European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Huy Denmark Horn in the nazis Side by Ron Jensen staff writer Hitler promised. Denmark the Fuhrer said was not in his plans. Denmark Lovely tiny Denmark a would be ignored by the nazi juggernaut that had other and bigger fish to Fry. Like England and France. Hitler promised. Denmark s neutrality would be respected. So on april 9,1940, German jackboots and motorcycles and tanks tossed a Cloud of dust Over King Christian x s land in a Quick and quiet and total invasion. There was no apology from Berlin. Instead the invasion was explained As an attempt to protect Denmark from the aggressive designs of the Western allies. In reality Denmark s misfortune was one of geography. Hitler wanted Norway for its Iron Ore and its North sea ports. Denmark sat too close to its neighbor. Hitler would have to have them both. The invasion is not a High Mark in danish history. Some Danes donned Swastika armbands and directed the invaders toward their goals. The Island of fyn was captured by a single motorcycle patrol. Copenhagen the nation s capital City fell after Token resistance. Throughout the country German troops advanced As if Mere shadows opposed them. Within four hours Denmark was in Hitler s hands. But if Denmark provided Little resistance while being invaded it proved hell to occupy. The germans must have thought they had taken control of a Hornet s nest. The next five years were spent swatting resistance fighters and shooing away bomb planting guerrillas. 6 the danish spunk under occupation was perhaps Best symbolized by King Christian a who calmly resumed his daily rides throughout Copenhagen within Days of the occupation. He had no escort or guard. The Story of the years of occupation is told at the Musket for Dan Marks Fried stamp a the museum of Denmark s fight for Freedom a in Copenhagen. At first the Danes accepted their Fate with Little resistance. The occupied and the occupiers lived under an uneasy yet cooperative Quot policy of  schools remained open. Farms continued to produce. Churches businesses and social groups operated freely. Even danish jews were allowed to live without harassment or arrest. Yet the policy of negotiations wounded Denmark. The free press was curtailed and unfriendly editors faced punishment. Pro German Danes were placed in positions printing presses like this one published underground newspapers that reported on the danish resistance movement of authority to Foster German danish relations. In this climate the danish nazi party which had existed for several years tried to assert itself. But even with German support it failed to generate any substantial influence. As the occupation continued a resistance movement took Root under the noses of the arrogant occupiers. In the first three months of 1943, acts of sabotage grew from 16 in january to 34 in february to 70 in March and 78 in april. Railroad lines and buildings used by germans for the War Effort were targeted by saboteurs. Workers left their jobs. At one shipyard 1,200 workers walked off the Job telling their German Bosses they had to Quot tend to our  Quot frit Denmark Quot was one of several underground newspapers published in hidden rooms. One dental clinic was turned into a printing office at night. Weapons for the resistance were slipped into the country from England but Many guns and bombs were homemade in kitchens and workshops. Soap holders were used As hand grenades. The Danes and germans ultimately broke their tenuous for a amps Kirsten Jensen relationship in August 1943. Sabotage increased. So did the German response to it. Strikes spread throughout the country. In addition the Raf began bombing runs in Denmark targeting German Headquarters and factories aiding the War Effort. The germans responded to All this with an ultimatum Complete capitulation. The danish government refused and on aug. 29,1943, Denmark erupted. German troops attacked danish army garrisons. The danish Navy under attack scuttled Many of its ships. By the end of the Day the German occupiers had implanted martial Law. A few weeks later the germans began harassment of the jews. At this the Small danish jewish population of 8,000 be Garrto tremble. They knew the Fate of jews at the hands of nazis. But Denmark began a Rescue of its jewish citizens that proved remarkable. Hiding in trucks and cellars the jews made their Way to the coast where they were slipped aboard ships and taken to Sweden. In All 7,220 escaped capture and made it to the safety of Sweden. On March 21,1945, the Gestapo Headquarters in