5 Reasons I love Denmark

5 Reasons:

1. My father immigrated from Denmark along with his older brother and parents circa 1958.

2. Today I learned about Danish civil policy of Jews in World War II. Even after being invaded overnight on April 9, 1940, only (if I can even say only) 52 Jews were killed in Denmark throughout the war. This statistic comes from a powerpoint slide from my History class today. Less than 1% of the Jewish population (approximately 8 000) in Denmark were murdered. Remember that Denmark is directly connected to Germany, they had very little defensive prowess and virtually no practical resources to resisting the German juggernaut. Yet what they did have was free will. Despite nearly the entire population qualifying as "Aryan" by the Nazi's, the Danes vehemently resisted Jewish persecution in their country. While under occupation, they did their jobs, they cooperated with the Germans in so far as they continued to produce, presumably in direct support of the war effort. Yet nearly the entire population was in opposition to Nazi policy towards Jews. Gestapo administrator, Werner Best, who essentially controlled Denmark during the occupation, argued with upper Nazi officials that any attempt to interfere with Danish Jews would be 'politically unacceptable'. Danes were, generally, in opposition to German occupation in the first place, and upon arrival and throughout the conflict, the majority of Germans would find a sense of discontent at their presence from Danish people. 

     I was so amazed to hear such a tale. Such a small country had the cajones to stand up for what they knew was right and in the end were successful. Consider that countries such as Canada, The USA, and Britain, placed limits on the number of Jews they would accept prior and during WWII. Also remember that anti-semitism was not merely a German phenomenon. And yet the Danes saw beyond religious affiliation, beyond even racial separation, and saw their Jewish population as "DANISH". Love it.

    What did The Danes do with their Jewish population? Ingeniously, they smuggled them out of the country right under the Nazi's noses..... into neutral Sweden.

3. If you have a chance, read something about King Christian X, the Danish king during WWII. An amazing monarch who provided the Danish population with a moral compass in a time of confusion and fear.

4. Have you ever been to Denmark? Amazing place.

5. Danishes, and pastry from Denmark in general....