Nonviolent resistance in Nazi-occupied Denmark was effective in frustrating German rule while minimizing bloodshed. Initially, Denmark cooperated with Germany to spare the country further hardship. However, as German oppression increased, the Danish resisted through strikes, protests, and sabotage organized by an underground resistance movement. Nonviolent tactics like the mass strikes that halted military production significantly impaired the Nazi war machine without resorting to violence. In the end, Danish culture and society remained intact and independence was achieved.

1. S
Nonviolent Resistance
to Nazi Occupation of
Denmark
Clark Schneider
Jamie Greenwald

2. Thesis
S Once the Nazis shift from benevolent occupiers to
oppressors, the goals (autonomy, independence) of the
nonviolent conflict are indeed a viable option in changing
the unjust Nazi society into a just one.
Through a predominantly non-violent campaign of strikes
and protests, Denmark frustrated the Nazi regime while
maintaining Danish society and culture and minimizing
bloodshed.

3. Nazi Invasion
S On April 9, 1940, the Nazis invaded Denmark with
overwhelming force
S Denmark did little to resist
S Germany promised not to compromise Denmark’s
“political independence”
S (Petrow, Bitter Years, pp. 48-49)

4. Samarbejdspolitik
S Danish government adopted a policy of cooperation
S King Christian “wished to spare his country further misfortune”
S (Petrow, Bitter Years, p. 50)
S “To survive became the goal’”
S (Lennart Bergfeldt, Experiences of Civilian Resistance: The Case of Denmark, 1940-1945
(Uppsala: University of Uppsala, 1993), p. 63)
S “Cooperation would be the lesser evil”
S (Ackerman, and Duvall, 2010, p. 210)

6. Early Resistance: Symbolic
Protest
S Cultural pride
S Lays the groundwork for resistance by emphasizing continued
Danish society and culture despite the German occupation
S 10 Commandments for Danes
S Danskerens 10 bud
S Danish Youth Association
S Media
S Ekstrabladet

8. Onset of German Oppression
S Communist Crackdown
S “Clashes with the usual Danish sense of justice”
S (Petrow, Bitter Years, p. 163)
S Anti-Comintern Pact of 1941
S “Unavoidable consequences”
S (Thomas, Giant Killers, pp. 108-110)
S German enlistment of Danish civilians

9. “‘Down with the traitors’” (The
Times of London)
S Protests at Rigsdag
S Churchill Club
S Underground press
S Frit Danmark; Studenternes Efterretniigstjeneste
S White Book
S “Action is required of us all”
S (Thomas, Giant Killers, pp. 124-125)

11. Resistance Gains Momentum
S General von Hanneken and Dr. Werner Best
S Parliamentary election
S Making a difference in World War II
S Sabotage
S Folk strikes
S Traitors black-listed

12. Dr. Werner Best General Von Hanneken

13. Government Cooperation
Ends
S Hitler instructs General von Hanneken to “rule with an iron
hand”
S (Thomas, Giant Killers, p. 122)
S In response to the strikes, Germany gives Denmark’s
government an ultimatum: submit to total Germen tyranny or
lose power
S Danish government refuses; cooperation ends
S German military assumes control of Denmark

14. The Height of Resistance
S Danish Jews saved from Nazi round-up
S Freedom Council established
S Sabotaged Nazi military factories
S Frode Jakobsen: “the battle for people’s soul” is through non-
violence
S (Jorgen Haestrup, Secret Alliance (Odense: University of Odense, 1976), p. 45)
S The Freedom Council’s resistance movement had over 45,000
by war’s end

16. People’s Strikes
S Massive strikes halt military production
S Danish endure German repercussions
S Freedom Council appreciates the power of strikes
S Encouraged nonviolent resistance over sabotage and riots
S Strikes significantly impaired Nazi war machine

18. Post-War
S Danish resistance forms an interim coalition government
S Danish culture, society, and economy remain intact

20. Goals and Values
S Initial goals
S compliance, survival, minimal bloodshed
S Eventual goals of the resistance
S Independence, democracy, minimal bloodshed, resist the
Nazis

21. Conclusion
S In the case of Danish resistance to the Nazis, the
eventual goals of independence through strikes and
noncooperation were a viable and effective option in
changing the unjust Nazi state by debilitating its capacity
to fight a war.

22. The Power of Nonviolence
S In Denmark’s case resisting the powerful Nazi military
through violence would have resulted in slaughter
S Nonviolent resistance gave the Danish people the ability
to effectively resist the Nazis while avoiding sacrificial
violent conflict

23. Bibliography
S Ackerman, Peter, and Jack Duvall. A Force More
Powerful. 1st ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.
210. Print.