The People of Denmark

Denmark Victor Borge’s “The Legend” Why did the Danes save their Jewish neighbors when “The Legend” is a dramatic performance written by so many others in Europe turned their backs on Jews Victor Borge about the rescue of Jews in Denmark. during that period? Mr. Borge was born in Denmark and came to the Unit- ed States just as Denmark was being occupied by the Was it because King Christian X, when asked about Nazis. He became a successful performer, comedian, the "Jewish Question,” replied: “There is no Jewish and pianist. In 1963, he and New York attorney Richard Question in this country. There are only my people”? During the darkest chapter Netter founded Thanks To Scandinavia in order to Was it because the people, inspired by their churches, commemorate the extraordinary efforts of ordinary in human history, the people, said: “A Dane is a Dane and nobody comes between people to rescue Jews in Scandinavia. us”? Other Danes explained it this way: “It was the churches, and governments Thanks To Scandinavia is an educational institu- natural thing to do.” Or: “It was exactly the same as tion that commemorates the rescue of Jews in Scan- having your neighbor’s house on fire. Naturally you of a few countries refused dinavia and other European countries during World want to do something about it.” War II. Thanks To Scandinavia awards scholarships to to cede their Jewish citizens Was it because some of the Germans in Denmark young people from these countries in lasting gratitude turned a blind eye when Jews were rescued? Some and in an effort to build new bridges of friendship. to the dire fate that say that the German soldiers, stationed in Denmark for Thanks To Scandinavia has granted over 3,000 schol- years, were influenced by the tolerant attitude and ac- arships to teachers and students for study in the Unit- awaited them in much of tions of the Danish people. ed States, Israel, and within Europe and helped to pro- Nazi-occupied Europe. The World mote understanding of this history of rescue and its enduring message about courage and human dignity. There are lessons from this period in history that are “Courage and humanity are enduring messages that relevant to political and social issues today as well. our generation and every generation to come must How do leaders of countries help to shape the role hold dear.” Heroes in History and attitudes of their countrymen and women (for —Richard Netter, president, Thanks To Scandinavia The People of Denmark good or evil)? For more information about TTS and “The Legend” What role can institutions (religious organizations, performance and CD contact: schools, etc.) play in influencing people? Rebecca Neuwirth, Executive Director Thanks To Scandinavia Questions What role can individuals (teachers, mentors, celebri- 165 East 56th Street ties, etc.) play in influencing societies? New York, NY 10022 Ourselves Tel (212) 891-1403 We can also engage in personal reflections about Fax (212) 891-1415 what this story says about the potential of individuals. [email protected] www.ThanksToScandinavia.org How is it that some people (even soldiers, who learn to Thanks To Scandinavia is a nonprofit organization and be disciplined) will disobey orders that they believe to an Institute of AJC (www.ajc.org). be immoral, while others go along unquestioningly? What values or qualities does a person need to pos- sess in order to do the right thing under difficult or even dangerous circumstances? What does it mean to be a hero? Is heroism something that only exists in dire situations, or can we incorpo- Thanks To Scandinavia rate heroism into our daily lives? An Institute of AJC Are there ways that we can, or do, help those who are suffering or in need in our own lives? Credit: Frihedsmuseet, courtesy of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Jewish children rescued from the Holocaust pictured here in Sweden Norway Norway’s resistance Finland movement coura- Finland, though geously defied the a cobelligerent German occupation of Germany, re- Denmark: a nation with a conscience and the Quisling gov- fused to deliver 1939 ernment and was able the Finnish Jew- 1945 to rescue half of its ish community Jewish population. for Hitler’s Hitler and his Nazi party came Denmark When George Duckwitz, a German ma- But the word had indeed spread with “Final Solution.” to power in Germany in 1933 In the spring of 1940, the army of Hitler’s rine attaché, learned of the order to lightning speed: the Jews were not to Nazi Germany occupied Denmark. Ini- prepare ships to take the Jews to con- be found. and remained until 1945—only tially, there was little resistance from centration camps, he quickly revealed The Rescue the people. Their attitude, combined it to Danish leaders, who in turn in- twelve years in total. And yet, During and after the planned raid, with the Nazis’ need for Danish farm formed the Jewish community. On by the end of Hitler’s regime, Danes from all walks of life participat- products and their belief that Germans Wednesday morning, September 29, ed in hiding Jews, secretly transport- the world had been plunged and Danes shared “Aryan” racial quali- 1943, the day before the Jewish New ing them to the coast, and ferrying ties, led to a rather loose occupation. Year, Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Marcus into global world war, Europe them to safety in Sweden. By the end The Danish government was left in Melchior stood before his congregation of October, nearly all of the 7,700 Jews was in shambles, and nearly 30 place under King Christian X. and spoke these words: of Denmark had been evacuated. million people had died. Among Despite its precarious position, this “There will be no service this morning. Five hundred Jews were caught and government refused to carry out Ger- Instead, I have very important news to the dead were six million taken to the Theresienstadt camp, but man anti-Jewish legislation. Jews were tell you. Last night I received word that Sweden Jews—men, women, and chil- even they were not forgotten. The not seen as being a separate ethnic mi- tomorrow the Germans plan to raid Risking Nazi retaliation, neutral Danish government and Red Cross Sweden provided sanctuary for nority in Denmark. A newspaper report Jewish homes throughout Copenhagen dren—who were systematically lobbied for food and clothing to be Jews escaping from Denmark, at the time stated: “It is impossible to to arrest all the Danish Jews for ship- slaughtered because of the sent to them. Norway, and other European separate the Jews from Danish cultural ment to concentration camps. They countries. And, in 1944, the Nazis’ racist ideology. tradition.” If forced to cooperate with know tomorrow is Rosh Hashanah and For the remainder of the war, a num- Swedish government working the Germans in persecuting Jews, the our families will be home. The situation ber of Danish families took care of with the U.S. sent Raoul Wallen- Some Jews were rescued government of Prime Minister Erik is very serious. We must take action Jewish religious articles of their berg to Budapest to save tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews. throughout the Scandinavian Scavenius said it would step down. immediately. neighbors. They preserved Jewish homes and businesses. When Danish The Threat You must leave the synagogue now and Denmark countries and in other Euro- Jews returned after the war, they Scandinavia In 1943, the situation deteriorated. The contact all relatives, friends, and neigh- Although occupied by the pean countries by heroic ac- were welcomed. Some of their homes Germans, Denmark saved The Holocaust Danish government resigned and the bors you know who are Jewish and tell were freshly painted; their business nearly all of its Jewish tions of individuals and com- King declared himself a prisoner of war. them to warn the Jews. By nightfall profits held in escrow. population from the Nazis. tonight we must all be in hiding.” and Bulgaria munities. The following story That September, Hitler decided that as For more information about the stories of recue in part of his “Final Solution” the Jews of Another German army commander in focuses on the successful ef- other countries, contact Thanks To Scandinavia Denmark would be deported to Nazi Denmark played a key role; General (information on back page). forts of the Danish people to concentration camps. The plan was Hermann von Hannecken refused to Bulgaria save the Jews in their country. tantamount to a death sentence. But it use his troops to cooperate in carrying Despite continuous efforts by Hitler's Nazi regime to was not to be realized in Denmark. out the plans, forcing the Gestapo to do win King Boris III as an ally, the Bulgarian people the work themselves, door to door. and the Orthodox Church managed to save almost rescuers 50, 000 Jews. ■ The Swedish government, which remained neu- ■ Pharmacists donated drugs to keep the children “Funeral” processions were arranged to facili- ■ Pastor Krohn distributed blank baptismal certifi- tral during the war, offered to take in all the Dan- quiet and sedated during the difficult stages of tate the movement of Jews from place to place. cates for the Jews to use. On October 3rd, this ish Jews. Scientist Niels Bohr played a role in the boat passage to Sweden. Taxi drivers treated Children served as lookouts, and many homes declaration was read in every congregation of convincing Sweden to do so. But the Nazis the Jews as regular fares, driving them to the were turned into way stations along this under- the Lutheran Church of Denmark: “Wherever Credit: Hagstomer and Qviberg Fandkommission AB, courtesy of USHMM Photo Archives wouldn’t hear of it.

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