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The story of Heligoland’s transfer begins in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. Britain's naval prowess was demonstrated allied with a desire to undermine Napoleon’s Continental System—a strategy meant to cripple Britain’s economy. In 1807, the Royal Navy bombarded Copenhagen, seizing control of Heligoland from Denmark without a fight.
Originally ruled by the Danes for a century, Heligoland became a vital smuggling hub under British control and facilitated trade around Napoleon’s embargoes. The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 officially transferred the island to the British Empire, and thus began a unique chapter in British colonial history.