The Danish Brigade in Sweden (Danish: Den Danske Brigade i Sverige) or in short, the Danish Brigade (Den Danske Brigade/DDB) (also referred to as Danforce) was a military unit made up of Danish refugees during World War II. Trained and supplied by Sweden, the brigade was created to help liberate Denmark. Ultimately it was only deployed on the day of the German surrender in the country and was involved in minimal fighting.
On 9 April 1940 Denmark was invaded by Nazi Germany and quickly surrendered. Most of the Danish Army followed the order to capitulate. Colonel Helge Bennike, the commander of the 4th Regiment based at Roskilde, believed that the order to surrender had been forced on the government by the Germans and that Sweden had also been attacked. Instead of surrendering, Bennike and his unit boarded the ferry in Elsinore to Sweden and went into exile. After the misunderstanding was later cleared up, most Danish soldiers stayed in Sweden while others returned to Denmark.[1]
Following the transit of German troops through Sweden, Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson pushed for the training and equipping of 7,500 Danish "police troops." This was met with opposition in his cabinet, but a plan was eventually agreed upon in December 1943.[2]
Historyedit
HDMS Havkatten of the Danish Flotilla in Copenhagen, May 1945
The Swedish government loaned 25 million kroner to the Danish legation to fund the training and arming of the Brigade.[3] Enrollment was on a voluntary basis.[4] The Danish soldiers from Roskilde formed the nucleus of the new force.[1] Almost 5,000 Danes,[5] including around 750 Jews who had escaped occupied Denmark, enlisted.[4] The Danish soldiers were equipped with Swedish Mauser m/96 long rifles and bayonets.[6]
The Danish Brigade arrives in Helsingør, 5 May 1945
In the fall of 1944 the Swedish Air Force oversaw the training of Danish pilots at Såtenäs, who were subsequently organized into a squadron equipped with Saab 17 bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.[7]
The Danish Flotillaedit
The Danish Flotilla (Danish: Den Danske Flotille) was formed with ships of the Danish Royal Navy that had escaped to Sweden.[8]
Liberation of Denmarkedit
The Swedish government delayed the deployment of the Brigade to Denmark so as to not complicate the surrender of German forces there.[7] Most of the German occupation force surrendered without incident to Allied troops on 5 May. However, three Danish soldiers were killed, and 26 were wounded by snipers and ambushes, as they marched into Copenhagen.[9]
Legacyedit
Most of the officers of the Brigade were influenced by the Swedish military doctrine (which was based on German strategy) they learned during their exile and carried their knowledge over into the restructured Danish Army following the war.[10] On the anniversary of Operation Safari in 1947, veterans of the Brigade erected a monument to the three soldiers killed during liberation near the Provincial Archive of Zealand in Copenhagen.[9]
^Finsted, Per (19 April 2004). "Den danske Brigade - Organisation" (PDF). Chakoten - Dansk Militærhistorisk Selskab. (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
^"Jørgen Alfred Hviid". Modstandsdatabasen (in Danish). Retrieved 2019-02-05.
^Mikkelsen, Morten (26 August 2013). "When Denmark Stood Up Against the Germans". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
Referencesedit
Bak, Sofie Lene (2011). Nothing to Speak of: Wartime Experiences of the Danish Jews 1943-1945 (illustrated ed.). Museum Tusculanum Press. ISBN9788763539586.
Brayley, Martin (2004). Bayonets - An Illustrated History (illustrated ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN9780873498708.
Gilmour, John (2011). Sweden, the Swastika and Stalin: The Swedish experience in the Second World War. Societies at War (illustrated ed.). Edinburgh University Press. ISBN9780748686667.
Pommerin, Reiner (2014). Clausewitz goes global: Carl von Clausewitz in the 21st century. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN9783937885780.
Werner, Emmy E. (2009). A Conspiracy of Decency: The Rescue of the Danish Jews During World War II (reprint ed.). Basic Books. ISBN9780786746699.
May 07, 2024
danish, brigade, sweden, danish, danske, brigade, sverige, short, danish, brigade, danske, brigade, also, referred, danforce, military, unit, made, danish, refugees, during, world, trained, supplied, sweden, brigade, created, help, liberate, denmark, ultimatel. The Danish Brigade in Sweden Danish Den Danske Brigade i Sverige or in short the Danish Brigade Den Danske Brigade DDB also referred to as Danforce was a military unit made up of Danish refugees during World War II Trained and supplied by Sweden the brigade was created to help liberate Denmark Ultimately it was only deployed on the day of the German surrender in the country and was involved in minimal fighting Danish Brigade in ExileDen Danske BrigadeShield of the Danish Brigade Active1943 1945Countries Denmark SwedenAllegiance DenmarkBranchRoyal Danish ArmyEngagementsLiberation of DenmarkCommandersCommanderMajor general Kristian KnudtzonDeputy commanderLieutenant colonel Frode Lund Hvalkof da InsigniaWar flagRoundel Soldiers of the Danish Brigade in Sweden March 1945 Contents 1 Background 2 History 2 1 The Danish Flotilla 2 2 Liberation of Denmark 3 Legacy 4 Notable members 5 See also 6 Citations 7 ReferencesBackground editOn 9 April 1940 Denmark was invaded by Nazi Germany and quickly surrendered Most of the Danish Army followed the order to capitulate Colonel Helge Bennike the commander of the 4th Regiment based at Roskilde believed that the order to surrender had been forced on the government by the Germans and that Sweden had also been attacked Instead of surrendering Bennike and his unit boarded the ferry in Elsinore to Sweden and went into exile After the misunderstanding was later cleared up most Danish soldiers stayed in Sweden while others returned to Denmark 1 Following the transit of German troops through Sweden Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson pushed for the training and equipping of 7 500 Danish police troops This was met with opposition in his cabinet but a plan was eventually agreed upon in December 1943 2 History edit nbsp HDMS Havkatten of the Danish Flotilla in Copenhagen May 1945 The Swedish government loaned 25 million kroner to the Danish legation to fund the training and arming of the Brigade 3 Enrollment was on a voluntary basis 4 The Danish soldiers from Roskilde formed the nucleus of the new force 1 Almost 5 000 Danes 5 including around 750 Jews who had escaped occupied Denmark enlisted 4 The Danish soldiers were equipped with Swedish Mauser m 96 long rifles and bayonets 6 nbsp The Danish Brigade arrives in Helsingor 5 May 1945 In the fall of 1944 the Swedish Air Force oversaw the training of Danish pilots at Satenas who were subsequently organized into a squadron equipped with Saab 17 bomber reconnaissance aircraft 7 The Danish Flotilla edit The Danish Flotilla Danish Den Danske Flotille was formed with ships of the Danish Royal Navy that had escaped to Sweden 8 Liberation of Denmark edit The Swedish government delayed the deployment of the Brigade to Denmark so as to not complicate the surrender of German forces there 7 Most of the German occupation force surrendered without incident to Allied troops on 5 May However three Danish soldiers were killed and 26 were wounded by snipers and ambushes as they marched into Copenhagen 9 Legacy editMost of the officers of the Brigade were influenced by the Swedish military doctrine which was based on German strategy they learned during their exile and carried their knowledge over into the restructured Danish Army following the war 10 On the anniversary of Operation Safari in 1947 veterans of the Brigade erected a monument to the three soldiers killed during liberation near the Provincial Archive of Zealand in Copenhagen 9 Notable members editJorgen Hviid 11 Gregers Munter 12 Herbert PundikSee also editNorwegian police troops in Sweden during World War IICitations edit a b Nigel 2014 p 5 Gilmour 2011 p 101 Bak 2011 p 113 a b Werner 2009 Chapter 5 Refuge in Sweden Finsted Per 19 April 2004 Den danske Brigade Organisation PDF Chakoten Dansk Militaerhistorisk Selskab Archived PDF from the original on 2021 12 05 Retrieved 5 December 2021 Brayley 2004 p 57 a b Gilmour 2011 p 102 Balsved Johnny Danish Navy left without any military options Danish Naval History Retrieved July 29 2023 a b Bak 2011 p 267 Pommerin 2014 p 62 Jorgen Alfred Hviid Modstandsdatabasen in Danish Retrieved 2019 02 05 Mikkelsen Morten 26 August 2013 When Denmark Stood Up Against the Germans Kristeligt Dagblad in Danish Retrieved 23 December 2017 References editBak Sofie Lene 2011 Nothing to Speak of Wartime Experiences of the Danish Jews 1943 1945 illustrated ed Museum Tusculanum Press ISBN 9788763539586 Brayley Martin 2004 Bayonets An Illustrated History illustrated ed Krause Publications ISBN 9780873498708 Gilmour John 2011 Sweden the Swastika and Stalin The Swedish experience in the Second World War Societies at War illustrated ed Edinburgh University Press ISBN 9780748686667 Nigel Thomas 2014 Hitler s Blitzkrieg Enemies 1940 Denmark Norway Netherlands amp Belgium London Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 78200 596 4 Pommerin Reiner 2014 Clausewitz goes global Carl von Clausewitz in the 21st century BoD Books on Demand ISBN 9783937885780 Werner Emmy E 2009 A Conspiracy of Decency The Rescue of the Danish Jews During World War II reprint ed Basic Books ISBN 9780786746699 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Danish Brigade in Sweden amp oldid 1208606270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
