Danish Heroism

Paper Summary:

The paper explores why Denmark and not other countries took the risk of contradicting Germany. The paper relates the history of Jews in Denmark and portrays how the Danes refused, despite German pressure, to take measures against the Jews. The paper discusses how in most of European history, anti-Semitism was ingrained in many of the cultures, but in Denmark there was always a strong sense of civic equality that extended to the Jews and created an atmosphere of tolerance and respect. The paper acknowledges the unanswered questions regarding this terrible time in history for the Jewish people.

From the Paper:

"In April 2004, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen accepted the Lyndon B. Johnson Moral Courage Award from the Holocaust Museum Houston honoring his country's World War II rescue of thousands of Jews from occupying Nazi forces. The award was given to Denmark for ''the miraculous action by people of all levels to save the Jewish population during the Holocaust.'' In Jerusalem, a boat-like monument signifies the 25th anniversary of the rescue of Danish Jewry, a school is named in Denmark's honor and many Israeli cities and towns have a street or square commemorating the heroism of the Danes. In addition, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem displays a small boat used to ferry Jews to safety in Sweden."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Buckser Andrew. After the Rescue. New York: MacMillan, 2003
• Bauer, Yehuda. Rethinking the Holocaust. New Haven: Yale University, 2001
• Fein, Helen. Accounting for Genocide. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1979
• Kische, Conrad. The Jewish Community in Denmark: History and Present Status.
• Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life and Thought, 1998 [electronic version] 15 April 2007. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-21042664.html

More papers on Danish Heroism:

• Analytical Essay # 122893 : "Heroism in "Vanity Fair" and "Past and Present"
• Research Paper # 105975 : "Danish Economy"
• Analytical Essay # 8152 : "Courage and Heroism in Literature"

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