Askov American., 1943-09-23
Unconquerable

Like other small European coun-
tries, the lot of the people of peace
full Denmark has been an unhappy
one the last few years, these Scan
dinavians being next-door neighbors
to Hitler and Nazism.
The days of 1848 and 1854 when
the Danes battled with the Prussians
are vividly recalled. Since 1864 up
at peace with the world and during
that period of time advanced cul-
turally, spiritually and economically,
in fact reduced illiteracy to the low
est degree in any country in the
world, to one-tenth of one per cent.
But in the spring of 1910 their
freedom and way of life was again
to be imposed upon when the Hit
ler forces marched in and so-to-speak
took possession. The Danes had prac-
tically no army or navy, they had
spent their money and resources for
other purposes. Therefore they were
easy prey to those with lust for
power. The products of the Defense
less agricultural country were used
by the Nazi, and the Danes expert
enced real rationing.
Being descendants of the sturdy
old Vikings, they bitterly resented
the treatment which culminste in
sabotage, strikes and outbreaks in
recent weeks when the Hitler hordes
clamped down tighter The Nazi pre-
tended to be friendly and cooperative
toward the Danes at least that
is what they told the outside world
for more than three years, but the
people of Denmark knew better and
revolted against German militarism.
AS the Pioneer Press of st. Paul
well said in an editorial "the soul
of free people cannot be crushed"
Here is also another argument for
giving the smaller countries much
to say about the set-up and power
of world organization. The small
countries desire peace more so than
the great powers. Countries like Nor
way, Sweden and Denmark have
long since learned that whether vic
tor or vanquiShed both are losers in
war. OF course we must fight this
war to a finish and clean up prop
erly on Facism.
Former President Hoover recently
said that that was where the fault
lay at the close of World War I, the
military caste of Germany was per-
mitted to continue. 1t must be en-
tirely wiped out at the end of this
war;
Under the title, Salute for the
Danes" the Pioneer Press published
the following well written editorial:
'The Danish people in rising
against their Nazi rulers have done
one of the most gallant and courage
Gus deeds of the war. No more i'm
pressive proof of the truth that the
soul of free people cannot be
crushed has been given during this
war, and there have been many of
them,
"In April of 1910 the Nazi forces
moved across the border with such
speed and surprise that the Danish
people and army were helpless. Re-
sistance was impossible. Denmark
Immediately passed into the most un-
happy position of a conquered ma
ton that had not struck a blow in
its own defense. The Nazis did all
they could to promote the falsehood
<hof fH4
mitted to the German New Order.
The Danes were given special treat
ment and mede to appear as collab-
orators. They were held up before
the eyes of the world as an exam
pie of the happy lot of those who
submit and cooperate.
Actually the Dsnes were deeply
unhappy. AS many communications
from Denmark these past three years
have revealed, the Danes lived in
resentment and self-reproach.
"The incident that brought this
spirit into the open came when the
conqueror, in panic of fear, took
off his mask. The Danish govern
ment was served with an ultimatum,
designed to- ready Denmark as a de-
fense area against possible Allied in
vasion. The velvet glove had been
taken off the iron fist. The policy OF
trying to make collaborators out OF
the Danish people was complete
failure and the Nazis knew it. When
it came to a matter of life and death
the Nazis were afraid to trust the
Danes and brought out the same club
that has been used elsewhere.
"It is to the eternal credit and
glory of Denmark that its people, its
king, and its government rejected the
chains thus thrust upon them. In