Introduction

From the 1940's to the 1960's, Greenland was a central hub for United States military operations. In 1941, the US was granted usage of Greenland by Denmark for operations during World War II, which later continued into the Cold War era. During this time, large bases were built to serve as a place for soldiers to sleep, eat, and work in. These camps were extensive. Since travel to Greenland was limited to the workers of the bases, most of the accounts and images from the time come from journalists allowed to visit, soldiers, and photos sent directly from the military to newspapers. This last category is most important since it encompasses most of the photographs in this exhibit, as we examine the ways the US military tried to utilize media to portray their occupation of Greenland in an entirely positive light. 

Created by Jacqueline Kelly, UVM Class of 2025