THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1943 DENMARK IN REVOLT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24676, 31 August 1943, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1943 DENMARK IN REVOLT

Ii the Nazi's pretensions about, occupied Denmark could be believed, they would now be imagined as feeling the bewildered resentment of a man suddenly attacked by a pet which had been constantly pampered and given the run of the house. The picture was of a country which, because if did not resist and was collaborating with the occupa tion forces, was being allowed to en joy democratic freedom and all the blessings of Hie new order Denmark was, in fact, held up as the show country of Europe, illustrating all that a benevolent Germany could do for small neighbours if only they would be sensible and accept the inevitable. None of it was true. The hand of the Nazi fell less heavily on the Danes than on any of the other oppressed peoples The facade of i democratic regime was allowed to survive. But the iron hand was poorly concealed in the velvet glove, and if economic exploitation was neither so ruthless nor so barefaced as elsewhere, it went, on just the same. The Danes, moreover, did not collaborate, though their resistance was largely passive. They have not revolted previously against their taskmasters, because they felt helpless. According to some inter prefers of Danish feeling, there is bitter regret that f hey did not fight like Poland. Norway u Greece. It was largely a feeling of frustration, because they knew they could have done nothing effective. Nevertheless, the spirit of resistance was not quenched. It has broken into open flame. It is now nearly ten months since Werner Best arrived at Copenhagen to administer what he now calls his policy of conciliation. The Danes did not interpret it so. They saw in the coming of this high-ranking Nazi and Gestapo official, who had been in the foreign service only six months, a signal for the end of that degree of autonomy they had been allowed. The first act consummated after his installation as German Minister had been in train before. The existing Cabinet was forced out of office, to make way for a. successor, headed by Erik Scavenius—a Gov eminent in which the Germans "could have confidence." Scavenius according to his countrymen in ex ile, is not a Quisling, nor a willing collaborator, but an opportunist who believes that the only way to save Denmark from complete wreck is to yield to German pressure. It is true that, as Foreign Minister, he signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, but he neither took any avowed Danish Nazi into his Cabinet, nor met what is believed to have been a demand that Denmark declare wai against Soviet Russia. Recruitment of volunteers to serve on the Russian front has been a fiasco. The few who went were received with open hos tility when home on leave The Ger man demands for labour to man in dustries in the Retch have never been met in more than half measure Even under the complaisant Scavenius, resistance to the de mands of the invader in all particu lars has never been far beneath the surface. A focus of the national spirit has unquestionably been loyalty toward King Christian He has set. the example of conceding nothing volun tarily. and giving way only when there was obviously no alternative Some of his gestures of defiance have been superb. When the surrender of ten torpedo-boats was forced by the Germans, he ordered their flags to half-mast, and personally greeted every member of their crews who came ashore. When Denmark was asked to adopt anti-Jewish laws, he attended service in a Copenhagen synagogue If, as is reported. he will be forced 'o ahdi cate, it will certainly be because i.he Nazis recognise in him a power they must counter if they are not to be "beaten by it. Even now, it is. by all the signs, too late The peaceful non-resisting Danes have passed the limit of their endurance. The shadow of freedom they were first allowed has been steadily whittled down Their magnificent agricultural industry has been bled white by the invader's exactions, the loss of overseas markets, and the cutting off of imported fertilisers and feed ing stuffs. Their produce has been taken to feed the Nazis and paid for in watered reichsrnarks. All this has been endured for over three years, but now the breaking strain has been reached. The seamen of the Navy have led, but others are following with acts of defiance. Even if the Germans crush the revolt, as they have the power and ruthless will to do. thev must see in it a sym bol of the forces gathering in all the oppressed countries again si their j reeling State. The army of those trampled by (he jack-boot is gathering. The day of reckoning draws near