Museum of Danish America traveling exhibit was on view at Mount Rushmore and Holocaust Museum Houston
Across Oceans, Across Time ® …
70 years ago . . .
During the Nazi occupation of Denmark in World War II, with the help from Danish civilians and resistance groups, more than 7,000 of the 8,000 Danish Jews succeeded in escaping the German Gestapo and thereby avoided the much-feared German concentration camps.
The traveling exhibition was on view at Mount Rushmore, September 19-28, 2013. (Photo courtesy of The Museum of Danish America)
In September 1943, the German occupying forces in Denmark decided to deport all Danish Jews to concentration camps. Until that point the Danish government’s policy of collaboration with Germany had prevented deportation of the about 8,000 Danish Jews. However, after the Danish government ceased to function on August 29th, 1943 the situation changed, and it was decided that Jews living in Denmark should be deported the night between October 1st and 2nd. On September 29th the decision about the deportation was leaked to Danish politicians and Jewish leaders, which enabled Danish civilians and the Danish Jews to prepare for the operation. When it was assured that Sweden would accept the Danish Jews, civilians, resistance groups, and Jews organized hiding places in various locations in Sjælland (Zealand) for the Danish Jews. Hospitals, churches and private homes functioned as hideouts until fishing boats were ready to carry the escaping Jews across Storebælt (Great Belt) to Sweden. By helping Danish Jews escaping the German occupation forces Danes put their own safety at risk, but the general understanding in Denmark was that Danish Jews were no less Danish than anyone else and should not be left to Nazi brutality.
The Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa has a traveling exhibit dedicated to telling the story in detail. Recently on view at Mount Rushmore, the exhibit was also display at the Holocaust Museum Houston from October 16 to November 1, 2013.
The Museum of Danish America – Celebrating Danish roots and American dreams – is located at 2212 Washington Street, Elk Horn, Iowa 51531. Become a member – Contact The Museum of Danish America at: 1-800-759-9192 or www.danishmuseum.org or follow the museum on Facebook.
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