Nordic countries in World War II

Given their strategic locations regarding Britain and Russia, the Nordic countries in World War II were the targets of German conquest or control, along with the nearby islands, while the British tried to stop them. Finland fought to wars against the Soviet Union (and one against Germany), while Denmark and Norway were invaded and occupied by Germany. Iceland and the other islands were under British or American occupation (as was Greenland). Only Sweden remained neutral.

Military operations
The main military and naval operations were against Norway, and against Allied convoys headed to the Soviet Union.

Denmark

 * History of Denmark
 * German invasion of Denmark (1940)
 * Occupation of Denmark
 * Denmark in World War II

Finland

 * History of Finland
 * Winter War
 * Franco-British plans for intervention in the Winter War
 * Foreign support of Finland in the Winter War

Iceland

 * History of Iceland

Norway

 * History of Norway
 * German occupation of Norway
 * Norwegian Campaign
 * Allied campaign in Norway

Sweden

 * History of Sweden
 * Sweden in World War II
 * Swedish iron mining during World War II
 * Swedish overseas trade during World War II

Orkney Islands
The Orkney Islands remained under tight British control. The Royal Navy's main base was at Scapa Flow.

Shetland Islands
The Shetland islands remained under tight British control. It became the base of operations of a Norwegian naval unit nicknamed the "Shetland bus." It used Norwegian fishing vessels with Norwegian crews to conduct espionage and sabotage operations on the coast of Norway.

Faroe Islands
After Denmark was invaded, the British Navy made a pre-emptive (but friendly) invasion and occupation of the Faroes to prevent a German invasion.

Historiography

 * Phillips, Jason C. "The Forgotten Footnote of the Second World War: An Examination of the Historiography of Scandinavia during World War II." (2013). online
 * Stenius, H., Österberg, M. and Östling, J., eds. Nordic Narratives of the Second World War: National Historiographies Revisited (Lund: Nordic Academic Press, 2011).