Iceland In World War II - G. Jökull Gíslason

No single event in recent history has shaped the fortunes of Iceland as much as World War II. Before the war, Iceland was among the poorest European countries. After the war it had become one of the richest nations in the world. For this reason, it became the 'Blessed' war in Iceland. Iceland played its role in the larger events. Churchill said that whoever possesses Iceland held a pistol firmly pointed at England, America and Canada. The strategic location of Iceland gave the allies a firm fortress, an unsinkable aircraft carrier and naval base in the North Atlantic.