page_title: German invasion of Denmark (1940)
section_title: Aabenraa
hierarchical_section_title: German invasion of Denmark (1940) / Skirmishes / Fighting in Jutland / Central thrust / Aabenraa
caption_attribution_description: Danish soldiers with a 20 mm Madsen autocannon in a crossroads in Åbenrå, Denmark, April 9, 1940
context_page_description: The German invasion of Denmark was the German attack on Denmark on 9 April 1940, during the Second World War. The attack was a prelude to the main attack against Norway. The term Weserübung means Weser-exercise in English, named after the river Weser in northwestern Germany.
  Denmark's strategic importance for Germany was limited. The invasion's primary purpose was to use Denmark as a staging ground for operations against Norway, to secure supply lines to the forces about to be deployed there. An extensive network of radar systems was built in Denmark to detect British bombers bound for Germany.
  The attack on Denmark was a breach of the non-aggression pact Denmark had signed with Germany less than a year earlier. The initial plan was to push Denmark to accept that German land, naval and air forces could use Danish bases, but Adolf Hitler subsequently demanded that both Norway and Denmark be invaded.
  Denmark's military forces were inferior in numbers and equipment, and after a short battle were forced to surrender.
context_section_description: As the Danish forces at Søgaard army camp prepared to pull back north to Vejle, where the main force of the Jutland Division was preparing for battle, a short skirmish occurred at Aabenraa as the anti-tank platoon from Lundtoftbjerg attacked 15 or so pursuing German vehicles. After disabling a German tank, the rearguard pulled back to Knivsberg. They rendezvoused with a bicycle platoon from Stubbæk Skov, which had suffered one killed and three wounded by German aircraft. The Danish CO ordered them to northern Haderslev.
caption: Madsen 20 mm anti-tank gun at Aabenraa
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