America Sent Marines to Iceland Before Pearl Harbor — Here’s Why

Описание: In July 1941, thousands of U.S. Marines arrived in Iceland — five months before Pearl Harbor and before the United States officially entered World War II.

Why were American troops already stationed in the North Atlantic while America was still officially neutral?

Iceland occupied one of the most important strategic positions in the Atlantic. After Britain occupied the island in 1940 to prevent Nazi Germany from gaining a base there, the United States gradually assumed responsibility for its defense under an agreement with the Icelandic government.

The first major American Marine force arrived off Reykjavík in July 1941.

From Iceland, American forces helped protect vital Atlantic routes as the United States moved closer to an undeclared naval conflict with Germany.

Within months, U.S. destroyers would encounter German U-boats. USS Greer would exchange attacks with U-652. USS Kearny would be torpedoed. USS Reuben James would be sunk before Pearl Harbor.

This documentary explores the U.S. Marines in Iceland, America’s changing neutrality in 1941, the Battle of the Atlantic, Franklin D. Roosevelt, German U-boats, and the forgotten months when America was already moving toward war.

Pearl Harbor did not suddenly pull a completely isolated America into World War II.

The Atlantic story had already begun.

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