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The rescue of the Danish Jews
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In the tragic story of the Nazis and the Jews, the rescue of the Danish Jews can be seen as a rare ray of sunshine. Thanks to the help of many ordinary Danes, almost all of Denmark’s Jews survived World War II. Today, in and around Copenhagen, you can walk in the footsteps of the escaping Jews, and learn more about the dramatic days and nights of September and October 1943.
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A good relationshipCopenhagen, Denmark. The name conjures images of Hans Christian Andersen, Tivoli Gardens, cutting edge design, and refined culture. And then, for some, it recalls a daring rescue – and an indigenous population who risked everything to help their neighbors.
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The legacy of the Danish Jewish community, rescued from the clutches of the Nazi occupying force, is intimately connected with the Denmark of today and the history of this Nordic land.
 Jews in Denmark 1940-1943
While Denmark was occupied by the Germans from April 9, 1940, the Jews in Denmark were to a great extend allowed to carry on with their ordinary lives until 1943 when the collaboration between the Danish government and the occupying force ended. In 1943, Danish politicians - tipped off by a brave employee at the German Embassy - warned the Jewish community that the Nazis planned a mass deportation of the community, and events unfolded rapidly thereafter.
On Rosh Hashanah 1943, September 29, Rabbi Melchior urged his congregants to go into hiding and plan an escape to nearby neutral Sweden. The greater Danish population sprang into action, smuggling nearly all of Denmark’s Jews to Sweden on fishing boats.
 Approximately 7,200 Danish Jews were smuggled to Sweden and went on to spend years in exile. Nearly 500 Danish Jews were deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. 53 died in the camp, but most survived and returned with The White Busses in April 1945.
What to see and where to goIn and around Copenhagen, you can learn more about the fate of the Danish Jews during World War II, and you can walk in the footsteps of the fleeing Jews:  The Danish Jewish MuseumPart of the exhibit at The Danish Jewish Museum is dedicated to the escape of the Danish Jews. At the museum, you can see such items as a round trip ticket for the Denmark-Sweden ferry (used to convince the Germans that its owner planned to return to Denmark), a power of attorney made out by a fleeing Jew to keep his affairs in Denmark in order for the duration, and a homemade “life vest” meant to safe keep its owner’s money and jewelry during the fishing boat trip to Sweden. |
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The Museum of Danish Resistance 1940-45
At the Museum of Danish Resistance 1940-1945 (Frihedsmuseet), you can learn all about the Danish resistance movement during the Nazi occupation 1940-1945. Chronicling the development of the resistance movement within the changing framework of Danish society and the tides of battle, the museum also illustrates and contextualizes the rescue of the Danish Jews in 1943. The collection at the museum includes a letter from Christian leaders in Denmark condemning the persecution of the Jews. On September 29, 1943, the Danish church sent an official protest against Jewish persecution to the Nazi authorities.
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Signed by Copenhagen’s bishop, H. Fuglsang Damgaard on behalf of all of Denmark’s bishops, the protest was read from the pulpits in Danish churches on Sunday October 3, 1943. The Rescue RouteOn a day trip from Copenhagen, the Danish Jews’ route to safety in 1943 can be traced along the coast of Denmark through the small fishing villages that ferried Jews across the Strait to Sweden. For the most comprehensive experience, we recommend hiring a specialized guide or joining a guided tour. You can also travel by bus, car or train and use our Rescue Route guide to find tips and ideas for what to see and where to go. |
The king and the yellow star Did the King of Denmark really wear a yellow star to show solidarity with the Jews during the Nazi occupation of Denmark? The answer is: no, the Danish King did not wear a yellow star. But he did help keep up the spirit of the people of Denmark during WWII.
 Famous escaping Danes of Jewish heritage
Among the people of Jewish heritage who fled to Sweden were a couple of famous Danes: - the physicist and Nobel Prize recipient Niels Bohr, who went on to work on the Manhattan Project. - the architect and designer Arne Jacobsen, who created many Danish Modern icons – among them the landmark designer hotel the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Another famous Dane of Jewish heritage, Victor Borge, was already in Sweden when the Nazis invaded Denmark. Victor Borge later co-founded the Thanks To Scandinavia non-profit organization, which provides scholarships in gratitude for the heroic rescue and protection of Jews in Europe during the Second World War.
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