RESISTANCE AND ESCAPE

Following Germany's attack on Denmark in 1940, the Danish government remained intact and life continued much as it had before Germany's invasion. However, as months passed, the Danes quickly tired of the Nazi's presence. Dissatisfaction rose throughout 1942 and an organized resistance movement formed in the spring of 1943, which culminated in the mass rescue of Danish Jews in October 1943.

Prior to the rescue, resistance took many different forms. Because both the country of Denmark and its army were so small, the Danish government did not want aggressive actionto take place between Danes and Nazis; they felt that Germany would retaliate swiftly and viciously, leading to the loss of Danish life and the endangerment of Danish Jews. Therefore, Danes fought the Nazis in non-violent, sometimes secretive ways that did not bring Danish into direct contact with Nazi soldiers. These methods included using newspapers, both legal and illegal, and radio programs to bring news from England and the Allies; importing or printing books banned by the Nazis; preparing for the prospect of armed combat and engaging in weapon smuggling for the possibility of active battle; relaying information about Nazi activities and positions to Allied contacts via radio and bicycle; detonating explosives at major Nazi resource sites in Denmark; and numerous other ways.

Newspapers played a large role in the resistance movement. Despite the Nazi presence in Denmark, Danish journalists retained a great amount of freedom in their jobs after the invasion. Denmark's newspaper reporters were quite savvy, and they felt comfortable covering major stories. Nor were Danish journalists afraid to test the limits of their rights as journalists. Germany assigned censors to control the flow of information to the Danish public. Danish newspapers ran suggestive headlines and stories and juxtaposed articles in a way that subtly made fun of, or criticized Germany. Layout departments manipulated the organization of newspapers in every way possible, sometimes placing stories of Nazi victories at the bottom of a page or end of a section. Illegal newspapers were also a form of Danish resistance during World War II. In addition to controlling the writing of Danish journalists, Nazi censors controlled the information that entered Denmark. Censors did not allow Danes to read about Allied victories or German defeats, and they continuously slanted or omitted events. Underground newspaper publishers wanted Denmark to know both sides of these stories. These publications covered other acts of Danish resistance, and the papers lent support to the underground movement. Publishers of these papers risked imprisonment, among other punishments. Despite these risks, the illegal newspaper movement continued to gain writers and readers in Denmark during the War.

The "V" campaign was another form of resistance closely tied to newspapers. The British-based BBC created this campaign, and it quickly spread across Western Europe and into Denmark. The letter "V" stood for "victory [over the Nazis]," and its look-to-the-future message boosted morale across Europe and in Denmark. Danes painted Vs on posters and on building walls. Vs were also prominently included in letters and cards, and Danish newspapers emphasized V-words in articles, headlines, and advertisements. Radio announcers purposefully used words beginning with V in their programs as a way to subtlety raise the hopes and spirits of listeners. Radio personalities did not have access to the various avenues of resistance of Danish newspapermen, but they managed to resist the Nazis in unique ways. Radio employees used their voices to communicate their disapproval of Germany: Nazi war reports were read, although in low, unenthusiastic voices.

One of the most popular and widespread forms of Danish resistance was the "cold shoulder." Everyone, including King Christian, tolerated Germany's presence; Denmark's citizens did not, however, extend their efforts beyond this minimal recognition. The Nazis received only "aloof cooperation," from the Danes, and the collective Danish stubbornness kept Germany at a distance. The situation in Denmark worsened throughout the spring of 1943.

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