WI: Effects of a US Greenland
- Thread starter vega
- Start date
I'm thinking it would have been militarized more during the Cold War, along the southeast coast at least... it was fairly important (the GIUK gap) for watching Soviet naval units (especially subs) as they moved around...
Driftless
Donor
Back in the 1940's-90's Greenland probably goes on more or less as it did OTL. If it's still a US possession/protectorate as the new millenium comes on and the ice cap recedes and more land mass becomes accessible, does that increase the possibility of big money mineral exploration?
For good or bad, depending on your point of view; there's minerals that will be exploited in the land under the receding ice cap.....
Geological overview - Government of Greenland
Minerals in Greenland
Greenland explores Arctic Mineral Riches
For good or bad, depending on your point of view; there's minerals that will be exploited in the land under the receding ice cap.....
Geological overview - Government of Greenland
Minerals in Greenland
Greenland explores Arctic Mineral Riches
Canadian paranoia increases?
Might boost the efforts of environmentalists trying to save "our" Arctic instead of just "the" Arctic
Might boost the efforts of environmentalists trying to save "our" Arctic instead of just "the" Arctic
With 56,000 people? One-tenth the population of Wyoming?
Maybe there might be more with an *American* Greenland but nothing like enough for statehood to be politically plausible.
Of course the whole thing is academic, because the idea of sale, whenever mentioned, was "indignantly rejected by all political parties" in Denmark. https://groups.google.com/d/msg/soc.history.what-if/njge9xCMzpg/johVK_rY2xQJ
On militarized more during the Cold War.
One of project was USArmy ICEWORM
They build 1960 a test base "Camp Century" for ICEWORM.
but ICEWORM died slowly, first the Danes were not happy to have that inside Greenland, "Camp Century" construction and operation problem and finally Greenland ice shield movement
under ABM project and SDI, Greenland was consider for Launch site for Interceptor Missile like Spartan/Sprint
One of project was USArmy ICEWORM
They build 1960 a test base "Camp Century" for ICEWORM.
but ICEWORM died slowly, first the Danes were not happy to have that inside Greenland, "Camp Century" construction and operation problem and finally Greenland ice shield movement
under ABM project and SDI, Greenland was consider for Launch site for Interceptor Missile like Spartan/Sprint
POD would need to be a different WWII with Denmark somehow becoming a huge battleground and becoming a wasteland. Suddenly the moneybags from Uncle Sam start to look a bit more appealing.
Or a Soviet satellite Denmark. Or the US not caring about Denmark, but Greenland isn't worth disrupting relations to that point.
The only big knockoffs would be a slightly larger chance of an American Newfoundland or Iceland. There was actual support among Newfies for the former, while Iceland is only possible if Americans continue to outnumber Icelanders and Iceland's pacificism gets annoying.
Redbeard
Banned
Well, it would have saved the Danish state something like 500 mio. $ (3,3 bio. DKK 2009) each year, plus the expenses for keeping a military presence.
Until now that has been limited to some fishery inspection ships and patrols on dog sledges, but the increasing tensions in the Artic area have drastically increased demands. Recently an Artic Command was created and maneuvers including deployment of infantry units has been carried out (showing that winter equipment wasn’t good enough).
Back in the 1940 national pride totally overshadowed expenses, but apart from the already mentioned PoDs one might be Denmark being seen more as a German allied than as a Wallied. A slightly milder German attitude from 1943 and on might easily have reduced the event which just about but not more had the balance turn towards Wallied in OTL (strikes, well organized resistance, rescue of Jews etc.).
If Denmark in the immediate post war years is seen as a defeated German ally (like Hungary) I doubt anybody would even listen to Danish ideas about the future of Greenland, there probably wouldn’t even be a Danish Government.
Until now that has been limited to some fishery inspection ships and patrols on dog sledges, but the increasing tensions in the Artic area have drastically increased demands. Recently an Artic Command was created and maneuvers including deployment of infantry units has been carried out (showing that winter equipment wasn’t good enough).
Back in the 1940 national pride totally overshadowed expenses, but apart from the already mentioned PoDs one might be Denmark being seen more as a German allied than as a Wallied. A slightly milder German attitude from 1943 and on might easily have reduced the event which just about but not more had the balance turn towards Wallied in OTL (strikes, well organized resistance, rescue of Jews etc.).
If Denmark in the immediate post war years is seen as a defeated German ally (like Hungary) I doubt anybody would even listen to Danish ideas about the future of Greenland, there probably wouldn’t even be a Danish Government.
It would be a combination of Puerto Rico (non-statehood territory) and Nevada (a place where most land is owned by the government).
There would be some kind of commonwealth status or organized, but unincorporated territory to allow local self-governance within the limits set by Congress. Native Greenlanders would be given US citizenship instead of being US nationals.
Unlike the Pacific Mandates, the US intention would be to keep permanent control of Greenland because of its importance to North American defense.
There would be some kind of commonwealth status or organized, but unincorporated territory to allow local self-governance within the limits set by Congress. Native Greenlanders would be given US citizenship instead of being US nationals.
Unlike the Pacific Mandates, the US intention would be to keep permanent control of Greenland because of its importance to North American defense.