Having been part of a union with Denmark since 1918, the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany saw Iceland assume control over its own foreign affairs. The volcanic island that stands on the Mid-Atlantic ridge where the North American Plate and the Eurasian plate separate
moved towards complete independence from Denmark. This became official on 17 June 1944 after a plebiscite saw 97% vote for the union that had expired on 31 Dec 1943 to be dissolved. Iceland became a republic with Sveinn Bjérnsson becoming Iceland's first president.