RESCUE OF DANISH JEWS. A SMALL PEOPLE; AN IMMENSE HEART
When a small people proved to have an immense heart: the Shoah in Denmark. The Danes heroically succeeded in thwarting the plans hatched by the Nazis to exterminate the Jewish community. Encouraged by an enlightened and sensitive ruler, Christian X, they made sure that most of the Jews residing in Denmark were saved.
INVASION OF DENMARK
In April 1940, Denmark was invaded by German troops. The disproportion of forces was such as to make any form of resistance immediately vain. After a few hours of fighting the Danes were forced to surrender. Thus, began five years of military occupation. Unlike many other peoples subjected to the Nazi yoke, the Danes, however, had the dubious advantage of being considered members of the so-called “Aryan race“. Thus, the occupiers maintained a less rigid conduct in some areas.
THE ILLUMINATED SOVEREIGN CHRISTIAN X
Despite the occupation, the sovereign Christian X did not abandon the country and became a symbol of resistance against the invader. He rode through the streets of Copenhagen daily in order to reinforce this emblem. On walks he was not accompanied by bodyguards, claiming that it was the entire Danish population who supervised his safety. An anecdote relates that one day Christian X turned to a German general to have the Nazi flag removed from the Danish parliament. The officer vigorously refused and, as a result, the ruler claimed that he would send a Danish soldier to do so. The general threatened that this soldier would be killed, but Christian X specified that that soldier would be himself. The flag was thus removed.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN DENMARK
The Danish authorities informed the Nazis that they would not consider discriminatory measures against the Jewish community. In fact, when pro-Nazi Danes committed acts of vandalism against some synagogues, justice severely punished them.
The Nazis wanted to avoid imposing anti-Jewish legislation, and thus harm relations between the two countries, because Denmark was very useful to the German war effort. Indeed, prosperous Danish agriculture provided a lot of food. The Nazis feared that through strikes or acts of sabotage, exports to Germany could be compromised.
Denmark was, even at that time, a country in which there was complete religious tolerance. This spirit is condensed in the words of the Danish theologian Nikolaj Grundtvig:
“First you are human, then you are a Christian”.
BEGINNING OF PERSECUTIONS
Until the summer of 1943 the Nazis did not take any particular measures against the 8,000 Jews residing in Denmark. Until, at the behest of Adolf Hitler, they decided that the atrocious “final solution” had to be applied in that country too. Faced with the gravity of the situation, the German diplomat Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz suppressed loyalty to his country and bravely worked to avoid the tragedy. Initially, he contacted his representatives at the German government so that the round-up of the Jews would not be carried out. Realizing that this request was useless, he contacted the Swedish Prime Minister so that he would be willing to welcome the Danish Jews. Finally, he informed the Danish authorities of the imminent danger. After the war, George Ferdinand Duckwitz will be awarded the recognition of “Righteous among the nations”.
The Danish physicist Niels Bohr also convinced the Swedish authorities to grant refuge to Jews fleeing Denmark. Swedish actress Greta Garbo convinced the ruler Gustavo V to meet the physicist. He acted so that the Swedish radio and press would communicate that country’s full willingness to welcome Danish Jews.
RESCUE OF DANISH JEWS
Informed of the forthcoming roundups, the Danes began a glorious rescue operation. Among the many stood out members of the Resistance and men of the Church.
Within weeks, thanks to the fundamental contribution of Danish fishermen, 7,000 Jews were transferred to neutral Sweden. Five hundred found refuge in houses and churches. While, unfortunately, another five hundred were arrested. The latter were deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. The Danish government, with the support of the Red Cross, acted towards them to ensure that the minimum standards for survival were guaranteed. In fact, most of them were saved.
CONCLUSIONS
The heroic opposition to the Holocaust shown by the Danish people must make us reflect on how many people, however, remained insensitive in the face of this tragedy. They did not look away when their fellow men needed help. They who did not remain insensitive to the pained cries. Completely contrary to those human beings mentioned in the aphorism of the ancient Roman playwright Publilius Syrus:
“The cruel person is insensitive to tears: indeed, he feeds on them!”
The considerations of this article are representative, with a background music, in the following video:
The heroic rescue of the Danish Jews
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“The Whispering Town” by Jennifer Elvgren