Polity Greenland (U.S. Military Occupation)

This article is about the specific polity Greenland (U.S. Military Occupation) and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Denmark, that was occupied by Germany, allowed the Military Occupation of Greenland by the United States During World War II.

Establishment

  • April 1941: On 9 April 1941, the Danish envoy to the United States, Henrik Kauffmann, signed a treaty with the U.S. authorizing it to defend Greenland and construct military stations there. Kauffmann was supported in this decision by the Danish diplomats in the United States and the local authorities in Greenland. Signing this treaty "in the name of the King" was a clear violation of his diplomatic powers, but Kauffmann argued that he would not receive orders from an occupied Copenhagen.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. World War II

Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 (it started sooner in certain regions) between the Axis Powers (mainly Germany, Japan and Italy) and the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union, the U.S.A., the U.K., China and France). It was the war with more fatalities in history. The war in Asia began when Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937. The war in Europe began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The war ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, which were occupied by the Allies.

1.1. World War II (Western Front)

Was the Western European theatre of World War II.

1.1.1. Administrative changes of occupied Denmark and its possessions during World War II

Were the administrative territorial changes of Denmark (occupied by Germany) and its overseas territories (free from German occupation) during World War II.

  • April 1941: On 9 April 1941, the Danish envoy to the United States, Henrik Kauffmann, signed a treaty with the U.S. authorizing it to defend Greenland and construct military stations there. Kauffmann was supported in this decision by the Danish diplomats in the United States and the local authorities in Greenland. Signing this treaty "in the name of the King" was a clear violation of his diplomatic powers, but Kauffmann argued that he would not receive orders from an occupied Copenhagen.
  • May 1945: On 5 May 1945, Greenlanders celebrated the liberation of Denmark in Nuuk. The Greenland Administration under Eske Brun surrendered its emergency powers and again came under direct control from Copenhagen.

1.2. North Atlantic weather war

The Allies and Germany tried to gain a monopoly on weather data in the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

  • September 1942: Beginning in August 1942, the Germans established four clandestine weather stations on the east coast of Greenland.
  • March 1943: The Eskimonaes radio and weather station on Clavering Island, Greenland, was captured by German troops on 23 March.
  • April 1943: The Eskimonaes radio and weather station on Clavering Island, Greenland, was captured by German troops on 23 March.
  • April 1944: The German base on Sabine was bombed by USAAF bombers from Iceland. It was then seized by a Coast Guard landing party.
  • June 1944: On April 22, 1944, six Sledge Patrol members attacked the Bassgeiger weather station. The station was subsequently evacuated on June 3.

Disestablishment

  • May 1945: On 5 May 1945, Greenlanders celebrated the liberation of Denmark in Nuuk. The Greenland Administration under Eske Brun surrendered its emergency powers and again came under direct control from Copenhagen.