Diplomats Who Aided Jews and Other Refugees in Denmark
See also Rescue in the Holocaust by Diplomats
Note: +arrested; †tortured; *killed; ●Righteous Among the Nations (honored by the State of Israel)
Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz●, Trade Attaché to the German Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1943
Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz was a member of the Nazi Party and was sent as a Trade Attaché to the German Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. When Duckwitz learned that the Nazi occupying government was planning to deport Danish Jews, he alerted the Danish government and Jewish community leaders. In addition, he made a clandestine trip to Stockholm to meet with the Prime Minster of Sweden to arrange for safe haven for the Jews. For these actions, he could have been killed. The Danish underground in turn implemented the rescue of more than 7,000 Danish Jews. As a result, 99% of Danish Jews were hidden and smuggled into neutral Sweden, where they survived the war. After the war, Duckwitz became the German Ambassador to Denmark. Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz was designated Righteous Among the Nations in 1971.
[Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die geplannte Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden und ihre Verhinderung. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1957; and Jerusalem: Yad Vashem Archives File #027/13). Duckwitz, Georg Ferdinand. Die Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden im Herbst 1943—Plan und Durchführing. (Copenhagen: Rigsarkivet, Duckwitz Archives, 1964). Dose, Johannes. Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz in Dänemark: 1943-1945, 2nd ed. (Bonn: Auswärtiges Amt, 1992), Referat 012, p. 16. Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990), pp. 364, 409, 1282, 1438. Yahil, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 127, 129, 148-151, 161-164, 173, 239, 269, 329, 417. Kirchhoff, Hans. “SS-Gruppenführer Werner Best and the action against the Danish Jews – October 1943.” Yad Vashem Studies, 24 (1994), 195-222.]
Gustaf von Dardel, Swedish Ambassador to Denmark, 1943
Gustaf von Dardel was the Swedish Ambassador to Denmark in 1943.
In May 1943, von Dardel and the Swedish legation submitted a list of 40 Danish Jews who had families in Sweden, and arranged for their visas. They were able to successfully escape to Sweden.
Most importantly, von Dardel helped to save Jews during the thwarted deportation attempt that took place in Denmark in the beginning of October 1943. As early as September 6, 1943, von Dardel reported to the Swedish foreign ministry about the proposed deportation. He notified the Swedish government in Stockholm about the impending deportations and recommended that they come to the aid of the Jews of Denmark.
Specifically, on September 29, Von Dardel notified the Swedish foreign office by telegram that 6,000 Jews were scheduled to be arrested and deported to Germany by ship transport. The Swedish government, by then, had decided that it would receive all the Jewish refugees that could make it to the shores of Sweden. The Swedish government gave asylum to the Danish Jews until Denmark was liberated in the spring of 1945.
Dardel issued Swedish exit visas to Danish Jews on the eve of the deportations, September-October 1943.
In addition, von Dardel warned Jewish community leaders about the planned deportations. This advance warning helped the Jews successfully plan their escape to Sweden.
As a result of this and other actions, more than 7,900 Jews were saved in Denmark. This was nearly 98% of the Jews living in Denmark at the time.
Von Dardel also helped noted Danish particle physicist Professor Niels Bohr to escape arrest by the Nazis. He warned Bohr that the Nazis intended to arrest and deport him.
Many members and staff of the Swedish embassy helped aid and save Jews.
[Von Dardel, G. Lyckliga och Stormiga Aar. (Stockholm: Wahlstroem & Widstrand, 1953). Werner, Emmy E. A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews during World War II (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002), pp. 33, 41. Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), pp. 231-240, 244. Koblik, Steven. The Stones Cry Out: Sweden’s Response to the Persecution of the Jews, 1933-1945. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1988), pp. 217-218, 222. Yahil, 1969, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 181-182, 327-329, 341, 487 Fn 107. Swedish Foreign Ministry Archives (JM/1215-1219).]
Alberto Bafico, Argentine Consul in Budapest, 1939, and Copenhagen, 1943
Consul Alberto Bafico reported on the anti-Semitic persecution of Jews from his post in Budapest, Hungary. Later, Bafico reported on the German invasion and occupation of Denmark. He reported on the persecutions and danger to Danish Jews.
Erik Boheman, Swedish Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Swedish Envoy to Paris
Erik Boheman, Swedish Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Swedish envoy to Paris
[Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 76, 140, 230-232, 338, 240, 251-252; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220]
Bostrom, Swedish Minister to Washington, DC, USA
[Persson, 2009]
Torstan Brandel, Secretary, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany
[Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 77, 91, 96, 102, 108, 124, 142, 167, 186, 205, 253, 255]
De Blonay (Swiss), Chief Delegate (Operations) of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
[Persson, 2009, pp. 194, 210]
Niels Eric Ekblad, Swedish Consul in Denmark, 1943
Consul Niels Eric Ekblad was sent by the Swedish government to report on the action of the Germans in the impending deportation of Danish Jews in October 1943. Ekblad accompanied German diplomat Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz to a clandestine meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson. Ekblad relayed advance warning from Duckwitz to the Swedish government.
At the Swedish embassy in Copenhagen, Ekblad issued many passports to Danish citizens.
[Ekblad, Niels Eric. 1958. “Aufzeichnung über gewisse Ereignisse im Zusammenhang mit der deutschen Aktion gegen die dänischen Juden um den 1 Oktober 1943.” Hamburg: January 22; Jerusalem: Yad Vashem Archives (File #027/13). Yahil, 1969, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy.(Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 148, 194-151. Goldberger, Leo. The Rescue of Danish Jews: Moral Courage Under Stress. (New York: New York University Press, 1987), pp. 33, 34, 36, 39, 41. Yad Vashem Archives Testimonies, File #027/13-18. Duckwitz Archives. Kirchoff, Hans. 1999a. “Doing All That Can Be Done – the Swedish Foreign Ministry and the Persecution of the Jews in Denmark in October 1943: A Study in Humanitarian Aid and Realpolitik.” Scandinavian Journal of History 24 pp.1-43.]
Gösta Engzell, Head of Legal Division of the Swedish Foreign Office, Stockholm, Sweden, World War II
Gösta Engzell headed the Legal Division of the Swedish Foreign Office throughout the war. He was the individual most responsible for the positive switch in the Swedish government’s official policy and response to the murder of European Jews. He convinced the Swedish government to help Jews in Nazi controlled territories. He empowered diplomats in Norway, Denmark and later in Budapest. He was responsible for empowering Swedish diplomats Carl Ivan Danielsson and Per Anger to issue Swedish protective papers to Budapest Jews. By the end of the war, Swedish action on behalf of Jews in Europe, almost always initiated or supported by Engzell and his staff, contributed to the rescue and relief of 30,000-40,000 Jews.
[Levine, P.A., p. 212, in Cesarani, D., & Levine, P.A., 2002. Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), pp. 115-116, 126, 132, 134, 138, 154-155, 159-162, 169, 171, 174, 176-177, 181-185, 213, 216, 223, 226, 232-234, 241-243, 249-252, 259-276. Yahil, L. “Scandinavian Countries to the Rescue of Concentration Camp Prisoners.” Yad Vashem Studies, 6 (1967), pp. 216-217. Koblik, Steven. The Stones Cry Out: Sweden’s Response to the Persecution of the Jews, 1933-1945. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1988), pp. 170, 176, 203, 206-207, 217, 238, 248-251, 290-293. Penkower, Monty Noam. The Jews Were Expendable: Free World diplomacy and the Holocaust. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1983), pp. 267-268, 273-275, 279-280, 288. Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhol0m; Persson, 2009, pp. 29, 55, 63, 65, 83, 142-143, 159-160, 186, 195; Favez, 1995, pp. 260-272; Hadenius, 2007; Hewins, 1950; Marton, 1996; Persson, 2009, pp. 29, 55, 63, 65, 83, 142-143, 159-160, 186, 195; Yahil, 1967, pp. 181-220]
Consul Marc Giron, Attaché, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany
[Persson, 2009, pp.84, 101]
Christian Günther, Swedish Foreign Minister
In the autumn of 1943, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Christian Guenther negotiated for the release of Danish and Norwegian prisoners held in German camps. This eventually led to the release of thousands of prisoners to the Swedish Red Cross under the supervision of Folke Bernadotte in March and April 1945.
[Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 64, 66-68, 72, 75-76, 82, 97, 144-14, 160-161, 178, 202, 204, 222-223, 225-226, 242, 251-252, 255; Friedman, Philip. Their Brothers’ Keepers: The Christian Heroes and Heroines Who Helped the Oppressed Escape the Nazi Terror. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1978), pp. 171-172. Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), pp. 115, 145, 163, 167, 181, 185, 217, 220, 222, 224, 226, 234-241, 249. Yahil, L. “Scandinavian Countries to the Rescue of Concentration Camp Prisoners.” Yad Vashem Studies, 6 (1967), pp. 196, 201-202.]
Svante Hellstedt, Assistant to Gösta Engzell
[Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 63, 66]
Chaplain Jeppesen, Danish Legation
Helped the Folke Bernadotte Rescue Mission to Germany and Danish Rescue Mission to Teresienstadt.
[Persson, 2009, p. 84]
Herschel V. Johnson, US Minister in Stockholm, Sweden, 1943?
Herschel V. Johnson was the American Minister in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1943. During the refugee crisis and Nazi deportation actions in Denmark and central Europe, Johnson was predisposed toward, and advocated help for, Jewish refugees. Johnson reported that Swedish government officials and members of the Foreign Ministry had taken actions on behalf of Dutch and Norwegian Jews. He tried to get the US government to help during this refugee crisis. Johnson was thwarted by the US State Department in his attempts to rescue Jews. In October 1943, he reported on the Danish-Swedish rescue of Jews. Johnson became the War Refugee Board representative to Sweden and recommended Raoul Wallenberg for its rescue mission in Budapest, Hungary.
[Breitman, Richard. “American rescue activities in Sweden.” Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Feingold, Henry. The Politics of Rescue: The Roosevelt Administration and the Holocaust, 1938-1944. (New Brunswick, NJ:(New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1970), p. 258. Persson, 2009, pp. 231-232.]
Henrik Kauffmann, Danish Minister to the United States, 1943?
Henrik Kauffmann was a Danish Minister to the United States during the October 1943 action against Jews in Denmark. Kauffmann asked the American government for help in rescuing Danish Jews. He offered to reimburse the United States or any government for monies expended in rescue efforts. He raised and administered funds to support Danish Jews and other refugees in Sweden. He also distributed funds from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He helped to develop the Danish underground’s foreign policy. In addition, he notified the US Secretary of State of the deportation actions and kept the State Department apprised of Nazi actions in Denmark. The US government took no action.
“Sir: According to press reports that have just reached Legation, one of the first acts of the newly appointed military dictator in occupied Denmark was, on personal orders from Adolf Hitler, to start the deportation of Danish Jews. I greatly fear that very little can be done from here to come to the aid of these, my fellow citizens, in their hour of affliction. I want, however, to offer you the assurance, Mr. Secretary, that any measures the American Government might deem feasible and appropriate to take in an attempt to afford protection to the Danish Jewish population, or to alleviate their fate ad the threat against their lives, will have my fill and unconditional support. As fat as financial responsibilities may be involved, I undertake the guaranty towards your government, or any other Government that may incur expenses in the effort to bring help to Danish Jews or other Danish nationals persecuted by the Nazis, to reimburse such expenses out of the Danish public funds under my control in this country. In making this declaration I know I am acting in line with the wish of the people of Denmark. I should be grateful for an early opportunity to discuss with you, Sir, what it may be possible to do in order to render assistance to my nationals and to protect them against the dangers threatening their existence. Receive, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.”
The Danish Ambassador to the United States Henrik Kauffmann to US Secretary of State Cordell Hull after learning of the German plan to deport Danish Jews. (Flender)
[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Archives, New York City. Breitman, Richard. “American rescue activities in Sweden.” Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Yahil. Yahil, 1969, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 62, 358, 443 Fn 86.]
German Consul Krüger
German Consul Krüger provided exit visas to Palestinian Jews who were trapped in Denmark. They went to Sweden, then to Palestine through Russia and Turkey.
[Margolinsky, cited in Yahil. Yahil, 1969, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 199, 480 Fn 11. Sapir. Copenhagen on the Day of the German Invasion.]
Otto Carl Mohr, Danish Minister to Germany, Berlin, Germany
Otto Carl Mohr, Danish Minister to Germany, sought to protect Jews who were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp.
[Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 87, 104-107, 146, 148, 166-167, 177, 192; Yahil, 1969]
Lennart Nylander, Legation Counsellor, Swedish Legation, Berlin, Germany
[Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, p. 77, 83, 253]
Ivor C. Olsen, Fnancial Attaché, US Embassy, Stockholm, Sweden, War Refugee Board (WRB) Representative
[War Refugee Board Archives, FDR Library, Hyde Park, Final Report, WRB. Persson, 2009, pp. 21, 29.]
Arvid Richert, Swedish Minister in Berlin, Germany, October 1943
Arvid Richert was the Swedish Minister in Berlin in October 1943. In response to the proposed deportation of Danish Jews in October 1943, Richert submitted an official proposal to the German Foreign Ministry that would place Danish Jews as refugees in camps in Sweden. The Germans never answered the proposal. The Swedish government announced that it would accept Danish Jewish refugees. Soon, 9,000 Danish Christians and 7,000 Danish Jews reached Sweden. Later, 100 Finnish Jews were brought to Sweden.
[Reitlinger, Gerald. The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945. (New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1953), pp. 350-351. Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), pp. 115-118, 124, 129-130, 138-139, 151-154, 157, 159-160, 166, 171, 175-179, 182-183, 215-216, 218, 223, 235-246. Yahil, L. “Scandinavian Countries to the Rescue of Concentration Camp Prisoners.” Yad Vashem Studies, 6 (1967), pp. 185, 187, 191, 194, 196. Koblik, Steven. The Stones Cry Out: Sweden’s Response to the Persecution of the Jews, 1933-1945. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1988), pp. 22, 57-60, 65, 122-126, 132, 143-147, 154, 157, 161, 174-176, 185-190, 195-197, 199-203, 219-220, 270, 273-281. Yahil, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969), pp. 329-331. Gutman, Yisrael (Ed.). Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, 4 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1990), p. 1438. Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 55-56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67, 69-70, 75-77, 79, 81-82, 96-97, 108-109, 152, 167, 177-178, 189-190, 190-191, 251-252.]
Dr. Riensberg, German Shipping Attaché stationed in Stockholm, Sweden, 1943
Dr. Riensberg was the German shipping attaché stationed in Stockholm, Sweden. He worked closely with Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz, the German shipping attaché stationed in Copenhagen, in the rescue of Danish Jews. They worked out a secret code that would allow them to communicate regarding the rescue action of October 1943. This arrangement would expedite the rescue efforts and inform Duckwitz if the Jewish refugees arrived safely in Stockholm.
[Yahil, 1969, Leni. The Rescue of Danish Jewry: Test of a Democracy.(Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1969). Goldberger, Leo. The Rescue of Danish Jews: Moral Courage Under Stress. (New York: New York University Press, 1987).]
Nils Svenningsen, head, Danish Foreign Ministry
[Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Persson, 2009, pp. 105-106; Haestrup, Jörgen, Til landets bedste. Hovedtraek af departementschefsstyrets virke 1943-1945 [For the Good of the Country: The Main Features of the Deparmtmental Heads’ Work 1943-1945], bind I-II,Odense, 1966, Copenhagen, 1971; Departmental Head H. H. Koch, Socialministeriet under Besaettelsen [The Ministry of Social Affairs under Occupation], original manuscript at Finn Nielsen’s private archive,dossier 1, DRA; Barfod, Jörgen H., Helvede har mange navne [Hell Has Many Names], Copenhagen, 2nd Edition, 1955, pp. 29-39; Sode-Madsen, Hans, Redeet fra Hitlers Helvede. Danmark og de Hvide Busser 1941-45 [Rescued from Hitler’s Hell on Earth: Denmark and the White Buses 1941-1945], Copenhagen, 2005]
Erik von Post, head of the Political Department, Swedish Foreign Ministry
[Levine, Paul A. From Indifference to Activism: Swedish Diplomacy and the Holocaust: 1938-1944. (Uppsala, Sweden: 1998), pp. 116, 139, 144, 149-153, 177, 218, 222, 227, 252-253. Koblik, Steven. The Stones Cry Out: Sweden’s Response to the Persecution of the Jews, 1933-1945. (New York: Holocaust Library, 1988), pp. 58, 128-132, 145, 199, 202, 206-207, 270-274, 278-280. Swedish Foreign Office, The Swedish Relief Expedition to Germany 1945: Prelude and Negotiations [Stockholm, 1956], White Book, 1956; Swedish Foreign Office Archives [UDA], Stockhom; Persson, 2009, pp. 36, 43, 55, 57, 65, 75-76, 88, 96-97, 108, 195, 231, 233-236, 238, 252.]
Reverend Yde, Danish Consul General in Hamburg, Germany
[Persson, 2009, p. 191]
Volunteers who Worked for Diplomats in Copenhagen
Friedrich Wilhelm Lübke
Lübke was the German Chief of Shipping in Aarhus, Denmark. During the deportation of Jews, he “discovered” an “engine defect” that prevented the ship Monte Rosa from transporting deported Jews to the German concentration camps. Lübke worked with Duckwitz in this scheme. After the war, he became the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein.
Heinrich Bertram
Bertram worked with Friedrich Lübke to make sure the ship Monte Rosa was “out of order” to help prevent the deportation of Danish Jews in October 1943.