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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.