The northern flank before the Cold War

The Second World War showed that the North Atlantic and Scandinavian approaches were strategically important before the Cold War. Campaigning in Scandinavia also required troops trained for cold-weather operations. German control of Norway exposed Britain to new air threats and made Iceland a valuable support point for Atlantic operations. Britain's occupation of Iceland was a coercive decision intended to deny Germany a base and strengthen the Atlantic lifeline. Arctic convoy service then combined harsh weather with enemy naval and air pressure from northern Norway.