Horn
26th March 2011, 12:55 PM
The king’s obvious disdain for the German occupiers eventually led to problems. In 1942, German chancellor, Adolf Hitler, sent a lengthy telegram to Christian on his 72nd birthday. The king replied with a curt "My best thanks". Hitler was outraged at the slight and recalled his ambassador from Copenhagen and expelled the Danish ambassador from Germany. The Danish cabinet was then replaced and led by veteran diplomat, Erik Scavenius, whom the Germans expected would be more cooperative.
The king, meanwhile, continued his passive resistance against the Nazis and continued his rides through the city until a fall from his horse on October 19, 1942 resulted in his being an invalid for the rest of his reign.
As the war started to turn against the Germans with their defeats in North Africa and Stalingrad, discontent in Denmark began to grow. Civil disturbances, strikes and sabotage increased. The Danish government refused to enact laws to quell the disturbances so the Germans declared martial law and dissolved the government in August of 1943. Now in control of the Danish government the Germans instigated an anti-Jewish policy. Fortunately, swift action by Danish civilians resulted in the majority of Danish Jews being sent to safety in Sweden.
After the liberation of Denmark in 1945 the king attended the reopening of the Rigsdag. He never recovered from the fall from his horse and rarely appeared in public. Two years later, on April 20, 1947, he died quietly in Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. He was succeeded by his son Frederik IX.
Read more at Suite101: Christian X of Denmark: Second World War Danish King Who Defied Hitler http://www.suite101.com/content/christian-x-of-denmark-a87780#ixzz1HjlzxbYp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuTtxvDWiqU
The king, meanwhile, continued his passive resistance against the Nazis and continued his rides through the city until a fall from his horse on October 19, 1942 resulted in his being an invalid for the rest of his reign.
As the war started to turn against the Germans with their defeats in North Africa and Stalingrad, discontent in Denmark began to grow. Civil disturbances, strikes and sabotage increased. The Danish government refused to enact laws to quell the disturbances so the Germans declared martial law and dissolved the government in August of 1943. Now in control of the Danish government the Germans instigated an anti-Jewish policy. Fortunately, swift action by Danish civilians resulted in the majority of Danish Jews being sent to safety in Sweden.
After the liberation of Denmark in 1945 the king attended the reopening of the Rigsdag. He never recovered from the fall from his horse and rarely appeared in public. Two years later, on April 20, 1947, he died quietly in Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. He was succeeded by his son Frederik IX.
Read more at Suite101: Christian X of Denmark: Second World War Danish King Who Defied Hitler http://www.suite101.com/content/christian-x-of-denmark-a87780#ixzz1HjlzxbYp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuTtxvDWiqU