Kingdom of Iceland
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Iceland
was a constitutional monarchy
lasting from 1 December 1918 until 17 June 1944, when the republic
was proclaimed.
, which again was expanded in 1904. The constitution, written in 1874, was revised in 1903, and a minister for Icelandic affairs
, residing in Reykjavík
, was made responsible to the Althing
, the Icelandic parliament
.
. The Kingdom of Iceland established its own flag and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defense interests. The Act would be up for revision in 1940 and could be revoked three years later if an agreement could not be reached.
on 9 April 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark. As a result, on 10 April, the Parliament of Iceland, Alþingi, elected to take control of foreign affairs, electing a provisional governor, Sveinn Björnsson
, who later became the republic's first president. During the first year of World War II
, Iceland strictly enforced a position of neutrality, taking action against both the United Kingdom
and German
forces violating the laws of neutrality. On 10 May 1940, Operation Fork
was launched and UK military forces began an invasion of Iceland
by sailing into Reykjavík
harbour. The government of Iceland issued a protest against what it called a "flagrant violation" of Icelandic neutrality. On the day of the invasion, prime minister Hermann Jónasson read a radio announcement telling Icelanders to treat the British troops with the politeness as guests. The Allied occupation of Iceland would last throughout the war.
At the peak of their occupation of Iceland, the UK had around 25,000 troops stationed in Iceland, all but eliminating unemployment in the Reykjavík
area and other strategically important places. In July 1941, responsibility for Iceland's defense passed to the United States of America under a US–Icelandic defense agreement. The UK needed all the forces it could muster closer to home and thus coerced the Alþingi into agreeing to a US occupation force. Up to 40,000 soldiers were stationed on the island, outnumbering all grown Icelandic men — at the time, Iceland had a population of around 120,000.
Following a referendum on 24 May, 1944
, Iceland formally became an independent republic on 17 June 1944. Since Denmark was still occupied by Nazi Germany
, many Danes felt offended that the step should have been taken at this time. Despite this the Danish king, Christian X
, sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
was a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
lasting from 1 December 1918 until 17 June 1944, when the republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
was proclaimed.
Origins in Danish rule
Iceland had been under the control of the Danish Crown since 1380, although formally a Norwegian possession until 1814. In 1874, a thousand years after the first acknowledged settlement, Denmark granted Iceland home ruleHome rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
, which again was expanded in 1904. The constitution, written in 1874, was revised in 1903, and a minister for Icelandic affairs
Minister for Iceland
Minister for Iceland was a post in the Danish Cabinet for affairs with the Icelandic territory.The post was established on 5 January 1874 as according to the Constitution of Iceland the executive power rested in the king of Denmark through the Danish cabinet...
, residing in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, was made responsible to the Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
, the Icelandic parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
.
Establishment of the Kingdom
The Act of Union, a 1 December 1918 agreement with Denmark, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state united with Denmark under a common kingPersonal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
. The Kingdom of Iceland established its own flag and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defense interests. The Act would be up for revision in 1940 and could be revoked three years later if an agreement could not be reached.
World War II and the establishment of the Republic
The German occupation of DenmarkOccupation of Denmark
Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish...
on 9 April 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark. As a result, on 10 April, the Parliament of Iceland, Alþingi, elected to take control of foreign affairs, electing a provisional governor, Sveinn Björnsson
Sveinn Björnsson
Sveinn Björnsson , son of Björn Jónsson and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland.He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920....
, who later became the republic's first president. During the first year of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Iceland strictly enforced a position of neutrality, taking action against both the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
forces violating the laws of neutrality. On 10 May 1940, Operation Fork
Invasion of Iceland
The invasion of Iceland, codenamed Operation Fork, was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and a small Canadian task force during World War II....
was launched and UK military forces began an invasion of Iceland
Invasion of Iceland
The invasion of Iceland, codenamed Operation Fork, was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and a small Canadian task force during World War II....
by sailing into Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
harbour. The government of Iceland issued a protest against what it called a "flagrant violation" of Icelandic neutrality. On the day of the invasion, prime minister Hermann Jónasson read a radio announcement telling Icelanders to treat the British troops with the politeness as guests. The Allied occupation of Iceland would last throughout the war.
At the peak of their occupation of Iceland, the UK had around 25,000 troops stationed in Iceland, all but eliminating unemployment in the Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
area and other strategically important places. In July 1941, responsibility for Iceland's defense passed to the United States of America under a US–Icelandic defense agreement. The UK needed all the forces it could muster closer to home and thus coerced the Alþingi into agreeing to a US occupation force. Up to 40,000 soldiers were stationed on the island, outnumbering all grown Icelandic men — at the time, Iceland had a population of around 120,000.
Following a referendum on 24 May, 1944
Icelandic referendum, 1944
A referendum was held in Iceland on 24 May 1944. There were two separate issues:#Whether to abolish the Union with Denmark.#Whether to adopt a new republican constitution.Voter turnout was 98.6%.-Abolishing the Act of Union:...
, Iceland formally became an independent republic on 17 June 1944. Since Denmark was still occupied by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, many Danes felt offended that the step should have been taken at this time. Despite this the Danish king, Christian X
Christian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
, sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.