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Storytellers

RBC S40Pt5: Number the Stars

·29 min·2 clips
How did a simple handkerchief containing rabbit's blood and cocaine save thousands of Jewish lives from Nazi dogs?
The episode opens with Derek's emotional anticipation about death in the Holocaust narrative. He reads Chapter 16, where Anne-Marie returns to the farm after delivering a mysterious packet. Uncle Henrik gives her a milking lesson while explaining the resistance operation. He reveals that Peter Nielsen is part of the resistance, helping Jews escape to Sweden in hidden compartments on fishing boats. Henrik discloses that the packet contained a handkerchief with a special drug—rabbit's blood and cocaine—that ruins dogs' sense of smell, preventing detection. Anne-Marie learns the Rosens safely reached Sweden. The narrative jumps to the war's end two years later, with celebrations in Copenhagen. Anne-Marie discovers Peter was executed by Nazis and buried in a numbered grave, and her sister Lisa died during a resistance raid. Anne-Marie finds Ellen's Star of David necklace, hoping to return it. Derek then provides historical context, explaining that the novel blends fiction with real events. Denmark surrendered in 1940, and King Christian X remained a symbol of resistance. In 1943, nearly 7,000 Danish Jews were smuggled to Sweden after a warning from German official G.F. Duckwitz. The handkerchief tactic was real, developed by Swedish scientists. The resistance included young people like Kim Malt Brun, who was executed at 21. Derek reads Brun's letter about creating 'human decency.' He recommends 'Jojo Rabbit' and 'Night' by Elie Wiesel, noting this is his shortest episode. The episode ends with contact information and credits.

As heard by us

A hidden crossing reaches Sweden, Copenhagen celebrates the war's end, and a cat spoils the milk.

Chapter 16 of Number the Stars stays close to death without turning heavy-handed. The host's repeated feeling that nobody deserves to die, even after preparing himself for that possibility, gives the wartime story a raw edge. Anne-Marie's thoughts return to Ellen, Mrs.

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Why you'd press play

You want wartime tension, Anne-Marie worrying over Ellen, and one cat-powered reason to distrust the milk pail.

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