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Denmark David against Goliath Even before the War came to an end, the myth of a common, national struggle of resistance and the identification of many individuals with the real freedom fighters had already begun to develop in Denmark. Not only the minority of former resistance fighters, but also the majority of former collaborators and fellow travellers were integrated into post-War Danish society. After the capitulation of the German troops in Denmark on 5 May 1945, practically all Danes were able to see themselves as resistance fighters. To stir up these questions too much would have threatened the social consensus they were trying to achieve in Denmark. So the problems were not really taken up in politics or on a personal level. The notion of resistance having lost all substance, it was now more a matter of attitude than of actual deeds. A tendency to reinterpret the term began to make itself felt in 1993 on the occasion of the 50 th anniversary of the August uprising. In 1995 – as was first done in 1985 – a great amount of state funds was appropriated for memorial and educational events. While the veterans of the resistance still had a great deal of influence in 1985, their voice was scarcely heard in these matters by 1995. |
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A statuette designed by the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory in the 1945 summer of liberation but never marketed demonstrates the difficulties in coming to terms with the challenges presented by the resistance. Casually leaning against a traffic sign, a pert young resistance fighter presents his weapon, a Sten gun. Both the military nature and the improvisational character of the resistance are suggested in the Danish steel helmet and the tricolour of the freedom fighters that was later attached. The blue-red-white colouring illustrates the connection between the Danish resistance movement and the Allies. The young fighter's ruddy babyface reveals that he can not be taken seriously as a political force, let alone as someone ready to generate social change. The figure thus symbolizes the appropriation and the marginalization of the resistance. |
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This poster, which was printed for the opening of the Museum of Danish Resistance, refers to a popular motif of Danish self-perception: the mighty midget. Danish youths smuggle sabotage material passed the gigantic legs of a Wehrmacht soldier. They show that the agility and cleverness of the little guy can be superior to a stupid big guy. The motif refers to a sabotage act in 1943 when explosives hidden in beer cases were smuggled into a Wehrmacht barracks. Like David against Goliath, the freedom fighters win through courage and intelligence. |
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