Hi Mette: You have such good reason to be proud of your grandfather. I have studied the Shoah (Holocaust) most of my life. And I married a woman who is also the granddaughter of Danes. Denmark was a noble example of fighting for freedom, and as a country saving as many Jews as possible. Of course many individuals all over Europe were heros on an individual level. But it is Denmark that stands out as an entire nation fighting for what is good and right. When the Jews of Denmark were forced by the Nazis to wear the yellow Star of David to indicate that they were Jews (and thus targets), the King then sewed a Star of David on his clothes too, stating that in Denmark “all are Jews.” What a great man. What a great people. What a great nation! How I love the people of Danmark (Denmark).
I’m married to a Danish-American. They are lovely, peaceful people–until someone tries to push them around–then watch out!!!!They will not knuckle under or give up their ideals. Love them!!!!!! I am glad you have this as your family history.
This photo is so full of sophistication despite being taken in one of the longest most gruesome wars. Incredible. I also love how the 2 gentlemen on the right are displaying their revolvers. It’s so old school.
This is one the best vintage photos I’ve ever seen. I mean, not just visually the best considering the fact that it’s vintage. But also, the great honor these men have. I mean, they are heroes and deserves to be remembered for ever :)
That’s what you get,
That’s what you get,
And after all this time
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes
Do not make the man
All we have to do now is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see is that i don’t belong to you
And you don’t belong to me yea yea
Freedom,
Freedom,
Freedom
You’ve got to give for what you take
Freedom,
Freedom,
Freedom
You’ve got to give for what you take
Yea you’ve got to give for what you, give for what you give.
GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM 90
DESDES SEVILLA (ESPAÑA), CON AMOR
Great photo. I’m proud to be Danish!! One of my old neighbors was a freedom fighter too. He went to the only concentrationcamp in Denmark, and he also went to Dachau and survived!
I love this photograph for so many reasons and I will always LOVE the guts and bravery of these kind of guys. Feel sure that elegance was the last thing on their minds so it must have been a god given gift and WOW!
This is my favorite vintage photo. I love gear! Pockets, tabs, belts, grommets, rivets, etc. But most of all I love the spirit I see here. Your grandfather must have been a courageous and remarkable person. Thank you so much for posting this!
I like the picture too, the clothes and the atmosphere. Everyone of them hopefully made a difference in a bad period of European history. Stylish clothes.
David H. writes: “But it is Denmark that stands out as an entire nation fighting for what is good and right.”
Without judging about good and bad, I do not know if Denmark was the good example. Until 1940 the Danes had sent German jews back like most countries had done (as the Danish jew Vilhjalmur Örn Vilhjarmursson has pointed out).
In 1940 Denmark surrendered after 2 hours of fighting. During the years that followed the government in Copenhagen collaborated with nazi-Germany. E.g. each year of the war, Denmark delivered more than one month’s food supply to Germany (according to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself).
At one moment, the Danish prime minister even announced actions against Danish freedom fighters (speech known as “stikkertale”) and against all those, that would oppose to the German military forces.
Denmark was even kind of a riviera for German soldiers. They called it the “butter front”. There was no fighting and plenty of food. The resistance was not a threat to the German military, but it did a good job by taking “care” of the Danish collaborators, convinced nazis etc. and thus made a difference.
The “good” thing about the Danish collaboration was that the government and king remained in Copenhagen and thus were able to protect the own population, including the own Danish (not German) Jewish population.
The good thing is, that Danish officials saved 7000 Danish jews when the highest German official in 1943 announced very loud and clear that the jews would be taken to the camps.
But David H, other European countries had chosen to fight nazi-Germany in 1940. These countries lost, their governments fled to London, and these populations – including the Jews, the gipsies, the disabled etc. – were left in the hands of the bad nazis. These countries did not have their own high officials that could act on their own when the Germans decided to take care of the Jews, the gipsies etc to the camps. Also, in these other countries it was never announced loud and clear that the Jews were being taken to the camps. Municipalities had to make lists of Jews and that was just the first in a series of measures that never took place in Denmark.
Ironically, the Danish collaboration with nazi-Germany saved the Jewish population. And yes, the Danish officials acted immediately. But I doubt the Danish collaboration can be seen as a good example, even if it saved 7000 people.
Anyway, despite the collaboration, the Danes were not in favour of Germany during the war. Which this picture of freedom fighters points out. Thanks for sharing, Mette.
If you guys google: “Flammen og citronen”, you can see clips from a danish movie that tells the story about freedom fighters, noble men and villains during ww2.
There’s a wonderful book — Rescue in Denmark — about the heroic efforts of freedom fighters and sabateurs like your grandfather and the others in this picture. It highlights the many, many efforts of ordinary Danes to hide their Jewish countrymen and help them escape to Sweden, and later to resist the German occupation. It’s now out of print, sadly, but available via Amazon.
So much for the Danish resistance to Nazis!!! Denmark surrended in only 2 hours after a German courier on a motorbike delivered the Nazi mandate. The post by “Art” above, is – all the way – valid.
milena
August 6, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Wow I absolutely love this photo.
http://thethiefandthecobblers.com
nicoline
August 6, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Amazing photo
Vivian
August 6, 2011 at 4:19 pm
This is brilliant. I love how well dressed this militia is. Classy :)
Anonymous
August 6, 2011 at 4:31 pm
They look very dashing. Being a resistance fighter must have taken real guts.
David H.
August 6, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Hi Mette: You have such good reason to be proud of your grandfather. I have studied the Shoah (Holocaust) most of my life. And I married a woman who is also the granddaughter of Danes. Denmark was a noble example of fighting for freedom, and as a country saving as many Jews as possible. Of course many individuals all over Europe were heros on an individual level. But it is Denmark that stands out as an entire nation fighting for what is good and right. When the Jews of Denmark were forced by the Nazis to wear the yellow Star of David to indicate that they were Jews (and thus targets), the King then sewed a Star of David on his clothes too, stating that in Denmark “all are Jews.” What a great man. What a great people. What a great nation! How I love the people of Danmark (Denmark).
- David
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Holistic Nutrition and Health
cara
August 6, 2011 at 4:59 pm
you should be very proud. denmark was truly heroic in ww2.
berenger
August 6, 2011 at 5:19 pm
This is beauty in its purest form. You must be the proudest of all grandsons. Thank you to your family. x
dragon fruit
August 6, 2011 at 6:49 pm
AWESOME photo. I would be too… I am..!
http://www.dragonnfruit.com
Rachel
August 6, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Amazing photo. xx
Christian mit C
August 6, 2011 at 7:09 pm
This picture is just awesome, it really makes me want to know the whole story behind each single of those men.
Maija
August 6, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Mette is a girl’s name. However, a touching foto.
Lauren
August 6, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Wonderful picture. I like the variety of attire they wore.
The Styleseer
http://styleseer.blogspot.com
antique engagement rings
August 6, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Love vintage black and whites!
Bellbonne
August 6, 2011 at 7:58 pm
I’m married to a Danish-American. They are lovely, peaceful people–until someone tries to push them around–then watch out!!!!They will not knuckle under or give up their ideals. Love them!!!!!! I am glad you have this as your family history.
Luci Bom
August 6, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Fantastic snap shot of a piece of history and very powerful.
http://www.blog.sketch.uk.com
Ceecee
August 6, 2011 at 9:06 pm
The Danes undertook heroic efforts to oppose the Nazi occupation of their country. Celebrate your grandfather’s bravery, and his integrity!
Fotautomat
August 6, 2011 at 10:33 pm
This photo is so full of sophistication despite being taken in one of the longest most gruesome wars. Incredible. I also love how the 2 gentlemen on the right are displaying their revolvers. It’s so old school.
http://www.foto-automat.tumblr.com
Ingrid
August 6, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Which one is your grandfather?
Barcelona m'enamora
August 7, 2011 at 12:30 am
Wonderful variety of hats
Carlos
August 7, 2011 at 12:39 am
This is one the best vintage photos I’ve ever seen. I mean, not just visually the best considering the fact that it’s vintage. But also, the great honor these men have. I mean, they are heroes and deserves to be remembered for ever :)
“braun k650″
Xavier
August 7, 2011 at 1:09 am
just found a new desktop background, such a powerful picture
Martine
August 7, 2011 at 3:04 am
Intense. Your grandpa was very brave.
Antonia
August 7, 2011 at 4:17 am
i absolutely adore those vintage photos on your blog!
they express that much and i wanted even more to live in an earlier time :)
vistete y sal
August 7, 2011 at 4:42 am
That’s what you get,
That’s what you get,
And after all this time
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes
Do not make the man
All we have to do now is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see is that i don’t belong to you
And you don’t belong to me yea yea
Freedom,
Freedom,
Freedom
You’ve got to give for what you take
Freedom,
Freedom,
Freedom
You’ve got to give for what you take
Yea you’ve got to give for what you, give for what you give.
GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM 90
DESDES SEVILLA (ESPAÑA), CON AMOR
Pernille
August 7, 2011 at 5:24 am
What an amazing photo. It makes me proud to be a Dane. I too have a new desktop background.
Simone
August 7, 2011 at 6:22 am
Great photo. I’m proud to be Danish!! One of my old neighbors was a freedom fighter too. He went to the only concentrationcamp in Denmark, and he also went to Dachau and survived!
David
August 7, 2011 at 7:04 am
I love the guys on the far left and right. Like the coats belted on the outside.
Clara Turbay
August 7, 2011 at 8:28 am
It´s a great picture because what it means.
We´re talking about heroes fighting against the evil!
http://paquetevistasbien.blogspot.com
Juanita
August 7, 2011 at 9:59 am
I love this photograph for so many reasons and I will always LOVE the guts and bravery of these kind of guys. Feel sure that elegance was the last thing on their minds so it must have been a god given gift and WOW!
The Bohmerian
August 7, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Mad rad!!
theBohmerian.com
lindayoga
August 7, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I cant begin to tell you how much I love this photo!! you have such an amazing amount of your family’s photos.
Thanks again for sharing.
-Linda
Frederik
August 7, 2011 at 1:19 pm
I’m a dane myself, and i think this photo is one of the best i’ve ever seen , Mette!
They all look so bold and proud – like taken from a movie!
It reminds me a bit of Inglorious Bastards !
/Frederik
http://www.FrederikPhilippe.blogspot.com
Laurence Zankowski
August 7, 2011 at 1:35 pm
I wonder if he ever met / worked with “Flame and Citron” , my father passed before I could ask him the same question….
We need to remember ….
Birgit
August 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Love the trenchcodes.
anonymous
August 7, 2011 at 5:42 pm
This is my favorite vintage photo. I love gear! Pockets, tabs, belts, grommets, rivets, etc. But most of all I love the spirit I see here. Your grandfather must have been a courageous and remarkable person. Thank you so much for posting this!
Art
August 8, 2011 at 7:34 am
I like the picture too, the clothes and the atmosphere. Everyone of them hopefully made a difference in a bad period of European history. Stylish clothes.
David H. writes: “But it is Denmark that stands out as an entire nation fighting for what is good and right.”
Without judging about good and bad, I do not know if Denmark was the good example. Until 1940 the Danes had sent German jews back like most countries had done (as the Danish jew Vilhjalmur Örn Vilhjarmursson has pointed out).
In 1940 Denmark surrendered after 2 hours of fighting. During the years that followed the government in Copenhagen collaborated with nazi-Germany. E.g. each year of the war, Denmark delivered more than one month’s food supply to Germany (according to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself).
At one moment, the Danish prime minister even announced actions against Danish freedom fighters (speech known as “stikkertale”) and against all those, that would oppose to the German military forces.
Denmark was even kind of a riviera for German soldiers. They called it the “butter front”. There was no fighting and plenty of food. The resistance was not a threat to the German military, but it did a good job by taking “care” of the Danish collaborators, convinced nazis etc. and thus made a difference.
The “good” thing about the Danish collaboration was that the government and king remained in Copenhagen and thus were able to protect the own population, including the own Danish (not German) Jewish population.
The good thing is, that Danish officials saved 7000 Danish jews when the highest German official in 1943 announced very loud and clear that the jews would be taken to the camps.
But David H, other European countries had chosen to fight nazi-Germany in 1940. These countries lost, their governments fled to London, and these populations – including the Jews, the gipsies, the disabled etc. – were left in the hands of the bad nazis. These countries did not have their own high officials that could act on their own when the Germans decided to take care of the Jews, the gipsies etc to the camps. Also, in these other countries it was never announced loud and clear that the Jews were being taken to the camps. Municipalities had to make lists of Jews and that was just the first in a series of measures that never took place in Denmark.
Ironically, the Danish collaboration with nazi-Germany saved the Jewish population. And yes, the Danish officials acted immediately. But I doubt the Danish collaboration can be seen as a good example, even if it saved 7000 people.
Anyway, despite the collaboration, the Danes were not in favour of Germany during the war. Which this picture of freedom fighters points out. Thanks for sharing, Mette.
Frederik
August 8, 2011 at 5:45 pm
If you guys google: “Flammen og citronen”, you can see clips from a danish movie that tells the story about freedom fighters, noble men and villains during ww2.
Cool danish movie.
/Frederik
http://www.FrederikPhilippe.blogspot.com
Ann DuCharme
August 9, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Is your grandad Ib Jorgensen? and is he second from left?
Stephanie
August 10, 2011 at 12:16 pm
There’s a wonderful book — Rescue in Denmark — about the heroic efforts of freedom fighters and sabateurs like your grandfather and the others in this picture. It highlights the many, many efforts of ordinary Danes to hide their Jewish countrymen and help them escape to Sweden, and later to resist the German occupation. It’s now out of print, sadly, but available via Amazon.
I loved seeing this picture.
ROMAN SERRA
August 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I love the bagginess of the second trousers and the “wet look” of that amazing trench !!
U R AMAZING
peace
August 11, 2011 at 12:46 am
This is fucking badass.
Maia
August 11, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Fabulous!!
Victor
August 14, 2011 at 12:19 am
Great pic.
Consider the fates that would have befallen these men and their families if this photo had fallen into the hands of the Gestap during WW2.
Kirk
September 24, 2011 at 8:28 pm
So much for the Danish resistance to Nazis!!! Denmark surrended in only 2 hours after a German courier on a motorbike delivered the Nazi mandate. The post by “Art” above, is – all the way – valid.