Strong support for the Swedish Government’s offer to receive all 6,000 Jews from Denmark is voiced today in every Stockholm newspaper reflecting the public’s sympathy for the Danish Jews who face deportation and death. Whether the Nazi government will accept the Swedish proposal and what steps Sweden is prepared to take if her offer is ignored or rejected are not known. A spokesman for the foreign ministry refused to predict what his government’s next step would be.
An official Swedish broadcast last night stated that three German ships are lying in the Copenhagen roadsteads and are, presumably, intended for use as transports to carry the Jews to Germany from where they would probably be shipped to Poland. Danish circles here have been informed that the arrests of Copenhagen Jews began on Friday, during the Rosh Hashonah services, with Gestapo squads roaming the streets and invading synagogues. The Gestapo agents are understood to be using files seized from the Jewish community offices on August 29 to facilitate the rounding up of all the Jews in the country.
Only a few hundred Danish Jews have succeeded in reaching Sweden since the Germans proclaimed state of emergency in Denmark last month. Many others are reported to be attempting to escape in small rowboats, although Nazi patrol vessels have established a virtual blockade around Denmark. Several small boats carrying Jewish families are reported to have been sunk. A report received today states that the Nazis have ordered all small boats confiscated in order to prevent the escape of any more Jews. Some families who were unable to flee the country are being hidden in the homes of Danish patriots, the report says.
In the last two days 2,000 Gestapo agents and 600 S.S. men have arrived in Denmark to complete the round-up of the Jews and to quell internal disturbances, according to another report reaching here. This report states that the Gestapo is being assisted by the Danish quisling “Frikorps.”
The Nazi-controlled Copenhagen radio last night announced that when the “elimination” of all Jews in Denmark is completed, the Danish soldiers who were arrested for resisting the Nazis will be released. It is believed that the promise to release the imprisoned Danes was made in the hope of pacifying the Danish population which is aroused at the treatment of the Jews.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
