375]

Hansson means also just hans’s son, right? Kan any isläninggar say if hilbert’s explanation is also true?

[@Kallikukurinn]

Hans is not really a popular Icelandic name in Iceland, but we have had people who had that name because their Danish/German father were named Hans. But Hansson was definitely used for children born from Allied soldier fathers.

[@MrPicky]

As an Icelander from a family with people with Hans in their name I can truly say that this is correct. The Hans name in my family does though not come from this, origins from someone born with the name Hans. But as hans is his in Icelandic I guess this was sarcastic wordplay that got used... But if I remember correctly then Hermann (which is also the word for a soldier in Icelandic) probably was more common (Hermannsson / Hermannsdóttir).

[@Game_Hero]

I'm excited for this new series! Thanks Hilbert! Also, could you extend your series to also include nations within countries like Scotland, Armenia (it was part of the USSR) or Quebec (with all its little remembered big contribution to the war) in the war? That'd be even more awesome.

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

Iceland would also be ideal for protectoing the US USSR aid shipping lanes.

[@goojedooje660]

The troops wouldn't have seen a shot fired in the whole war it would have been Good

[@christheconquerer9944]

I like this

[@davidvanniekerk356]

Thx Hilbert. I never know that the England took Iceland...And Iceland did nothing...

[@JackTheladd]

So even after Denmark gets invaded, they're still not sure?

So did that marine kill himself because of the sea sickness? Or did he have his own things goin on

[@brokenglass9814]

Probably both

[@hachwarwickshire292]

Sea Sickness is a killer at the extreme ! Medical intervention is sometimes required. I have been up there in a storm. Yeah ..... you want to die !

[@moggo07]

i'm icelandic and my gate grate grandpa was killed by a U bote

[@bhangrafan4480]

It got invaded and occupied by Britain and was then handed over to a US military occupation which then forced the country to join NATO. The fact is that the location of Iceland at the top of the Atlantic, is so strategically important to keeping open the sea and air lanes between the US and Europe, that the country will never be allowed to be neutral or uninvolved in any war involving the US in Europe. I don't care if you are talking about FDR, Churchill, Hitler or Stalin, the realities of power and geostrategy are all the same.

[@jonlevidalkvistagustsson6134]

We did nothing... We literally just watched the chaos unfold and that is the extent of our personal involvement in WW2! I think that's funny though! Edit: Oh and by the way props to you for pronouncing the Icelandic word basically perfectly I see very few people on the internet in general do that!

[@MM22966]

Friendliest invasion ever!

[@talbot9255]

I’m icelandic and my great grandfather was a american soldier

[@charlieboy-dh1ns]

Did he stay in Iceland or move back to America after WW2?

[@talbot9255]

@@charlieboy-dh1ns he moved back to america