Overview
An account of the deadly cat-and-mouse game between Americans and Germans that played out on the world's biggest island as both sides in the war recognized its pivotal strategic role. Harmsen makes a convincing argument that the occupation of Greenland fits within the broader narrative of the war, and is just as important to remember and understand as 'bigger' events that overshadow it
recommended for readers of all levels, scholarly or casual. - The Journal of America's Military Past The wartime interest in Greenland was a direct result of its vital strategic position-if you wanted to predict the weather in Europe, you had to have men in place on the vast, frozen island. The most celebrated example of Greenland's crucial contribution to Allied meteorological services is the correct weather forecast in June 1944 leading to the decision to launch the invasion of Normandy. In addition, both before and after D-Day a stream of weather reports from Greenland was essential for the Allied ability to carry out the bombing offensive against Germany. The Germans were aware of the value of Greenland from a meteorological point of view, and they repeatedly attempted to establish semi-permanent weather stations along the sparsely populated east coast of the island. This resulted in an epic cat-and-mouse game, in which US Coast Guard personnel assisted by a celebrated sledge patrol manned by Scandinavian adventurers struggled to locate and eliminate German bases before they could make any difference. It's a story seldom told, but the fact remains that Greenland was the only part of the North American continent in which German troops maintained a presence throughout almost the entirety of the war. At the same time, the US entry into the war triggered an enormous American effort to hastily establish the necessary infrastructure in the form of harbors and air bases that enabled Greenland to form a vital link in the effort to send men and supplies across the North Atlantic in the face of stern opposition from the German Navy. While Allied ships were passing through Greenland waters in massive numbers, planes were plying the so-called Snowball Route from Greenland over Iceland to the British Isles. This gave rise to number of tragic incidents, such as the sinking of the transport ship SS Dorchester off Greenland in February 1942, leading to the deaths of 674 out of 904 men on board, including the Four Chaplains-representing the Methodists, the Reformed Church, the Catholic Church, and Judaism-who gave up their life jackets to save others. In July the same year, in one of the most massive, forced landings in history, the lost squadron, six P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft and two Flying Fortresses, crash-landed on a Greenland glacier. AUTHOR: Peter Harmsen, PhD, is the author of Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze and Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City, as well as the War in the Far East trilogy. He studied history at National Taiwan University and has been a foreign correspondent in East Asia for more than two decades. He has focused mainly on the Chinese-speaking societies but has reported from nearly every corner of the region, including Mongolia and North Korea. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish and Romanian. 30 b/w photographs
Full Product Details
Author: Peter Harmsen
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Imprint: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 9781636246130
ISBN 10: 1636246133
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 15 June 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
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Reviews
""The fighting for Greenland is told in personal stories of diplomats posturing for advantage, Allied and Axis leaders trying to win the war and most importantly the soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting both each other and nature. The author has over two decades of experience as an international correspondent; his eye for detail and expert storytelling ability show through in this book.""-- ""WWII History Magazine"" ""Harmsen makes a convincing argument that the occupation of Greenland fits within the broader narrative of the war, and is just as important to remember and understand as 'bigger' events that overshadow it... recommended for readers of all levels, scholarly or casual.""-- ""The Journal of America's Military Past"" ""Fascinating account... well written. Enjoyed it.""-- ""Historical Miniatures Gaming Society"" ""This is a another superb first full account of Greenland's pivotal role there.""-- ""ARGunners.com"" ""Fury and Ice is an effective demonstration of Greenland's role and relative importance in World War II. Harmsen's navigation of multiple regional perspectives generates a holistic series of operational narratives... Those interested in Greenland's functional role in World War II will miss little if anything from Harmsen's account""-- ""Journal of Military History""
Author Information
Peter Harmsen, PhD, is the author of Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze and Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City, as well as the War in the Far East trilogy. He studied history at National Taiwan University and has been a foreign correspondent in East Asia for more than two decades. He has focused mainly on the Chinese-speaking societies but has reported from nearly every corner of the region, including Mongolia and North Korea. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish and Romanian.
