Upon Hitler's declaration of war against the United States in October 1941, the Kriegsmarine was ordered to Greenland where naval facilities were greatly enhanced for a future assault on the United States. SS, Luftwaffe, and Wermacht forces also increased both on Greenland and Iceland with an expansion of airfields and barracks. The Kriegmarine's needs would take utmost priority in the days to come.An act by Hitler proved incredibly wise prior to his declaration of war with America. Realizing war with the United States would come sooner or later, Hitler had signed a treaty in early 1941 with Vichy France which dealt with the eventual withdrawal of German troops and the end of occupation. One of the clauses inside dealt with a change in French naval power. That clause required the turning over of the French Fleet in its entirety to Germany with France being granted the limited rights of a Coast Guard. Effectively, it gave Hitler a navy at little cost.
As to why a build-up of German forces in the Western Hemisphere went unopposed, this was due to the isolationist attitude of Garner. Greenland, despite its declaration of independence following Denmark's invasion in 1939, was not recognized by President Garner. Once the United Kingdom had signed the armistice of the same year, they recognized German rights to Denmark's former possessions. Iceland and Greenland would fall soon after as German forces occupied both islands. All will to resist the Nazis was sapped when no support came from either Britain or America.
An initial naval response by the United States to Germany's encroachment of their hemisphere was not to be had for the remainder of 1941. The reasons for Dewey's reluctance to launch an invasion of Greenland to oust German forces are many. First, under the administration of Garner, the American military had stagnated. Not a single new plane, ship, or battalion was created during his presidential term. Second, American rearmament had only begun in early 1941. The United States was not yet strong enough to fight on one front let alone both and defend the nation. That would have to wait until mid to late 1942. This led into the third point, the fact that American naval power had taken an incredible blow at Pearl Harbor. Dewey simply did not have the ships or the men to spare for an invasion even on a limited front such as Greenland. Fourth was the weather. Estimates placed the loss of aircraft alone at 10% due to environmental conditions in the best conditions. Combine the frigid, strong winds with fog and ice and the numbers got worse. Finally, President Dewey had never contemplated having to fight on both fronts. He and most of the General Staff had believed Hitler and the Nazis would be too busy with their European conquests to bother in Japan's affairs, so it came as a shock when Hitler declared war.
An initial naval response by the United States to Germany's encroachment of their hemisphere was not to be had for the remainder of 1941. The reasons for Dewey's reluctance to launch an invasion of Greenland to oust German forces are many. First, under the administration of Garner, the American military had stagnated. Not a single new plane, ship, or battalion was created during his presidential term. Second, American rearmament had only begun in early 1941. The United States was not yet strong enough to fight on one front let alone both and defend the nation. That would have to wait until mid to late 1942. This led into the third point, the fact that American naval power had taken an incredible blow at Pearl Harbor. Dewey simply did not have the ships or the men to spare for an invasion even on a limited front such as Greenland. Fourth was the weather. Estimates placed the loss of aircraft alone at 10% due to environmental conditions in the best conditions. Combine the frigid, strong winds with fog and ice and the numbers got worse. Finally, President Dewey had never contemplated having to fight on both fronts. He and most of the General Staff had believed Hitler and the Nazis would be too busy with their European conquests to bother in Japan's affairs, so it came as a shock when Hitler declared war.
With German troops just off their northeastern border, Prime Minister Mackenzie King began mobilization of Canadian forces. He also concluded a defensive pact with the United States allowing American troops to enter Canada to serve in its defense. King was wary of Hitler's men just off his shores and did not want to serve as a jumping off point for German hegemony in North America.The United Kingdom found itself in an uncomfortable position. Though it was allied with the United States against Japan and Canada was a part of the Commonwealth, it was neutral in America's conflict with Germany. UK Prime Minister Halifax was not interested in another war with Germany. Financial ties aside, Britain's economy was faltering and her forces were already heavily engaged in Southeast Asia trying to stave off the Japanese and hold India. He had held the wolves off in '39. The last thing he wanted was an invasion of Britain. Thus Hitler's supply line from Europe to Greenland was uncontested.
The conflict was beginning to heat up on America's Atlantic Coast.
SOURCE: Oldham, Geoffrey Reaping the Whirlwind: The Atlantic War
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