When you think of the Second World War, Iceland is unlikely to spring to mind. In fact, when you think of Iceland, you are unlikely to think of war full stop – except perhaps with visions of longships and Norse gods in days of old. Without Iceland’s bittersweet history in World War Two, however, the island would be a very different place today.

Previously ruled by the Danish crown, Iceland has the war to thank for its independence. When Nazi-Germany invaded Denmark on 9 April 1940, all communication between the two countries was instantly severed. Iceland took back sovereignty that day, electing a provisional governor, Sveinn Björnsson. Björnsson went on to become Iceland’s first president when it formally severed ties with Denmark and declared independence on 17 June 1944.