Reflections on the 70th Anniversary of the Danish Rescue of the Jews
August 6, 2023 8:15 AM Subscribe
Talk at the American-Scandinavian Foundation A talk about why the Danish Jews were saved.
I'd planned to build a lot of posts, but I am more moved by the speech than I imagined and just can't.
The international conventions about refugees and the creation of Israel were obviously based on the catastrophe that was the Holocaust. But today, we seem to have forgotten.
In Scandinavia, we are struggling with regulating book burnings, even though we were the first to have laws against hate-speech. I don't know what to say.
I'd planned to build a lot of posts, but I am more moved by the speech than I imagined and just can't.
The international conventions about refugees and the creation of Israel were obviously based on the catastrophe that was the Holocaust. But today, we seem to have forgotten.
In Scandinavia, we are struggling with regulating book burnings, even though we were the first to have laws against hate-speech. I don't know what to say.
"You must take some steps to solve the Jewish problem in Denmark."
"Demark does not have a Jewish problem."
posted by Meatbomb at 9:27 AM on August 6, 2023
"Demark does not have a Jewish problem."
posted by Meatbomb at 9:27 AM on August 6, 2023
I don't see a transcript on the web either; but the speaker's book on the topic, Countrymen, is here.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
During Holocaust studies at University, the escape of 90% of the Danish Jewish population was quite remarkable and consideed doing my thesis on it. one thing I did discover, between the community of p.o.w.s and refugees from Europe and Holocaust survivors in Michigan, the few Danish survivors did not really want to speak of their experiences.
The Helsingør Syklub is quite fascinating especially Erling Kiær.
as to the burning of the Quran in public well there's not really much to say but I would think it is illegal to actually burn paper or a book in public because of it being a fire hazard. but I'm sure the Danish government is a re-examining that law law due to the overseas backlash of this policy.
I remember the class session when we covered resistance movements and professor asked what was significant about the Danish people that were caught and sent away.
"Theresienstadt"
why
"A show camp and location hub"
why
"Himmler wanted to show the world they were safe before being killed"
of the roughly 500 prisoners, 51 died.
it became all too common conversations like this to take place, robotistic, chilling, envasive especially if you have no idea what these people have gone through.
'A New Perspective on the Rescue of Denmark’s Jews'
posted by clavdivs at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2023
The Helsingør Syklub is quite fascinating especially Erling Kiær.
as to the burning of the Quran in public well there's not really much to say but I would think it is illegal to actually burn paper or a book in public because of it being a fire hazard. but I'm sure the Danish government is a re-examining that law law due to the overseas backlash of this policy.
I remember the class session when we covered resistance movements and professor asked what was significant about the Danish people that were caught and sent away.
"Theresienstadt"
why
"A show camp and location hub"
why
"Himmler wanted to show the world they were safe before being killed"
of the roughly 500 prisoners, 51 died.
it became all too common conversations like this to take place, robotistic, chilling, envasive especially if you have no idea what these people have gone through.
'A New Perspective on the Rescue of Denmark’s Jews'
posted by clavdivs at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2023
I'd add that for most Americans of my age (including American Jews) the story of the Danish rescue is mostly familiar from Number the Stars.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:02 PM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:02 PM on August 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
I saw a nice presentation on a personal family inquiry. Not sure if it's online. It was as much research into family history as much as holocaust, still complex with lots of issues.
posted by sammyo at 5:16 PM on August 6, 2023
posted by sammyo at 5:16 PM on August 6, 2023
There was a novel written by Elliot Arnold in 1967 about this, A Night of Watching, that was my introduction to this incident. It was pretty good as I recall. Made me very proud of my Danish heritage for a while.
posted by KingEdRa at 7:52 PM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by KingEdRa at 7:52 PM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
"The strategy of normalcy would not work [when encountering the Nazis]".
A timeless truth.
Appreciate this post!
posted by zerobyproxy at 10:42 AM on August 7, 2023
A timeless truth.
Appreciate this post!
posted by zerobyproxy at 10:42 AM on August 7, 2023
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posted by mrgoldenbrown at 9:01 AM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]