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Denmark
Tag
(13)
1939
May
17
The Scandinavian countries reject pacts with Germany
In mid-May 1939 Sweden, Norway and Finland declined non-aggression pacts with the Reich, citing their neutrality. Only Denmark agreed.
31
The German–Danish non-aggression pact
On 31 May 1939 in Berlin, Ribbentrop and the Danish envoy Herluf Zahle signed a ten-year non-aggression pact. Within a year the Wehrmacht occupied Denmark.
1940
January
27
Hitler orders preparations to invade Norway
On 27 January 1940 Keitel, at Hitler’s wish, took over planning an operation against Norway. A separate OKW staff was set up and the plan named “Weserübung”.
February
21
Falkenhorst to command Operation Weserübung
On 21 February 1940 Hitler gave General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst the task of preparing and leading the attack on Norway. His staff added Denmark to the plan.
March
01
The directive for Operation Weserübung
On 1 March 1940 Hitler signed the directive to occupy Denmark and Norway. It was to look like a “peaceful occupation”; the date was set only in April.
April
09
Germany occupies Denmark
On 9 April 1940 the Wehrmacht invaded neutral Denmark. After skirmishes in Jutland and at Amalienborg the king and government ended resistance within hours.
12
The British occupy the Faroe Islands
On 12 April 1940 British destroyers entered Tórshavn, and the next day Royal Marines landed from the cruiser Suffolk. The occupation lasted until 1945.
1941
April
10
The United States takes Greenland under its protection
On 10 April 1941 the US announced an agreement with Denmark's envoy Kauffmann, signed without Copenhagen's consent. Greenland joined US Atlantic defences.
1943
August
29
The state of emergency in Denmark
On 29 August 1943 Germany imposed a state of emergency in Denmark and disarmed its army. The navy scuttled most of its ships; the government ceased to act.
September
30
Key event
The rescue of the Danish Jews
In late September 1943 Danes began hiding Jews from a round-up and ferrying them by boat to Sweden. More than 7,000 were saved; about 470 were deported.
1945
March
21
Operation Carthage
On 21 March 1945 RAF Mosquitos bombed the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen. The files burned and 18 prisoners escaped, but bombs hit a school, killing 86 children.
May
04
The surrender at Lüneburg Heath
On 4 May 1945, in Montgomery's tent near Lüneburg, the Germans signed the surrender of their forces in the Netherlands, north-west Germany and Denmark.
09
The surrender on Bornholm
On 9 May 1945 a Soviet landing party accepted the surrender of the German garrison of the Danish island of Bornholm, a day after air raids on Rønne and Nexø.