Iceland

Flag of Iceland

Iceland, Officially the Republic of Iceland, Is a Unitary Parliamentary Republic in Northern Europe. Iceland has recently gained independence from Denmark after a peaceful seccession from the country. Iceland very nearly got involved in the Weltkrieg as the Third Internationale Pressured its Social Democratic government to go more radical. But Iceland Refuses and the intervention of the Reichspakt and Entente around the island dissuaded invasion. Iceland is essentially demilitarized in terms of strength. Iceland proclaimed independence on June 17th 1944 in the midst of the Second Weltkrieg hoping to use the opportunity to split off from the Danish Government witch neglected the island. Iceland now stands as a relatively Neutral country in the aftermath of the Second Weltkrieg but does lean towards the Entente.

## History

Iceland in 1936 was relatively poor due to neglect from the Danish. Iceland also had home rule but was still subject to the Danish in foreign policy as Iceland was under personal union from Denmark. When Black Monday began the Icelandic people wanted to finally break from the Danish Crown as they believed that Denmark was continuing to only drag the nation down with it as the situation got worse in Europe. After a few years of tensions rising within the nation 1940 would see the first act of Defiance as Iceland refused to join Denmark's war against the Third Internationale. Germany and Denmark decided to let it go because they could still use Icelandic naval bases. However the Third Internationale still did try to aim at taking the island but the Entry of the Entente began to jeopardize this operation. In 1944 with the war still ongoing the Icelandic nation declared independence. Denmark decided not to contest an a official ceremony was held only a few days afterwards. But the Third Internationale had other plans and demanded the Icelandic government to seize the ships docked in their harbors for the Third Internationale and to join their side. Iceland refused but before had secretly forwarded the message to the Entente who quickly got its ships in the Area. With the Third Internationale unable to attack the Island they decided not to formally declare war and allow the Danish Ships to relocate to a less optimal area than to drag Iceland in and have those ports open again. Thus Iceland remained neutral during the war as nether side wanted to afford the risk of expanding the others naval reach. With the Weltkrieg now over this fact still has not left the nation as the Reichspakt wants Iceland to join to be able to go into the Atlantic while the Entente wants Iceland to bottle up the Reichspakt. Thus now Iceland is in a similar situation as it has been for the last 4 years. A stategically important island with both sides catering to them to join their faction.

## Military

Iceland's population is so small that it cannot field a standing military force. Iceland however can conscript about 30,000 troops in the case of a war but does not keep them active. So Icelands army is entirely in reserve. Iceland has a few patrol boats mostly to stop smugglers and spies from entering into the country. Iceland does not have an air force quite yet.