Denmark and The Holocaust.
“.. antisemitic propaganda has always taken advantage of ..psychological factor in generalisation ..if a Jew was boastful or pompous ..then all Jews were so. If a Jew was too adept in money matters ..then all Jews were usurpers. As if there are not ..same number of Christians with ..same bad characteristics. But one does not say that all Christians are ..same.” Poul Borchsenius.
By the time Hitler’s forces had crushed Danish defences in 1940, the Jewish People had lived in Denmark for over 320 years. Historically, the Jews had travelled a long way, and though initially these Jewish People were deprived of total acceptance within Denmark, and even considered on the outside of society, and with antisemitism playing only a minor role, it still took nearly 200 years for the Jews to gain full Citizenship, in 1814. Then, when the Jewish People were given full political equality after this, it was within the space of 50 years, in 1849, and by the end of the 1800’s, that it was decreed the Jews could gain an almost total acceptance amongst their peers and fellow Countrymen. Education once more epitomised the Jewish presence, they were industrious, they were learned, and they broadened the spectrum of civil society here in Denmark. Though Denmark was both politically and religiously tolerant, there was an inter-religious difference which managed to spill over at times.
Throughout the intervening years, Danish Jews were an integral part of Danish Society and we see this in 1933, when in a service attended by the Danish King, Christian X, the Jews of Copenhagen celebrated the 100th anniversary of their synagogue’s existence. Of course, some 90% of Danes were from the Lutheran Church and during the German occupation, that Church fought against the strains of antisemitism infecting the whole Nazi incursion. The Rabbi, Dr. Marcus Melchior, was a strong advocate of countering such hatred with direct and fundamentally correct responses. While it remains true that the vast majority of the Danish People were repulsed by such terms of hatred, some Danes actually took heed of this discrimination, even joining the ranks of Nazi bitterness towards their own Jewish Citizens. In fact, and during September 1934 in Denmark, we see a collaborationist SS organization, The National Socialist Youth, ‘National Socialistike Ungdom’ being established. This small grouping would add largely to a formation of Danish Waffen SS sent to compliment Hitler’s Total War in the East, and which had its ramifications for all of European Jewry. At this time, and up until 1938, some 4,500 Jewish Refugees entered Denmark, but these were mostly transient Jews, seeking refuge away from the European Continent.
When, on May 31st 1939 Germany signs a nonaggression pact with Denmark, and with Denmark hoping to maintain its own form of neutrality, as it had done during World War I, Germany largely adhered initially to this pact. Germany however, broke with the agreement, and on April 9th 1940, Hitler’s Wehrmacht invaded and occupied both Denmark and Norway. With Denmark capitulating after four hours we see the Danish King, Christian X remaining as a symbol of the former monarchy, and though merely in a symbolic role, the King stayed on the throne. As the Danish State maintained a passive acceptance of the German occupation, the Nazi governing body did little to interfere in the daily lives of all of Danish Citizenry, including its Jews. All Government Ministry’s, and this included the Military and Police Force which still remained intact, they more or less became fully compliant to certain German demands. Even though the bureaucratic wheels of the Civil Service, and even the Justice Ministry stayed autonomous, and throughout the entire period of occupation, this was largely so. But, and until decreed, the Jewish presence within Denmark was not to emerge as a part of the overall Hitlerite solution until later on in the War.
“..Denmark ..represents a very special case ..conditions for ..collective rescue of Jews were favourable in virtually every regard ..and ..Danes took full advantage of them. First ..Danish Jews numbered only 8,000 ..making up a mere 0.2 percent of Denmark’s total population. Second ..this small group was highly assimilated. Third ..Nazis defined ..Danes as a superior ‘Aryan’ race. Partly because of this definition ..they were left in charge of their own political destiny retaining ..pre-war government. One effect of Denmark’s local autonomy was that ..Jews were left alone.” Nechama Tec.
The May Fourth Committee was established now so as to care for the influx of Jewish Refugees who found favour in Denmark. Even while the German annexation of Denmark was minimal, the Germans here were still considered as a well perceived and infinite threat to all of European Jewry. However, the fate of Danish Jewry was uniquely secured by a Danish Nation whose expressed Humanity exceeded those of any other state in Europe during these destructive times. At the time of this, the Jewish greatest need, there was a Jewish population of approximately 7,400 Danish and Refugees citizens. This was accounting for just 1/50th of the country’s total population and for the very foreseeable future, there were 6,000 Danish National Jews who remained unmolested. This was an incredible demand placed upon the German administration, and at an insistence of the Danish authority. Added to these Danish Jewish Nationals, there were some 1,400 German, Austrian and Czechoslovakian Jewish Refugees, with as many as a further 1,000 other Jewish Refugees entering the Country from East European Countries. This, for the Jewish People, who were all gaining from the Danish capacity for acting ethically, has added a newer dimension to what society and even civilisation must mean.
This notion too, that the Jews could be detained within German borders, essentially opened Danish eyes to what moral status the Jewish Refugee should be afforded. Remember too, that while borders were continually shut down to Jewish Refugees across the World, some leeway was afforded the Jewish People as they sought to escape into Denmark. Of course, all of this belies Denmark’s future position with regard to their saving of practically its entire Jewish Community from Hitler. The fact too that the Danish government did not require Jews to register their property and assets, or to identify themselves as Jews, nor to give up apartments, homes, and businesses, and nor were they even expected to wear the Jewish Star, stands Denmark pretty much alone in its humanitarian approach toward Hitler’s inhumanity toward all Jews. All of this of course sets Denmark apart from the very complicit nature of the anti-Jewish regulations that had spread throughout occupied Europe.
Laudably, the Danes erred on the cautious side and sought to placate a less Nazi destructive process and with this, Denmark has received a degree of autonomy within the Greater Nazi Reich. This position establishes Denmark amongst the top ranked Nations in humanitarian concerns, and from all of those from any of the other European States of the time. While it is true that Danish relations with the German Reich were not built upon a mutual esteem, but rather upon a concern Denmark held in fear of its larger more aggressive neighbour, Hitler and his Reich had considered Denmark higher along the scale of so called aryanism. Also, any maintenance of a unified stance that was established by the Danish People, and The Jewish Question was not deemed a factor to be bothered with, protected further its Jewish population. As such, we recognise that Danish Jews were not openly molested, were not compelled to wear the Yellow Star of David. Danish Jews were not segregated nor Ghettoised. Life for Danish Jewry steered a steady course, unflinching in its understanding of what community meant to all of their Danish Neighbours. The esteemed Professor of Theology Hal Koch, and Chairman of Dansk Ungdomssamvirke, overseeing Danish Youth Movements, was a moderator within Danish circles on The Final Solution as it was becoming a concern for Danish society and he stresses:
“..we have said many a Yes and many a No which have not come from our hearts ..and that our talk has taken on a fateful hypocrisy.” Hal Koch.
Denmark forged a resilience that went beyond the pressure of occupation, was not too drastically treated and remained more conducive to seeing Germans strutting their Streets as more of an irritation. Then, as threats to Danish Jewry became more pronounced, all of Denmark mobilised in defence of Their Jews and in defiance of any German authority. Jews were taken out of harm’s way, hidden in Neighbours Homes, Businesses, Churches, Convents, Hospitals, Monasteries and Stores. Strangers became Friends in a whisper and the intention to deny Hitler a platform for his Final Solution was fully confronted and countered on Danish soil. The Capitol, Copenhagen, became a hidden City of Jews, where the vast majority of all Jews in Denmark lived. Here, as with the Danish Eastern Coastline, where fishermen’s boats, Alcoves, Bays, and Inlets, all harboured Danish Jews, and in increasing numbers, the Jews grew increasingly aware of the fate of all of European Jewry.
“..On January 7th 1942 ..Hal Kochs article has touched off an internal political dispute concerning ..Jewish Question in Denmark ..one presumes that ..dispute will expand. In my opinion ..we would do best not to intervene in this internal political controversy ..which will bring The Jewish Problem to ..Danish public consciousness more intensively than ever before. Instead ..we should continue to follow ..line we have pursued thus far. It remains our policy of action to eradicate Jewish influence at every opportunity ..to oust ..Jews altogether. We should also take future action to inspire greater understanding of The Jewish Problem.” Cecil von Renthe-Fink.
When Renthe-Fink was replaced by Dr. Werner Best as the civil administrator of Denmark, the evocation of the very aggressive terms for The Final Solution would be signalled. It is clear here from the German Foreign Ministry that The Final Solution of The Jewish Question in Denmark is merely held in abatement until a more conducive time presents itself. It is recognised here that Hal Koch is to be considered an interference in the relationship between Denmark and Germany, particularly in its relationship to The Jewish Question What we must also recognise, as practically all of Denmark acted in a single moral accord, so too did the State Church. Here, the Lutheran Church acted with conscience and presented a religious communion which saw beyond all, or any personal interests. A lesson here, for All Churches was set, as a moral probity which should have enjoined all religious tolerance is promoted. Clearly, what lays exposed on the European Continent, is an acquiescence toward Hitler’s fuller resolve for the Jews, which has been seen in many Country’s as both complicit and duplicitous. All the while, the Danish attitude toward the German occupiers was graduating from seeming acceptance to a well-formed and growing belligerent disapproval. Then, when Nazi demands toward the Jewish People were finally raised, Danish refusal to co-operate with any German authority heightened.
“..Danish Jews are a living part of ..People ..and ..whole nation is therefore profoundly affected by ..measures which have been taken and which must be regarded as an infringement of ..Danish conception of justice.” Council of Nine Statement.
This Danish group of political leaders roundly condemned any attempt at the incarceration or deportation of Danish Jews. When, on January 20th 1942 and The Wannsee Conference recognised just 5,600 Danish Jews for elimination, a Danish more retaliatory response was more necessary. When Martin Luther of the Foreign proposed allowing Denmark, amongst the Scandinavian Country’s, a stay of execution of the final terms of this, it is clear time was being bought for them by Eichmann’s demands for the rolling stock necessary. At this time too, the growth of The Resistance Movement within Denmark moved into a more widely accessible and coordinated approach.
On August 24th. 1942 “..Danish Foreign Minister Scavenius is convinced that ..Danes will adjust to ..New Europe of their own good will and accept all ..attendant undertakings if left alone in all other matters. Mr. Scavenius repeatedly stressed that no action should be taken against ..Jews in Denmark at ..present time because ..Danes would regard this as a negation of their ideals. Admittedly ..this will change with ..approach of ..end of ..War and ..New Order in Europe ..in ..meantime anti-Jewish measures will cause unrest. Furthermore ..one should bear in mind that ..longer ..War lasts ..more difficulties will have to be resolved in any case. It is not wise to aggravate them by making them take up The Jewish Problem now. Even Brigadefuhrer Ohlendorf agrees that a people should not be transformed overnight and that solving The Jewish Problem should be postponed until ..end of ..War. ..Foreign Minister added that we would only exacerbate ..anti-German mood if Danes are removed from their positions as a result of our pressure.” Cecil von Renthe-Fink.
We know, with the arrival of Otto Ohlendorf, in August 1942, this Einsaztgruppe Kommander and mass murderer of the Jews, was not in Denmark to expedite other than The Final Solution. It is becoming clear that the ticking bomb of The Jewish Question was being approached. By the end of 1942 there were different groups all emerging, gathering more support and garnering a more centralised coordination. Throughout the following Summer, civil unrest was more widespread as draconian measures were being imposed continually upon the entire population. Hunger was in the air as food shortages were registered by Nazi edict. As a consequence of this, acts of sabotage mounted, strike actions took place, and as German reprisals became more severe, the counter action took on a more confrontational response.
On January 3rd 1943 “..Jewish poison in ..Danish Spirit. ..is quite impossible to understand how ..this poison has penetrated so deeply into ..Church ..nothing in any of our social institutions is fought for with such fanaticism as this cause of ..safety and freedom of ..Jews.” Frits Heide.
Here in 1943, even antisemites such as Heide recognised the Danish Church was fulfilling its moral duty to all People, recognised by their God. However, as German policies towards Denmark toughened, and the Danish Resistance movement applied itself and would form one of the most active and successful resistance campaigns against the German occupation, Jewish awareness of its own diverse predicament grew. Of course, German policies had varied from country to country, including direct and even brutal occupation and including a continuous reliance upon collaborating regimes. Until now though, the German occupation regime still took a less dictatorial approach within Denmark, a perceived kindred spirit.
On April 24th 1943 “..The Jewish Question in Denmark ..I hereby report. ..Danish society regards ..Jewish question above all as a legal and constitutional issue. If ..German side were to demand special treatment of ..Jews ..Danes would regard this ..as an assault on their constitution ..which assures equality of all Danish citizens under ..law. ..Jewish problem would be resisted by all constitutional players in ..Danish State ..and ..Prime Minister Scavenius explained ..it would ..cause ..Government to resign. The Jewish Problem commands so little importance in Denmark ..in terms of quantity and interest ..there is no practical need to take special action for ..time being. ..total Jewish population of Denmark is estimated at 6,000 ..nearly all of whom are gathered in Copenhagen. ..small number of Jews in Denmark and their concentration in Copenhagen will facilitate at some later date a total arrangement ..which my office is preparing. There are 1,351 stateless Jews ..former German citizens in Denmark at ..present time ..845 Men ..458 Women ..and 48 children.” Dr. Werner Best.
On August 28th 1943, when a state of emergency was declared by Denmark’s Reich Commissioner, SS Obergruppenfuhrer Dr. Werner Best, the clamp down spurred the Danes to ever more breeches of Nazi rule. Dr. Best defined acts of sabotage as warranting a death sentence and within the coming four weeks, the fuller nature of an aktionen against Danish Jews was corresponding to the implementation of Hitler’s final resolve. The impending question to the Jewish resolution now was made aware and ensured that Denmark as a whole, acted as a whole. The German legation’s attaché, Georg F. Duckwitz, who was responsible for the shipping quotas in and out of Copenhagen, briefed those around him. Dane and German alike grew aware of what terms of reference would be proffered upon Danish Jewry and Duckwitz was now instrumental in the Danes awareness.
“..hurry as much as possible .. evacuation of ..Jews from ..various countries of Europe. ..object of starting .. evacuation of ..Jews of these Countries.” Martin Luther.
As soon as was required those Danes who acted with benevolence, compassion and human solidarity toward their Jewish Neighbours, drew much of humanity out of a bulging pit of despair. In September 1943, the ‘Danish Freedom Council’ was created, and they attempted to unify the many different groups that made up the Danish resistance movement.
On September 24th 1942, when Martin Luther of the Reich Foreign Ministry urged movement on The Jewish Question in Bulgaria, Denmark and Hungary, that Danish Resistance fully mobilised and brought about a human miracle in terms of the Jewish escape. Germany, while still very much in its ascendency, and with the resolution of the full remit for The Final Solution at the pinnacle of all Hitler demanded, and within his Weltanschauung, this Worldview was being re-stressed within Denmark also.
“..We Danes know that ..whole population stands behind resistance to ..German oppressors. ..Council calls on ..Danish population to help in every way possible those Jewish fellow citizens who have not yet succeeded in escaping abroad. Every Dane who renders help to ..Germans in ..persecution of human beings is a traitor and will be punished as such when Germany is defeated.” The Danish Freedom Council.
In fact, the representative of the German Foreign Office at the Wannsee Conference, Martin Luther recommended that the Scandinavian countries could be excluded from the terms of The Final Solution of The Jewish Question until after the War is won. In truth, this unresolved issue was never going to be countenanced as Hitler’s demand was for the immediate completion of all Jews being eradicated in the least possible time scale. All was to be achieved in order to then extend the War Machine into the further reaches of the Far East. It is clear, that while the Danish government did not require Jews to register their property and assets, nor to identify themselves as Jews, even the administration of Jewish Refugees offered no differences to their status as People. Danish Jews were never ordered to give up ownership of their Lands, Business Premises nor their Homes as was common throughout the range of Hitler’s demands, When we look to this statement of support from the Danish King, Christian X sees his demands resonate throughout Denmark. What then remains consistent in relation to the refusal by the Danish People as a body, is to see the Jewish People as other than a constituent part of the Danish People.
“..Jews are a part of ..Danish nation. We have no Jewish problem in our country because we never had an inferiority complex in relation to ..Jews. If ..Jews are forced to wear ..Yellow Star ..I and my whole family shall wear it as a badge of honour.” King Christian X.
It is imperative too that when we look to the escape of Danish Jewry toward Sweden, this plight for the Jewish People was none the more concerning by the fact of all that these Jews had left behind. In Poland, we have witnessed the removal and transportation of Polish Jewry was the starting gun for non-Jewish Poles to steal and remove everything from within Jewish Homes. The plunder was on an industrial scale, the move into owned Jewish Homes was extortionate and the steal of Jewish Businesses had provided an endless stream of wealth executed away from Polish Jewish ownership. This provides History with the epitome of such larceny that has fully propped up the Polish state to this day. On the opposite end of that particular immoral spectrum, stood the Danish Nation who kept Jewish Homes locked up, Jewish belongings left entirely where they belonged, and as reminiscent of the Marie Celeste, the Jews returned to an almost pristine former position they had previously left behind. Then, when we look to what could have been done, and certainly what should have been done to attempt to save the Jews of The Holocaust, we look to Denmark as to what it did and certainly toward what it did not do against its Jewish Neighbours. As a whole, The Nation State stood as a Community of People, against a Nazi horde set about destroying its very foundation. The Yellow Badge, as we will recognise, was this so-called honour badge, the Mogen David, that was never introduced as an identifier of the Jews into Denmark. What I find most upsetting, in all that the Danes achieved in saving their Jewish Population, is that incremental pressure from some in history is to seek to downplay this achievement. It can be no coincidence that many states would decry such humanitarian an effort, to somehow disguise their own ineffectual indifference to the intolerances the Jews of these failure states fully faced.
“..It was ..natural thing to do. I would have helped any group of Danes being persecuted. ..Germans’ picking on ..Jews made as much sense to me as picking on redheads.” Dr. Karl Henry Koster.
For this Danish Surgeon at the Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, as a physician Henry Koster took his responsibility within the Hippocratic Oath to save People from harm. He urged his fellow physicians to pave the way for Danish Jews, and they were directed through the very corridors of the Hospital, to make their way toward Sweden. In addition, the eye specialist Dr. Steffen Lund garnered support from amongst his colleagues into the wider Danish community. Also, while Jews were not required to wear a yellow star or badge, it made it ever more difficult for the German authority’s to identify Danish, or even Refugee Jews. The Jewish People didn’t always fit the stereo typical image fostered by Nazi propaganda of the Hassidim, as the model of All Jewry, let alone secular Jews. Two attempts were made to set fire to the Copenhagen synagogue in 1941 and 1942, but local police intervened both times to prevent the arson and arrest the perpetrators. It is also clear that attempts at burning records from Danish Ministry’s was undertaken to ensure the Nazi administration could not identify Jews from any card indexes that might present the Germans with any additional information.
“..persecution of ..Jews has hit ..Danes in ..sorest point of their conception of justice ..even ..much too tolerant ..passive ..lukewarm can feel this meanness and shrink from it. We couldn’t yield to ..German threats when ..Jews’ well being was at stake. Nor can we yield today. We have helped them ..and we shall go on helping them by all ..means at our disposal. ..episodes of ..past two nights have to us become part of Denmark’s fate ..and if we desert ..Jews in this hour of their misery ..we desert our native country.” Danish Underground Newspaper Editorial.
So the Jewish community continued to maintain its position, not deviating from all former practices and religious services and occasions and did so, right up until their evacuation toward Sweden. It was with the clear refusal and obstruction of the Danish authorities with a very vocal trend growing amongst Student bodies, and the preparedness of Danish Dock Workers to stall loading and unloading of goods, discrimination against the Danish Jews was further minimised and thwarted. The Media was fully behind the disruption of all German articles designed to segregate the Jewish People out of their community. They headlined the Kings approval of the Jewish status as equal amongst all Danes and worked tirelessly to counter the propaganda espoused by German demands. There was a noted effort for exchanges between Denmark and Hitler’s Nazis for Jews that did not come to much. In response to these German attempts, to get Danes to surrender those Jews who were in hiding, alarm bells were loudly peeling. In an arm-twisting exercise the Nazis offered to release Danish detained prisoners of War and easing certain constraints placed upon the Danish Community.
“..I was brought up to believe in democracy and to believe that you have to be willing to fight if you want to preserve that democracy. As for helping ..Jews ..I didn’t feel any particular responsibility for Jews. As a matter of fact ..I never thought of them as Jews or anything else. They were merely my countrymen and they needed my help.” Signe Jensen.
All arms of the Danish Civil and Civic Services answered the call, as this Danish nurse proved, and in the meantime, the tone of the German occupation changed in early 1943. With Allied victories further convincing Western Europe and even the Danish People that Germany could indeed be defeated, a certain buoyancy entered the fray. While there had been minimal direct resistance to the Germans during those initial years of the occupation, and while there had been many labour strikes and even acts of deliberate sabotage, Danish Resistance pervaded the Dano/German arena. It was clear now that all Danish responses would strain further, the very future of their relationship with Germany. As the Danish government resigned, on August 28th 1943, it was abundantly clear that Denmark would not cow down to all aspects of German demands upon its Citizenry, its Constitution and upon its ability to act independently. In this, Danes arrested for what Germans deemed as sabotage would not be allowed to become a tool of the Nazi Reich, to be presided over by a German Military Court.
“..It was never a question of Jew or non-Jew. It was a question of People in distress. I would have helped anyone to escape from ..Gestapo.” Jorgen Knudsen.
Ordinary Danish citizens strove to oppose all occupation threats and incitements, and helped all of those People, whether Jews or not who were in distress. While we are aware of what Poland refused to do, Denmark stands to shame these other nations whose own inaction, indifferences and intolerances led 6,000,000 Jews of Europe to the Slaughter. The following night, August 29th 1943, the German military commander, General Hermann von Hannecken, declared martial law. The German authorities now arrested Danish civilians, Jews and non-Jews alike, and Danish military personnel. Under the state of emergency German authorities took direct control over the Danish military and police forces. The approaching signature of Hitler’s Final Solution fully arrived between September and October 1943, and the Lutheran Church was ready as the Jews readied themselves. The Danish People so saw themselves as members of the same community, and it was of all People belonging to a shared humanity as human beings. On September 8th 1943, SS Obergruppenfuhrer Dr. Werner Best, the German civilian administrator in Denmark, sent a telegram to Adolf Hitler to propose that the Germans make use of the martial law provisions to deport the Danish Jews.
From this admission from Werner Best alone we can identify the hand of Adolf Hitler in all that was related to The Final Solution to The Jewish Question, and not just here in Denmark. Hitler then approved the measure nine days later and as preparations proceeded, Werner Best, who had second thoughts about the political consequences of the deportations, informed Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz, a German naval attaché, of the impending of the deportation operation. Then, with martial law beginning to bite, the threat came for the drive to deport some 7,200 Danish Jews. When we look to what could have been done, and certainly what should have been done to attempt to save the Jews of The Holocaust, we look to Denmark. As a whole, The Nation State stood as a Community of People, against a Nazi horde set about destroying this nations very foundation. Even when we come to record the abuse in the wearing of The Yellow Badge, this so-called honour badge, the Mogen David, was never to be introduced as one of the identifier’s of the Jews in Denmark.
On September 26th 1943 “..I will assume responsibility for everything I am going to do. I am consoled by my strong faith that good deeds can never be wrong.” Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz.
With this diary entry from Georg Duckwitz, we recognise in this single German diplomat in occupied Denmark, he then moved to inform the Danish Community of what was coming for Danish Jewry. With the burgeoning plans to deport the entire Jewish population, to the East, those Death Camps still operating within Poland were readied. Then, ahead of the resettlement of all of Denmark’s Jews, the Nazi plan for removal and destruction was totally circumvented. The entire coast of Denmark, which faced neutral Sweden was mobilised, and all arrangements were set in store for the arrival across the waters of Danish Jews within Sweden. Before the final order for deportation came to Copenhagen, on September 28th 1943, Duckwitz along with other German officials, warned non-Jewish Danes of the resettlement plan. In turn, the Danish People came forward and alerted the local Jewish community of what was definitely a final resolve.
On Wednesday September 29th 1943 “..situation ..is very serious. We must take action immediately. ..hide or flee.” Rabbi Dr. Marcus Melchior.
This urgency, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah was for Rabbi Melchior, who had long considered the need for any rescue action, now sought a response. Rabbi Melchior knew this could not just come from a Jewish Community alone and furthermore, it would only succeed if it were a spontaneous act. Rightly so, he premised that any forward planning might well tip off the Nazi authorities and prevent the eventual escape of any of those Danish Jews who did actually make it to Sweden. There was also the untold danger of informants getting to know what was being prepared, and we have to recognise, not all Danes were gifted with the moral nor ethical understanding of the vast majority of the Danish People. As the Rabbi told his congregation that the Germans planned a mass roundup of Jews, and this was to be the very next day, we can be sure the urgency was more evident and gravely felt. This timing was no coincidence, as the Germans rightly assessed that entire Jewish Families would all be gathered together, and around festive tables within their homes, and the holiday would serve as a collection and meeting point. While it is difficult here to accept that the wider Europe knew nothing of The Final Solution, as it was inaugurated more than 2 years previously, we accept that each nation knew the Jews were a threatened People.
“..We got this boat. It was bought by ..bookbinder Kjaer. It was a boat laying in ..harbour of Elsinore ..a very good boat. ..a wooden boat with a good engine and it was able to go rather quick. ..when it started ..first night I remember had ..2 trips to Sweden and 10 to 12 passengers every time. And then later on we had in October 700 Jews and ..totally I know that this boat brought about 1,400 People from Denmark to Sweden.” Preben Munch-Nielsen.
While der Einsatzgruppe acted with impunity, Slaughtering 100’s of 1,000’s of Jews in far off places, or closer still in The Baltic States, and after June 22nd 1941, this truth was emerging. At Chelmno, a place which was not immediately known throughout Poland, locals knew immediately when operations commenced there on December 7th 1941. Certainly, that myriad of Jewish Communities throughout Eastern Europe, The Baltic States and Poland knew the immediate impact such aktionen had upon its own Jews as their removal from place to place left an enormous vacuum of emptiness. With the very fact too that Belzec was Slaughtering Polish Jewry from March 17th 1942, none of this could have escaped Polish attention. The allied powers too, gorging themselves upon intercepted Einsatzgruppe transmissions, knew the burgeoning scale of The Final Solution as it was now taking place. Preben, who was born in the fishing Village at Snekkersten, joined the Resistance as a courier when the Germans invaded Denmark in 1940. Then, when the Germans sought to detain the Jews, 3 years later, Preben was instrumental in getting Jews to the Coast and finding rooms for them in the Inns, in Homes, and in all the places owned by local Danes where they could be concealed.
“..When here in this country pogroms have been started against a special group of our fellow Countrymen ..only because they belong to a special race ..then ..Church has a right to cry out. This is breaking ..constitution of Christ’s kingdom and is abominable to ..Nordic way of thinking. ..Church must here be indefatigable. We will not limit ourselves to wearing ..yellow Star of David. ” Kaj Munk.
This Danish Church Minister was aware during October 1943, and spoke openly about resisting the efforts of the Germans to corral and even remove Danish Jews from their Country. At the same time the Resistance Movement and its sympathizers, moved stealthily in assisting the Jewish People in removing themselves out of harm’s way, as much as they could. The Danes were continually scouting for hiding places to conceal the Jews, and throughout the entire Country, this was achieved ahead of the next and more deadly stage. From the multitude of concealed chambers the Jews converged along the Eastern Coast where Boat Owners, Fishermen, and boating enthusiasts, ferried the Jews across the sound, and into a neutral Sweden that awaited and welcomed them. This rescue operation went on for about 3 to 4 weeks and brought every element of the Danish Government into its ranks. This included Police Officers, Fire Officers, Dockers, Health workers, and the full body of the Danish National identity into cooperating. Over that period of about a month, some of what History recalls for us is that across the Baelts and The Baltic Sea, 5,919 Jews, 1,301 half-Jews and 686 Christians Married to Jews, a total of 7,906 Jews, and their spouses, who were also under threat, crossed into Sweden. All of these Jews, who had travelled to seek safety in Sweden, found a Nation which gladly accepted the Danish Jews as in need of refugee status.
“..From now on there was no doubt or uncertainty possible. In ..face of these open acts of atrocity ..insanely meaningless ..it was not a question of one’s viewpoint. Action was ..word. Even under serious or desperate conditions it is often a happy feeling to be able to devote oneself to a cause that one feels convinced is both unconditionally just and absolutely binding. ..situation in Denmark at that time was precisely that simple. No honest man could possibly refrain from action after this raid ..when ..persecuted cried for help.” Aage Bertelsen.
Aage Bertelsen was a Danish Teacher, another Danish citizen focusing upon the humanitarian needs of the Jews within the single nation. What Aage Bertelsen now witnessed through the prism of that changing attitude toward Danish Jewry, proved decisive in bringing academic reasoning into academic action and achievement. The very fact that Aage’s own Home was considered a safe haven for Danish Jews was well established with some 700 Jews or so, travelling through his home enroute toward Sweden. Once the Jews of Denmark were singled out for special attention, and this was clearly recognised for its extermination policy, the passivity of so many Danes shifted. Everything that the Danes could do, so as to circumvent any or all German intentions toward the Jews was orchestrated and mobilised. Remember, this was still in October 1943, and Adolf Eichmann’s emissary Rolf Gunther couldn’t even hope to feed the Death Camps with Danish Jews. While so many other Danes were foraging for ways and methods to remove the Jews out of harm’s way, morality and ethics became enjoined.
While we know full well that The Final Solution was well under way throughout Europe, it can only be surmised that the growing awareness within Denmark too was becoming conversant with this fact. Once the Germans began the Jewish roundup, and the German police began the raids on the night of October 1st 1943, they realised the vast majority of Danish Jewry had been spirited away. Still, German demands found these not insubstantial 500 Jews who they could move to resettle. The Nazis then loaded these discovered Jews, all of them were deported to the model Ghetto in Czechoslovakia, the fortress of Theresienstadt. Here, some 77 of these Jews were further transported away from the Theresienstadt Ghetto and towards elimination at Birkenau, sometime in October 1943. It is evident too that at least 2 more of these Danish Jews were also murdered in the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. It is becoming abundantly clear, to any of those who wish to hear what is being deliberately outlined as German Policy, the Jewish People are to be the further target of future incursions into their personal and civil rights. In the intervening days, Danish authorities, Jewish community leaders, and countless private citizens had massively facilitated an operation to get Jews into hiding or into temporary sanctuaries while the Germans were putting together their lines of transportation.
“..As a result of measures taken by ..German authorities ..Jews have been removed from public life and prevented from continuing to poison ..atmosphere for it is they who have to a considerable degree been responsible for ..deterioration of ..situation in Denmark through anti-German incitement and moral and material support for acts of terror and sabotage. In ..next few days ..in response to ..inquiries of large sections of ..Danish population ..release of ..interned Danish soldiers will begin and will continue at a rate corresponding to ..technical possibilities.” Dr. Werner Best.
In general, the Danish police authorities refused to cooperate with the German plans, thus denying the German police any right to enter Jewish homes by force. Danish Police too would simply overlook the presence of Danish Jews who they found hiding in those premises they raided. On October 2nd 1943 SS Obergruppenfuhrer Dr. Werner Best, the Reich Commissioner in Denmark, made it perfectly clear in his released written statement that the move toward implementing Hitler’s final resolve, even for Denmark’s Jews, was now at hand. Even though the Jews had clearly bolted and Danish protests mounted as the Churches took a deliberate stand against such intrusion into humanity’s concern, the Jewish People of Denmark could breath freer. The fight back too was unrivalled and came from amongst many institutions, social and economic groups and even the Danish Royal Family. The Danish King maintained his firm commitment toward the Danish demand for an unbridled stand be sustained and for equal treatment for all of Denmark’s Citizens retained. As vehement as the Churches were toward this anti-Jewish rhetoric, the Students of University’s and even Schools were equally active in voicing their own disapproval of any, and all measures raised against the Jewish People.
“..Despite different religious views ..we shall struggle to ensure ..continued guarantee to our Jewish ..Brothers and Sisters of ..same freedom we ourselves treasure more than life itself. ..leaders of ..Danish Church have a clear understanding of ..duty to be law abiding citizens our conscience obliges us to maintain ..law and to protest against any violation of rights.” Bishop Dr. Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard.
Danish Universities, and even Schools were closed down, and as a result, Danish Students availed themselves of the opportunities to move more uniformly to save even more of Danish Jewry. Here too, the Danish Resistance Movement escalated its own terms of reference toward usurping the controlling efforts of the German Reich. 1,000’s upon 1,000’s of ordinary Danish People stood stubbornly before the Germans and began thinking in terms of an end to German occupation. Resistances were organised in spontaneous ways and many coordinated, even strike led acts were established to stall any German intentions within Denmark. The Bishop of Copenhagen, Dr. Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard had written a missal, and signed it on behalf of all the Danish Lutheran Bishops. In this understanding he urged all to further protest in upholding principles of human rights for all their Brothers and Sisters. This missal was sent to all the churches in his diocese on Saturday, October 2nd 1943, and also to the Nazi occupation forces. On Sunday, October 3rd it was read out in all the Lutheran Churches in Denmark. The Danish Lutheran Church had also helped in many other ways in ensuring that Danish Jews would not be abandoned. The rallying call had gone out and the Danish People, to a whole, heeded the call in hiding the Jewish People’s possessions while they were now settling in Sweden. Also, and all through the occupation the Danes were ensuring that all Jewish artefacts, such as Torah Scrolls were sequestered safely. Jewish Books and other Religious artefacts were also secured from the ravages of German hate and confiscation. The Churches had already gathered Food stuffs, Money, and many other resources for those Jews awaiting the exit strategy and was now hidden from German hands.
“..I tell you that I would rather die with ..Jews than live with ..Nazis.” Pastor Ivar Lange.
It is clear here that what Pastor Lange extols is the obviously expressed necessity that was morally intended of a supposed virtue of Christian ethics that was so missing in the rest of Christian Europe. It would now appear that the majority of these 500 discovered Jews, who were transported on October 2nd 1943 and October 13th 1943, they were formerly deportees from Germany and Eastern Europe. Despite this fact, the Danish Government didn’t abandon its charge over these Jews and dispatched the Danish Red Cross to inspect their living conditions within the Theresienstadt Ghetto. Many of these Jews, detained within this antechamber to Birkenau, remained somewhat alive until liberation and survived Hitler’s resolve for them. There were many of these Jews though, who subsequently perished due to previous lack of care, compassion and particularly the loss of nourishment.
However, and for those Danish Jews who remained alive within Theresienstadt, and there had been dozens who died, hope was always extending their will and hope to live. All of this was right up until April 14th 1945 when, at the behest of the Swedish Diplomat, Count Folke Bernadotte, 423 of these Danish Jews were repatriated to Denmark. In total, some 120 Danish Jews died during the Holocaust, either in Denmark, in Theresienstadt, within Birkenau, or Mauthausen, and otherwise elsewhere where Jews could continually die or be killed. While it is essential in naming Denmark as a whole, for what it sought to achieve, and in saving Jews, we recognise these Ports, Villages, Towns, and City’s that must be commended. Aalborg, Aarhus, Assens, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Fredericia, Haderslav, Helsingor, Hillerod, Horsens, Middlefart, Nakskov, Nestved, Nibe, Nyborg, Odense, Randers, Ringsted, Roskilde, Slagelse, Snekkersten, Svenborg, and Viborg.
Of course, and even for Danish Jewry, fear fed the anxiety of life for them, even in Sweden where they were almost categorically assured of survival. But who knew then what Hitler’s demands upon his Nazis would or could still achieve against them. However, it is in 1945 and after Hitler’s Germany had been eventually and comprehensively defeated, that 5,500 of the Danish Jews returned to their homes. Clearly, and it is evident that there are many estimates which exist, but it is certain, Survival was uniquely greater for Danish Jews than for any other Jewish Community within Europe. At least 77 Danish Jews were Murdered during the period of Hitler’s clear attempt for the Jews who are The Holocaust. As a postscript to this victory for those Danes who moved heaven and earth to save their Jews, here is a saddening narrative merging with this Danish reality. There are elements now seeking to defame an effort which is both herculean in its attempt and redemptive in its achievement. But perhaps there is a darker reasoning why the World must seek to confront us with, the Danes didn’t do enough to save All Danish Jews from the Slaughter.
True! 77, or was it 80, or even 120 Danish Jews who perished, were murdered, or slain, and were Slaughtered, and are a loss to all of humanity. But, and while nearly 8,000 Danish Jews were spirited away to Sweden and safety, we must reflect upon all loss. However, the reasoning for this seeming confrontation with the past is quite simple. 3,400,000 of 3,650,000 Polish Jews weren’t so fortunate to survive and Poland did not step up to the mark and allowed for its Jewish People to succumb to Hitler’s hatred for them. France was over cooperative in placing French Jewry onto the transports. There was a complicity within Holland which escalated the terms of destruction for Dutch Jews. The stay of execution for Hungarian Jewry proved the duplicitous nature of sections of Hungarian society. Here, within Hungary, all too many were engaged in ensuring that Birkenau exhausted its own capacity with unrivalled Jewish devastation, and in such a few short weeks. As we become aware that Greece stood somewhat taller than most, it is still while vast numbers of Greek Jewry couldn’t be saved. So all this contention arises because in a civilisation which left itself exposed to such inhumanity, 6,000,000 Jewish People were Slaughtered.
Let us be Clear. Denmark did more than any state or nation in saving its own, and other’s Jews. In that. Denmark becomes the Righteous Amongst Nations, as a Nation. Within this. The Danish People exemplify such moral probity, it exposes the lack of ethical compassion delivered by each and every other Country in Europe. We cannot confront the saving grace of Denmark and the Danish People by ignoring the ignorance, hatred and duplicitous nature of those who conformed to such hatreds as the Jewish People were destroyed by. Let us recognise too exactly what that Birkenau capacity looked like, and from May 15th 1944 and up until July 9th 1944 alone, and over a period of 55 days, 147 Transports with 3,419 Hungarian Jewish People on each of them, represented 502,491 Hungarian Jews delivered to Birkenau for Destruction. Such is this, formed as a statistic would mean all of Danish Jewry would have disappeared with Birkenau in just 2 days. Remember Eichmann’s Deputy, Gunther was on hand to ensure the speedy resettlement of all Jews within Denmark, but was thwarted by Danish compassion, morality, humanity, ethics and the will to do so.
“..upon return from Sweden at ..end of ..War ..home exactly as they had left it on that Rosh Hashanah. ..Even ..yom tov table was left as it was. It was expensive silverware ..I’m sure ..just left laid ..knives ..forks ..with everything else. ..Of course I feel it after 70 years. I tell my Children many times that if it wasn’t for ..Danish People we wouldn’t be around. They saved us.” Jan Gutterman.
Thanks Patrick
If only more like the Danish people