Den danska gräddfronten – ockupationen som hårdnade (del 1)

·44 min·4 clips

Denmark surrendered after just six hours of resistance, becoming Germany's 'ridge front' for rest and recreation.

This episode of Historia.nu, hosted by Urban Lindstedt, features an interview with Marcus Törner, a cadet and author of 'Operation Save Denmark: Sweden's Secret Plan to Save Denmark.' The discussion focuses on the first part of Denmark's occupation during World War II. It begins by outlining the German invasion on April 9, 1940, as part of Operation Weserübung, aimed primarily at securing Norway. Denmark's defense was minimal due to a pre-war policy of avoiding provocation, leading to a rapid surrender after just six hours of resistance, notably at Amalienborg castle where the king witnessed the attack. The Germans termed Denmark the 'ridge front,' a relatively peaceful posting for soldiers. The Danish government and king remained in the country, pursuing a policy of cooperation initially. The episode contrasts this with Norway's 62-day resistance and exile government. It describes the early, small-scale resistance movements in Denmark, often politically divided. A key moment was the August Uprising in 1943 in cities like Odense and Esbjerg, which signaled growing unrest. The German civil administration shifted from the milder Renthe-Fink to the tougher SS general Werner Best in 1942. The episode covers Danish military personnel fleeing to Sweden, including the notable case of Captain Helge Bennike who took his company to Helsingborg. It introduces the 'Danish Brigade,' a covert military force trained in Sweden from late 1943, growing to 4,800 men by 1945 and equipped with tanks and aircraft, officially labeled as police. The conversation sets up the core topic of Sweden's secret 'Operation Save Denmark,' a military plan developed from December 1942 to invade Denmark, motivated by fears of a German scorched-earth policy, Soviet occupation, and a desire to improve Sweden's post-war image. The episode concludes by teasing a deeper exploration of these invasion plans in a follow-up episode.

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