Download CommonLit | Danish Resistance During the Holocaust

Name:
Class:
Danish Resistance During the Holocaust
By Hans Holmskov Schlüter
2007
The events discussed in this informational text take place in the middle of World War II, after the
Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway declared that they would not take sides in the
war. Despite this declaration, Germany invaded Denmark – and despite the still fresh memories and
destruction of World War I, Denmark immediately resisted the invasion (as best as they could, since
Germany far outnumbered them). Germany was a country that had broken a “we won’t mess with you”
treaty— a country that had bullied other countries and their citizens, and had even used its military to kill
thousands. This article describes one example of citizen-led resistance against the powerful country of
Germany during WWII. As you read, take notes on the specific ways that the Danish people resisted the
Nazis, and the impact this had on Jewish citizens.
[1]
On the morning of April 9, 1940, German forces
1
crossed the border into neutral Denmark, in
direct violation of a German-Danish treaty of non2
aggression signed the previous year. […]
3
Within the first years of the German occupation ,
the Germans had often raised the question of the
status of the Danish Jews. However, the Danish
government had consistently refused to engage
4
in any debate on the “Jewish question” as they
insisted there existed no “Jewish question” in
Denmark. […]
"Spectators at the former German headquarters in Copenhagen,
As the war dragged on, the Danish population
destroying a swastika flag" is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
5
became increasingly hostile to the Germans.
Nazi soldiers stationed in Denmark had found most of the population cold and distant from the
beginning of the occupation, but their willingness to cooperate had made the relationship workable.
6
The Danish government had attempted to discourage sabotage and violent resistance to the
occupation, but by the autumn of 1942 the number of violent acts of resistance were increasing
steadily to the point that Germany declared Denmark “enemy territory” for the first time.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Neutral (adjective): not taking a side
Aggression (noun): violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront
Here, “occupation” refers to the act of taking over a territory by military force.
Meaning, the question of what to do about the Danish Jews
Hostile (adjective): very unfriendly; argumentative and possibly even violent
Sabotage (noun): the act of destroying or ruining something on purpose
1
[5]
7
8
On August 29, 1943, Nazi SS -General Werner Best declared martial law and demanded the
9
introduction of capital punishment. Soon after, Best also decided to launch plans to arrest Jews. On
September 8, he sent a telegram to Berlin: “The time has come to turn our attention to the solution of
10
the Jewish question.” When final orders for the raid arrived from Berlin on September 28, Best
11
informed his confidant, Georg Duckwitz, that Jews would be rounded up within two days, on the night
between October 1 and 2.
Duckwitz leaked the information to Danish politicians and the news spread like wildfire through
friends, business acquaintances, and strangers wanting to help. Ordinary citizens all over the country
12
offered refuge in churches, attics, and country homes, and residences. Complete strangers walked up
to Jews on the street to offer keys to their apartment. Medical staff hid more than 1,000 Jews in
13
Copenhagen hospitals.
On the night of the raid, Germans only found 284 Jews out of almost 8,000 in the population.
14
The Jews were smuggled out of Denmark by transporting them by sea over the Øresund from
15
Zealand to Sweden, a passage of approximately 10 miles. Some were transported in large fishing
boats of up to 20 tons, but others were carried to freedom in rowboats or kayaks. Some refugees were
smuggled inside freight cars on the regular ferries between Denmark and Sweden, this route being
suited for the very young or old who were too weak to endure a rough sea passage. The underground
had broken into empty freight cars sealed by the Germans after inspection, helped refugees onto the
16
17
cars, and then resealed the cars with forged or stolen German seals to forestall further inspection.
Some of the fishermen assisting in the rescue charged money to transport Jews to Sweden, while
others took payments only from those who could afford passage. Some profiteers took advantage of
the confusion and fear during the early days of the escape, but as time passed, the Danish
18
underground movement ousted them and took an active role in organizing the rescue and providing
financing, mostly from wealthy Danes who donated large sums of money for the rescue.
[10]
During the first days of the rescue action, Jews swarmed into the many fishing harbors on the Danish
19
coast for rescue, but the Gestapo became suspicious of activity around harbors (and on the night of
October 1-2, eighty Jews were caught hiding in the loft of the church at Gilleleje, their hiding place
20
betrayed by a Danish girl in love with a German soldier). Subsequent rescues had to take place from
21
isolated points along the coast. While waiting their turn, the Jews took refuge in the woods and in
cottages away from the coast, out of sight of the Gestapo.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
SS stands for Schutzstaffel, Hitler’s paramilitary organization in Nazi Germany.
“Martial law” is when a military government takes over a country’s laws.
“Capital punishment” refers to the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.
“Raid” refers to a sudden attack on an enemy by armed forces in a war.
Confidant (noun): a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others
Refuge (noun): safe shelter
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark.
Øresund is a narrow passage of water that forms the Danish–Swedish border.
Zealand is an island in Denmark.
Forged (adjective): fake; not the original
A German seal was an official marker or message of German ownership/presence.
Oust (verb): to drive out or remove (someone) from a position or place
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany.
Subsequent (adjective): later; coming after
Isolated (adjective): far away from other places, buildings, or people
2
In September 1943, the ‘Danish Freedom Council’ was created. This attempted to unify the many
different groups that made up the Danish resistance movement. The council was made up of seven
resistance representatives and one member of British Special Operations Executive (SOE). The
22
resistance movement grew to over 20,000 and in the lead-up to D-Day, acts of sabotage markedly
increased. Though the D-Day landings were to be in Normandy, SOE believed that the more German
soldiers tied up elsewhere in Europe, the less that could be present in northern France. Therefore, the
more acts of sabotage in Denmark, the more German troops would be tied down there.
In 1944, the ‘Danish Freedom Council’ stepped up its efforts and more than 11 million copies of
underground newspapers were published. That June, following a declared state of emergency, the
23
entire city of Copenhagen went on strike. Infuriated, Germany flooded the city with troops, cut off
24
water and electricity, and established a blockade. By July 2, 23 Danes had been killed and more than
25
203 were wounded. But the dauntless Danes persevered. Exasperated, the Germans abandoned
these punitive measures by July.
26
Later that fall, when the Germans tried to deport Danish police officials whom they believed were
27
turning a blind eye to sabotage and disorder, Copenhagen went on strike again, joined this time by
58 other cities and towns. Unafraid of Gestapo arrests, civilians flocked to the resistance movement.
28
Enrollment exceeded 45,000 at its highest point. In May 1945, war-ravaged Berlin succumbed to
advancing Allied forces, prompting Germany to abandon Denmark altogether.
"Danish Resistance During the Holocaust", © 2007, Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team. Reprinted with permission, all rights
reserved.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
D-Day refers to June 6, 1944 – the day in which the Allied forces in World War II landed in Normandy, France,
beginning the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control.
Strike (noun): the act of refusing to go to work as a way to protest something that is unfair
A blockade is the act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.
Dauntless (adjective): fearless and determined
Deport (verb): to kick out a foreigner from a country (usually because they have committed a crime or are in the
country illegally)
“Turning a blind eye” is an idiom that means pretending you didn’t see something (you did, but won’t admit it).
Succumb (verb): to give in; to fail at resisting something
3
Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.
1.
How did the Danish resist the German soldiers and policies, and what were the
effects of their resistance? Cite specific examples and evidence from the text to
support your answer.
[RI.3]
2.
PART A: Which of the following best identifies a central idea of this text?
[RI.2]
A.
B.
C.
D.
3.
PART B: Which phrase from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
The injustices of war can inspire people to fight and stand up for what’s right.
War always brings out the worst in people.
It’s important to know which side you’re on, and which you’re against.
In times of war, it’s every person for themselves.
PART A: What does the word “punitive” most closely mean as it is used in paragraph
12?
A.
B.
C.
D.
[RI.1]
“Ordinary citizens all over the country offered refuge in churches, attics, and
country homes, and residences” (Paragraph 6)
“Some profiteers took advantage of the confusion and fear during the early days
of the escape” (Paragraph 9)
“Infuriated, Germany floods the city with troops, cuts off water and electricity,
and establishes a blockade” (Paragraph 12)
“By July 2, 23 Danes have been killed and more than 203 are wounded”
(Paragraph 12)
[RI.4]
Bold and courageous
Destructive and violent
Meant to criticize or offend
Meant to punish or discipline
4
5.
PART B: Which phrase from paragraph 12 best supports the answer to Part A?
A.
B.
C.
D.
[RI.1]
“the ‘Danish Freedom Council’ stepped up its efforts and more than 11 million
copies of underground newspapers were published”
“Infuriated, Germany flooded the city with troops, cut off water and electricity,
and established a blockade”
“23 Danes had been killed and more than 203 were wounded.
“the dauntless Danes persevered”
5
Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to
share your original ideas in a class discussion.
1.
Why do you think Danish citizens risked, and sometimes lost, their lives in order to fight
against the Nazi party/military – even if they weren’t Jewish themselves? Do you think you
would have done the same?
2.
Why do you think the leaders of the Nazi party did what they did?
3.
This article features two acts of betrayal – Georg Duckwitz, who betrayed Nazi General
Werner Best by leaking the raid information to the Danish government in order to help save
the lives of thousands of Jews (paragraph 6); and the unnamed Danish girl, who betrayed
her Jewish countrymen and women by giving away their hiding place to a German soldier
with whom she was in love, resulting in the death of 80 Jews (paragraph 10). In the context
of this article, what drives a person to betray? When is betrayal a good thing?
4.
In the context of this article, how are people changed by war? Can war make you a different
person – either better or worse? How? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience,
and other literature, art, or history in your answer.
5.
In the context of this article, what does it mean to be brave? Were the members of the
Danish resistance brave, or just doing the right thing? Is there a difference? Cite evidence
from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer.
6