S

Nonviolent Resistance to Nazi

Occupation of Denmark

Clark SchneiderJamie Greenwald

Thesis

Once the Nazis shift from benevolent occupiers to oppressors, the goals (autonomy, independence) of the nonviolent conflict are indeed a viable option in changing the unjust Nazi society into a just one.

Through a predominantly non-violent campaign of strikes and protests, Denmark frustrated the Nazi regime while maintaining Danish society and culture and minimizing bloodshed.

Nazi Invasion

On April 9, 1940, the Nazis invaded Denmark with overwhelming force

Denmark did little to resist

Germany promised not to compromise Denmark’s “political independence” (Petrow, Bitter Years, pp. 48-49)

Samarbejdspolitik

Danish government adopted a policy of cooperation

King Christian “wished to spare his country further misfortune” (Petrow, Bitter Years, p. 50)

“To survive became the goal’” (Lennart Bergfeldt, Experiences of Civilian Resistance: The Case of Denmark, 1940-

1945 (Uppsala: University of Uppsala, 1993), p. 63)

“Cooperation would be the lesser evil” (Ackerman, and Duvall, 2010, p. 210)

Early Resistance: Symbolic Protest

Cultural pride Lays the groundwork for resistance by emphasizing continued

Danish society and culture despite the German occupation

10 Commandments for Danes Danskerens 10 bud

Danish Youth Association

Media Ekstrabladet

Onset of German Oppression

Communist Crackdown “Clashes with the usual Danish sense of justice”

(Petrow, Bitter Years, p. 163)

Anti-Comintern Pact of 1941 “Unavoidable consequences”

(Thomas, Giant Killers, pp. 108-110)

German enlistment of Danish civilians

“‘Down with the traitors’” (The Times of London)

Protests at Rigsdag

Churchill Club

Underground press Frit Danmark; Studenternes Efterretniigstjeneste White Book

“Action is required of us all” (Thomas, Giant Killers, pp. 124-125)

Resistance Gains Momentum

General von Hanneken and Dr. Werner Best

Parliamentary election

Making a difference in World War II

Sabotage

Folk strikes

Traitors black-listed

Dr. Werner BestGeneral Von Hanneken

Government Cooperation Ends

Hitler instructs General von Hanneken to “rule with an iron hand” (Thomas, Giant Killers, p. 122)

In response to the strikes, Germany gives Denmark’s government an ultimatum: submit to total Germen tyranny or lose power

Danish government refuses; cooperation ends

German military assumes control of Denmark

The Height of Resistance

Danish Jews saved from Nazi round-up

Freedom Council established

Sabotaged Nazi military factories

Frode Jakobsen: “the battle for people’s soul” is through non-violence (Jorgen Haestrup, Secret Alliance (Odense: University of Odense, 1976), p. 45)

The Freedom Council’s resistance movement had over 45,000 by war’s end

People’s Strikes

Massive strikes halt military production

Danish endure German repercussions

Freedom Council appreciates the power of strikes Encouraged nonviolent resistance over sabotage

and riots

Strikes significantly impaired Nazi war machine

Post-War

Danish resistance forms an interim coalition government

Danish culture, society, and economy remain intact

Goals and Values

Initial goals compliance, survival, minimal bloodshed

Eventual goals of the resistance Independence, democracy, minimal bloodshed,

resist the Nazis

Conclusion

In the case of Danish resistance to the Nazis, the eventual goals of independence through strikes and noncooperation were a viable and effective option in changing the unjust Nazi state by debilitating its capacity to fight a war.

The Power of Nonviolence

In Denmark’s case resisting the powerful Nazi military through violence would have resulted in slaughter

Nonviolent resistance gave the Danish people the ability to effectively resist the Nazis while avoiding sacrificial violent conflict

Bibliography

Ackerman, Peter, and Jack Duvall. A Force More Powerful. 1st ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. 210. Print.