Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1948-12-01
bombs crashed

| longer 1eel DlIIer. lne IdClS were
plain enough. The German COM
mandant of Bornholm, Won
Kampft, refused to capitulate on
May 6. When it was finally i'm
pressed on him that Germany had
lost the war, he then refused to
surrender to any but British or
American general, and gave or
ders to his batteries to shoot down
all Russian planes.
Nothing the Danish governor,
Ronnes mayor, or the Danish I'M
foreground forces could do changed
his determination not to capitu-
late to the Russians. Bomb raids
were the only resort and, after
two days, achieved the desired
results.
Within the following week the
Germans left Bornholm, and the
people prepared to greet the Rus
slams as their liberators.
/ Two factors made this less spon-
taneous than it would otherwise
have been. Bornholmites noted
with dismay that every Danish
boat which returned from Ger
many was filled with Russians on
each return trip until 5000 of
them were landed.
In addition, someone had for
gotten to tell the first Russian
contingents on arrival that they
were stationed in a friendly coun-
try, and before the changeover
got organized, wrist watches,
fountain pens, gold rings, and 9TH
er valuables were removed from
the local population virtually at
revolver point.
Actually, the statistics show an
extremely low percentage of &C.
cupation crimes. When such Incl
dents occurred, and Danish pro-
tests with proof were presented
to the Russian commandant, these
were always blankly denied and
labeled "provocation."
On the following day, almost
without fail, however, stricter
orders were issued to the Russian
personnel. During their last few
months, however, Russian military
units were almost completely con-
fined to barracks.
Language Was Barrier
During those IL months of occu-
patton, the people of Rome did
their best to be friendly and try
to understand the Russians. The
few who. invited officers to their
homes found them courteous and
well informed, but the language
barrier usually precluded any
close contacts. Also, the Russians
dread of exposing their people to
western culture was already be-
coming evident in the ever-increas-
ing regulations.
The nonfraterniZation rules
must have been difficult for many
of the Russian force who, being
farm people themselves, had shown
great eagerness to learn modern
Danish farming techniques.
No German installations or
equipment remained on Bornholm
when the last Russian left, but
one of their conditions of de-
parture was that permanent
Danish force be established for
the islands defense. Today there is
small Danish garrison on Born
holm which could be augmented in
case of a new invasion.
However, Bornholm's position in
the southern Baltic-so near the
German coast that some refugees
recently arrived on water-cycles--
makes its hope of obtaining any
satisfactory military or naval aid
in hurry from Denmark
i problematical.
Guns Brought to Island
The people of Bornholm dis
/ cussed avidly a curious Russian
operation which took place during
the occupation. At one period. the
/ Russians, making successive trips,
brought quantities of guns and
cannons to Bornholm in boat
loads and the Danish government
protested.
The reply came that the guns
had to be painted and had been
sent over to keep the Russian
/ Il