Figure 1.-- Fortunately for the Danes while no one could protect them from the Germans, there were help them save them from the Soviets. The British on the northern flank of the allied advance into Germany arrived at the base of the Jutland Pemonsula just days before the Red Army advancing from the East. The first British troops led by General Richard Dewing arrived in Copenhagen (4:32 May 5). This became Liberation Day--Befrielse Dag. The British soldiers and sailors who entered Denmark were instant celeberties. Here very apprecitive Danish girls are getting autographs from British sailors.

Denmark along with Norway were the last NAZI-occupied countries to be liberated. Danes followed war developments on the radio. They knew that the and of the War was near. They did not know, however, if the British or Soviets would reach them first. Or how the Allies would regard them. Unlike the Norwegians there had been considerable collaboration with the Germans. The German forces in the Netherlands, northern Germany, and Denmark surrendered effective (May 5, 1945). The surrender to Field Marshal Montgomery took place at Lüneberg Heath in Germany (6:30 pm, May 4). It did not go into effect until the following day--8:00 am May 5. The Danes, however, learned as a reslt of a report on the BBC Danish broacast (8:30 pm). “This is London … I “At this moment, it is announced that Montgomery has stated that the German troops in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany and Denmark have surrendered.” The announcer was Johannes G Sørensen. He was the Danish radio announcer that informed the Danes that their country had been occupied on (April 9, 1940). He later fled to Britain in 1944. The Danes called it their declaration of freedom. The British, however, had not yet reached them. People coud not wait until the next day when the surrender went into effect. They flooded into the streets, waving the Danish flag 'Dannebro' and burning their blackout curtains. Many people also spontaneously placed lit candles in their windows. This became the symbol of liberation and a custom that is still kept up by many Danes. Fortunately for the Danes the British on the northern flank of the Allied advance into Germany arrived at the base of the Jutland Peninsula just days before the Red Army advancing from the East. The first British troops led by General Richard Dewing arrived in Copenhagen (4:32 pm May 5). This became Liberation Day--Befrielse Dag. The British soldiers and sailors who entered Denmark were instant celeberties. Here Danish very apprecitive Danish girls are getting autographs from British sailors. British parachute troops arrived to help suprvise the German surrender (May 8). Field Marshal Montgomery made a triuphant entry a week later. The NAZIs surrendered (May 7-8, 1945). The next day The Red Army occupied the island of Bornholm after intense fighting with the Germans (May 8). It was not returned to the Danes until a year later (April 1946). Many Danes were out for revenge. Quite a number of men were shot foor collaboation before civil order was established. Newspapers reported numerous unexlained shootings. Women who were mostly guilty of affairs with German soldiers had their hair cut off and paraded in the street. A few were stripped naked and painted with swastikas. Eventually 40,000 people were arrested on charges of collaboration. Over half were found guilty, some 13,500. There were 78 death sentences, of which 46 were actually carried out. Most of the others received prison sentences of less than 4 years. A new government was formed with both representatives of the DFC and major political parties. The Danes voted (Fall 1945), electing a left-of-center government led by Knud Kristensen. A major problem was all the German refugees.

Created: 3:27 AM 10/13/2016
Last updated: 3:27 AM 10/13/2016