Evening star., 1943-08-30
Nozi Ideals Fail to Appeal
Even in Model Protectorote'
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Aug. Soft Hitler
still had any hopes that Nazi ideals
and theology would attract free
people. they were crushed by the
peoples revolt in Denmark.
Denmark was Hitler's mode
protectorate." She was to be a pat
tern for treatment of occupied coun-
tries under Hitlers new order.
The German invasion of April 9
1910, signaled the end of the free
dom of the Danes. although Den
mark was the best-treated occupied
country in Europe.
For two years the Danes smarted
because of the lack OF, resistance by
their armed forces. They thought
that perhaps if they had put up a
fight they might have interrupted
the Nazi war time table and pre-
vented the Germans from getting
such firm hold in Norway before
the British got there to help the
Norweeians.
1t was just year ago this month
that a turning point was reached ir
Denmark which eventually led the
Germans to impose a military die
tatorship on the little nation o1
fewer than 100000 persons in ar
effort to crush a revolt that was
Gripping German troop transport
the supply lines and jeopardizine
the output of materials for the
German war machine.
Sabotage Under Way for Year.
Organized sabotage directed by
Allied agents from Britain started
in Denmark in August, 1912.
1t developed slowly, but became
irritating to the Germans, who also
discovered that as a well-treat ted
protectorate Denmark was making
little contribution to the Naz war
effort. -.
And the Danes, burdened with
more and more encroachments on
their liberties, became even less
inclined to cooperate.
A simple telegraphic exchange
that grew into an international in
cident' gave the Nazis the opening
they sought to make further in
roads into Danish affairs.
Hitler sent the popular King
Christian x glowing congratulations
in a birthday message. King Chris
tian replied with curt thank YOU
which Hitler considered an insult
He used the incident as a lever to
demand a new Danish government
more amenable to Nazi wishes.
Prime Minister Orla Buhl re-
signed and was succeeded by Erik
de Scavenius, veteran Danish diplo-
mat and foreign minister during the
last war.
Scavenius took over the govern
ment last November. About the
same time Hitler sent Werner Best
to Denmark as German envoy in a
change that also put Gen. Hermann
Won Hannecken in command of the
Nazi army of occupation.
Right to Try Saboteurs Refused.
For eight months political peace
reigned in Denmark, but the pace
of sabotage acts stepped up.
Sabotage became a menace to the
production of materials which Ger
many had depended on more and
more as Allied bombardments
wrecked her own industries. The
Germans demanded the right to
arrest and try saboteurs under Nazi
law.
The government refused to grant
the request and the Germans did not
at first press their demands.
Sabotage marked one of two ma
jor steps leading to the current re-
volt. The second was the activities
of German occupation soldiers.
The first contingents of troops
were we'll behaved. But then Ger
many began sending nervous vet
erans from the Russian front who
forgot all discipline. They became
embroiled in rows with Danes. who
accused them of molesting women
SWeden's diScontinuance of trans
port of German soldiers and war
material over Swedish railways be-
tween Germany and Norway and
Finland gave the Danes a new
wedge in their sabotage attacks.
Ultimatum Presented.
Germany had to transport troops
and supplies to Norway through
Denmark. The Danes this month
began blowing up railway lines
carrying men and materials and
sabotaging ships going to Norway.
Best maintained his mild cola abo-
ration policy with the Danes.
But two weeks ago, while Best
was away, aides of Gen. Won Han
necken presented an ultimatum
from Berlin demanding for a Sec
ond time German administration OF
justice-with the death penalty
for saboteurs.
Neither King Christian nor the
government would take the respon-
sibility for permitting Germans to
execute Danes and the request was
rejected.
Meanwhile the conduct of Ger
man troops became worse. More
clashes developed between soldiers
and Danes. and both sides COM
promised in an effort to restore
quiet.
German authorities promised to
restrict the soldiers to quarters after
certain hours. The Danish State
Council August 81 appealed to the
people for order, warning that II
sabotage continued the Danes would
lose coal and food obtained from
Germany.
Neither action had any effect.
Sabotage Intensified.
German troops continued to run
amuck In some cities, and on the
other side, sabotage directed by re-
1DfOrcemerts 0f tha sir ho~,.