|
Reports
regarding the planned deportation of Danish Jews were leaked to
various Danish public groups by George Duckwitz, a member of the
German legation in Copenhagen. The information evoked a spontaneous
response. The Danish resistance warned the Jews, helped them go into
hiding, and moved them to the coast where, with the assistance of
the Danish fishermen, they crossed to Sweden. On the night of
October 1-2, 1943, German police began arresting Jews in all parts
of Denmark. After the initial period of spontaneous action, the
Danes joined in and helped to organize the flight after the Swedish
Government proclaimed its willingness to take in the escapees. In
Denmark, all segments of the population went into action to save the
Jews. Protests poured into the offices of the German authorities
from Danish economic and social organizations, King Christian X
expressed his firm objection to the German plans, the heads of the
Danish churches published a strong protest and urged the public to
help the Jews, and, the universities were shut down for a week, with
the students lending a hand in the rescue operation. Within three
weeks, 7,200 Jews and another 700 non-Jewish relatives were taken to
Sweden. The operation was funded in part by the Jews themselves and
in greater part by contributions from Danes. The Danish police not
only refrained from collaborating with the Germans, but actually
helped the Jews flee. Nevertheless, about 500 Jewish men, women, and
children were captured and deported to Theresienstadt. The Danish
population and leadership defended them vigorously, sent them food
parcels, and had the Danish Foreign Ministry bombard the Germans
with warnings. The ministry also put forward a demand that a Danish
delegation be allowed to visit the internees. These Jews were not
transported from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz. |
