Why a Booktrail?
WW2: The Wonderful story of how the King of Denmark stood up for his country during WW2
The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
What you need to know before your trail
A popular Danish tale of how the King of Denmark stood up for the Danish people during the time the Nazis occupied the city and the country in 1940.
Based on true facts, this story is part of Danish legend for what it meant to the people of the country then and now. Denmark, quite a small country had no real army to speak of and its borders hard to defend. But when the Nazis entered the city of Copenhagen they had not banked on the actions of the King.
A little known but fascinating part of WW2 history – Danish style
Travel Guide
Copenhagen, Denmark.
From the moment the Nazis occupied the streets of the city, and tried to control its people and round up its Jewish population, King Christian X of Denmark was adamant his city would not change beyond recognition.
So he showed the Danish people what courage was – he stood up for the county by carrying on with his daily life, riding down the streets of the city from his palace without body guards or weapons. He demanded that the Nazis take down their flag from the palace, and when threatened that they would kill the person to take down the next flag, the King replied tat they would have to kill him then, the King of Denmark.
As with other countries, the jewish population were told they would have to wear stars. King Christian himself decided to wear a star and ask other, non Jewish Danes to wear one in protest which they did. In the author note, she explains that no Danish Jews ended up wearing the star.
The author notes that this King played a real and symbolic role in protecting his people and that this story plays homage to him and the people who followed his lead in protecting their Jewish friends.
Take a tour of Royal Denmark on the booktrail
Trail Gallery
Where Next?
