August 25, 1943. A lone bicyclist transports a cache of explosives, hidden in a beer crate, to a Copenhagen hall being readied to house German troops. In a violent blast, the would-be barracks is reduced to rubble. It's the boldest act yet of Holger Danske and the growing Danish resistance combating the oppressiveness of Hitler's Reich.
In 1940, on its way to conquering Western Europe, Germany coerced the Danish government into a "cooperative" agreement that lasted three long years until the increasing brazenness of the Resistance movement prompted a crackdown. Denmark's nearly 8000 Jews, who had so far been spared Hitler's wrath, now became the focus of his rage. A roundup was ordered to begin on October 1st, 1943, the first day of the Jewish New Year.
The only passage to safety was across the Oresund to Sweden. But no group existed to organize an escape. Until the last moment, Sweden didn’t agree to allow the refugees into the country; and the strait between the two nations was swarming with Gestapo. What happened next was a miracle. 95% of Denmark's Jews survived the Holocaust, the highest percentage in Europe. Here are the riveting true accounts of ordinary Danes who, using their modest resources, wiles, remarkable courage, and camaraderie, quietly orchestrated their escape.
Grace
2025-10-12
A fantastic book, it’s especially interesting to hear about the Danes resistance as a Scandinavian. I have seen a movie about this marvellous chain event that took place in Denmark where almost all Danes 🇩🇰 participated in saving as many of their own citizens, which Denmark is the only country I know off where such a large portion of the population from all walks of life took a stance against the Nazi occupation and decided to work together. I’m always somewhat hesitant about Sweden’s role and the country’s extremely poor taste in politics during WW2, I cannot say that Sweden was neutral in the WW2 due to how Nazi Germany was allowed to use the Swedish railways, and also get/buy raw materials for weapon production and manufacturing as well as allowing German Nazi soldiers to go by train to and from Norway 🇳🇴 when they’re permitted a period of leave to go back home to their families in Nazi Germany. But I’m however proud of a couple of intelligent men and women who despite the government sorted out their own ways to help less fortunate people throughout different countries. Raoul Wallenberg is an excellent example of a great man who operated in Prague & set up “his own homemade diplomatic compound where he helped people get the right paperwork so they could get out of their horrendous situations, and as mentioned in this book the Royals or more specifically Bernadotte made an incredible contribution in saving people’s lives from the Nazis. However too many Swedes in the highest echelons were too comfortable in their relationship to the Nazis, something that in my opinion should be addressed so that Sweden as a nation can heal and learn from our past mistakes and do better by recognizing our mistakes in a very transparent way and it also means it needs to addressed and reckoned worldwide. Sweden needs to take accountability, and responsibility for how greatly we failed during ww2, writing about Sweden’s role during ww2 is something we have yet to achieve so we finally can repent for allowing such tight ties with the Nazi regime which was responsible for the most extreme, evil and inhumane treatment of the Jewry, Roma, Sinti, undesirables and other people who dared to think for themselves! Perhaps I’ll write this much needed book! Because to this day in year 2025, Swedish schools are still teaching our children that Sweden was a neutral country during World War Two and that’s not the whole truth it’s very much more difficult and intricate than simply stating that we’re “neutral”, so it’s a much needed book which would have a profound change in perspective on our Swedish history. Respectfully, Grace
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