During World War II, the Danish people played a significant role in the smuggling of Jews to neutral Sweden, thereby saving thousands of lives from the Holocaust. The Danish resistance movement, with the support of the Danish government and the population, organized a network of fishermen and other volunteers who transported Jews across the Øresund, the strait that separates Denmark and Sweden.
Background
In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Denmark. The Danish government initially adopted a policy of cooperation with the Nazis, hoping to maintain a degree of sovereignty and protect the Danish population. However, as the war progressed and Nazi policies became more oppressive, the Danish resistance movement grew in strength and opposition to the German occupation.
The Rescue of Danish Jews
In October 1943, the German occupiers issued an ultimatum to the Danish government, demanding the arrest and deportation of all Danish Jews. The Danish government refused and instead warned the Jewish community of the impending danger, prompting many to go into hiding.
The Danish resistance movement, with the help of the Danish population, organized a network to smuggle Jews to Sweden, which had remained neutral throughout the war. Thousands of Jews were hidden in safe houses and farms across Denmark and then smuggled across the sea by boat or fishing vessel to Sweden.
The Danish people showed immense courage and solidarity during this time, even risking their own lives to save Jews from persecution and death. Despite the German occupiers' efforts to prevent the smuggling operation, an estimated 7,200 out of the 8,000 Danish Jews were successfully rescued and transported to Sweden.
International Recognition
The remarkable courage and humanitarian efforts of the Danish people during the Holocaust have been widely recognized. Denmark is widely praised for its heroic actions, which saved the majority of the Jewish population from the Nazis and earned the country international recognition and respect.
The rescue of Danish Jews stands as a powerful example of the power of collective action, compassion, and the importance of resistance against oppressive regimes.
