In World War 2, which island invasion was given the English codename "Operation Fork"?

Before World War 2 the strategic importance of the North Atlantic was well understood both by the UK and by Nazi Germany. The control of Iceland could be crucial to shipping between the UK and North America, in the event of hostilities.

During the 1930s there were many small-scale visits to Iceland by German officials and others, including Eva Braun. The objectives of the visits included setting up arrangements for an air base and general good will.

In the early months of the war, British strategic thinking was sharpened and, after the Nazi invasions of Norway and of Denmark, thinking became urgent. The loss of Denmark was particularly concerning as it was in union with Iceland and had been largely responsible for Iceland's foreign policy.

Operation Fork, the invasion by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, got under way on 10 May 1940. The initial force disembarked at Reykjavík. Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens. Requisitioning local transport, the British secured potential landing areas against the possibility of a German counterattack. The Government of Iceland protested that its neutrality had been flagrantly violated and its independence infringed.

After the British invasion, the Germans compiled a report examining the feasibility of seizing Iceland for itself: it found that while an invasion could be successful, maintaining supply lines would be too costly.