73 years ago, on a cool spring afternoon, my mother’s country was invaded by the Nazi’s. Her small Danish town suddenly found itself in the clutches of the diabolical Nazi war machine. The country was joined in subjection by France and Netherlands. That spring, the world looked on in horror. Later that year, London would endure a Christmas season from hell, with Santa Claus nowhere to be found, and the only sleigh in the sky seemed to be the horrific V1 and V2 rockets causing death and destruction from above. For my mother, a hopeful and innocent 11 year old girl, the advance of the Nazi thugs was the second major blow in her life. She had lost her father 4 years before. He was an M.D. and never made it past his 38th year.I never knew my grandfather.
The German invasion of Denmark on 9 April 1940 was part of a wider campaign in Scandinavia designed partly to provide bases for the German navy and partly to secure the German supply of iron ore from Sweden. The main target of the German operation was Norway, but the occupation of Denmark was also judged to be necessary to protect the southern end of the sea route to Narvik, the winter port for the iron ore trade.
Planning work for the invasion began in January 1940. The operation was given the codename Weserübung (Weser Exercise), with the invasion of Denmark known as Weserubung Süd (Weser Exercise South). The tiny Danish army was to be overrun by two infantry divisions (the 170th and 198th) and the 11th rifle brigade (motorized). Landings were to take place at Copenhagen, Middlefart, Esbjerg, Tyborøn, Korsør, Gjedser and Nyborg, while more troops would invade Jutland across the land border with Germany.
The plan worked perfectly. A small naval expedition, led by the minelayer Danzig entered Copenhagen harbour at 5.00am on 9 April, and landed troops who were able to seize the citadel. Ålborg airfield at the northern tip of Denmark was captured by German paratroops, and at 7.30 am an infantry battalion landed at the airfield. At 5.25 am the land invasion began. Here there was some fighting, but the defenders of the Danish border were quickly overwhelmed. Further resistance was clearly pointless, and the Danish government was forced to agree to a German ultimatum to end the fighting. King Christian ordered a cease fire, to start at 7.20am. Denmark would be occupied by the Germans until the end of the war.
The invasion seemed to waken the ancient Viking psyche of the Danish people. My mother, who just months before had been playing with dolls and dreaming of a career in academia, marrying a Prince Charming, and living happily after, had to confront poverty, violence , death and intimidation daily.
So what did she do in light of these overwhelming odds? She fought back. She become an active member of the Danish Resistance She braved detention and even execution.During the 5 years of daily challenge and privation, she learned to combat the enemy, carrying messages and weapons for the Danish resistance,every day risking her life and freedom for her country. This little Lutheran girl found the courage to face impossible odds,and deep within the wall of her construct, over 65 years later, she wrote a book, chronicling her experiences.
The book is becoming popular.It’s topical. In this new global village, one need not look far to find countries swept up in the grip of totalitarianism.To my mother,occupy has nothing to do with camping in a park. My mother lived a “Danish Spring” in 1940,she fought thuggery,brutality and impossible odds, and though she lost her childhood in the process, she gained a sagacity well beyond her tender years,and her story is one that must be told, now more than ever. Her book, Birgetta’s War now speaks to a new crop of resistance fighters, children facing the spector of evil, children finding hope in the most unnatural of places, the fog of war.
This week she turns 84. In the last 3 years, she has become a widow, an author and, to the delight of everyone, a new bride. Nothing new for this incredible and inspirational figure. Happy birthday Mom. Please visit her website, and buy the book