A Light in the Northern Sea: Denmark’s Incredible Rescue

In this illuminating account, historian Brady (Three Ordinary Girls) recaps the lead-up to the October 1943 rescue of the Jewish population of Denmark, when boatmen across the country covertly transported them to neutral Sweden by sea. The Nazi occupation of Denmark, which began in April 1940, was initially milder than that of Eastern European countries, Brady notes. Due to Nazi views on racial hierarchies, German soldiers were instructed that “the Dane is freedom-loving and self-aware. He rejects every Coercion and every Subordination.... Unnecessary sharpness... must be avoided.” However, few Danes were fooled by this kid-glove approach, Brady writes, as they were well aware of German atrocities in the rest of Europe. The Danish resistance carried out increasingly daring sabotage efforts, culminating in the August 1943 bombing of a German barrack, which finally triggered a Nazi crackdown that began with the rounding up of Jews. The resistance immediately changed tack: utilizing daily synagogue services, they got the word out about the planned October evacuation, a complex affair that included clever subterfuges like hospitals admitting Jews under false names in order to move them along a smuggling route that ended with them being ferried out on small fishing boats. Throughout, Brady describes the action in nail-biting detail. The result is an inspiring and suspenseful history that showcases grassroots efforts to stand up to tyranny. (July)