Transcript background info for numer the stars

Number the Stars
Historical Background
Denmark
European Map
Number of Jewish People
Historical Background
World War II
•
•
•
•
•
•
Germany attacked Denmark on April 9, 1940.
Denmark surrendered to Germany almost immediately following the attack. The
Danish government decided that active resistance against the Nazi invasion would be
useless because Denmark was a small country with an equally small military. A battle
against Germany would have lead to the deaths of many Danes.
Upon surrender, Denmark was given certain concessions not allowed in other Naziattacked countries. The Danish government and monarchy would remain intact.
Germany also allowed Denmark to maintain its military because the Nazis did not
consider the Danish army or navy a major threat to German forces.
Hitler regarded Danes as noble members of the Aryan (a non-Jewish caucasian of
Nordic descent) race, and he considered it improper to violently attack fellow Aryans.
Equally important, however, was Denmark's ability to furnish Nazi Germany with
supplies such as food and vital transportation assistance via railway routes into
Scandinavia.
In surrounding Nazi-controlled European countries, Germany horribly persecuted
Jews and other German "enemies." Jews were forced to wear the Yellow Star.
Eventually, the Jews of Holland, Belgium, Germany, Poland and other occupied
countries were deported to concentration camps and death camps. But Germany
needed Denmark's help.
This unique relationship benefited Denmark: non-Jewish and Jewish citizens alike
were protected from Nazi persecution. No Danish Jew was ever forced to wear the
yellow star.
Historical Background cont.
• Following Germany's attack on Denmark in 1940, the Danish
government remained intact and life continued much as it had
before Germany's invasion. However, as months passed, the Danes
quickly tired of the Nazi's presence. Dissatisfaction rose throughout
1942 and an organized resistance movement formed in the spring of
1943, which culminated in the mass rescue of Danish Jews in
October 1943.
• In response, Germany captured many resistance members and
deported them to concentration camps. The Nazis considered
members of the Danish police to be responsible for the steady
growth in resistance; in 1944, Germany sent almost the entire police
force to camps.
• Danes fought the Nazis in non-violent, sometimes secretive ways
that did not bring Danish into direct contact with Nazi soldiers. They
used newspapers, both legal and illegal, and radio programs to
bring news from England and the Allies. They imported or printed
books banned by the Nazis.They smuggled weapons into the
country for the possibility of active battle. They relayed information
about Nazi activities and positions to Allied contacts via radio and
bicycle and detonated explosives at major Nazi resource sites in
Denmark.
Historical Background cont.
• One of the most popular and widespread forms of
Danish resistance was the "cold shoulder." Everyone,
including King Christian, tolerated Germany's presence;
Denmark's citizens did not, however, extend their efforts
beyond this minimal recognition. The Nazis received only
"aloof cooperation," from the Danes, and the collective
Danish stubbornness kept Germany at a distance.
• The situation in Denmark worsened throughout the
spring of 1943. Of the eight thousand Jews living in
Denmark in October 1943, approximately 7500 managed
to escape to Sweden with help of fellow Danes. The
remaining 450 were unable or unwilling to escape and
were sent to Theresienstadt, a Nazi concentration camp.
Historical Background cont.
• As Jews hid throughout Denmark, individuals and
resistance groups organized the rescue operation. Some
Danes bought boats and managed to smuggle hundreds
of Jews to Sweden. The larger groups negotiated with
trustworthy Danish fisherman who agreed to take the
Jews to freedom. Plans were made for the Jews to be
smuggled to the docks and, once there, for them to be
concealed on the Danish fishing boats, out of sight of
German soldiers.
All but 51 of these deportees survived the camp. The
majority of the Theresienstadt prisoners returned to
Denmark in 1945; most of the refugees living in Sweden
also returned to Denmark at the end of the war.
Historical Background cont.
• On May 5, the Nazis finally surrendered to the Allies. Danes hung
welcome signs and thank-you posters in preparation for the arrival of
British troops; white candles glowed in the windows of most Danish
homes, symbolizing solidarity and hopefulness. After more than five
years of German occupation, Danes would once again rule
Denmark.
• World War II took its toll on populations across Europe. Denmark
lost a fair share of citizens, but its numbers were not nearly as high
as in neighboring countries. Overall Danish figures show that from a
total of 5, 975 Danes imprisoned in [German camps], there were 562
deaths. This number includes "fifty-eight deaths from among 474
Danish Jews." The numbers would have undoubtedly been higher
had Denmark not worked to protect its citizens from harm.
Christian X, King of Denmark
• Was the king of Denmark from
1912 to 1947.
• One of the most popular
Danish monarchs.
• He remained in his capital
throughout the occupation of
Denmark, being to the Danish
people a visible symbol of the
national cause. Though his
official speeches were often
little more than an echoing of
the government's official policy
of cooperation with the
occupying forces, this did not
prevent him from being seen
as a man of "mental
resistance".
Christian X
• King Christian used to
ride through the streets of
Copenhagen
unaccompanied while the
people stood and waved
to him. One apocryphal
story relates that one day,
a German soldier
remarked to a young boy
that he found it odd that
the king would ride with
no bodyguard. The boy
reportedly replied, "All of
Denmark is his
bodyguard."
Planes over Denmark
German tanks in Denmark
Occupation of Denmark
Occupation of Denmark
References
• Source: The Bitter Years: The Invasion
and Occupation of Denmark and Norway
April 1940-May 1945 by Richard Petrow
and "Denmark during the final years,"
Royal Danish Embassy, Washington, D.C.
http://www.denmarkemb.org
• Google images- occupation of Denmark