A light in the Northern Sea Denmark's incredible rescue of their Jewish citizens during WWII

In this illuminating account, historian Brady (Three Ordinary Girls) recaps the lead-up to the October 1943 rescue of the Jewish population of Denmark, when boatmen across the country covertly transported them to neutral Sweden by sea. The Nazi occupation of Denmark, which began in April 1940, was initially milder than that of Eastern European countries, Brady notes. Due to Nazi views on racial hierarchies, German soldiers were instructed that "the Dane is freedom-loving and self-aware. He rejects every Coercion and every Subordination.... Unnecessary sharpness... must be avoided." However, few Danes were fooled by this kid-glove approach, Brady writes, as they were well aware of German atrocities in the rest of Europe. The Danish resistance carried out increasingly daring sabotage efforts, culminating in the August 1943 bombing of a German barrack, which finally triggered a Nazi crackdown that began with the rounding up of Jews. The resistance immediately changed tack: utilizing daily synagogue services, they got the word out about the planned October evacuation, a complex affair that included clever subterfuges like hospitals admitting Jews under false names in order to move them along a smuggling route that ended with them being ferried out on small fishing boats. Throughout, Brady describes the action in nail-biting detail. The result is an inspiring and suspenseful history that showcases grassroots efforts to stand up to tyranny. (July)

When ordinary people united against Nazis. Brady, author ofThree Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins--and WWII Heroes, writes that Denmark, conquered in April 1940, enjoyed advantages. Hitler viewed the Nordic Danes as cousins to the master race. The occupation was extraordinarily benign. Denmark's government remained in place, Germany paid for its imports, mostly agricultural products, and occupation authorities dealt with disturbances and even strikes without violence. Jews were left largely undisturbed. Matters changed in early 1943, when it was no secret that Germany was preparing to round up Denmark's Jews. Brady reminds readers that the Nazis found it difficult to locate Jews from conquered nations without cooperation from local governments, police, and citizens; most cooperated, often enthusiastically. Denmark was a rare exception. No organized movement was in place, but as soon as the Nazis made their moves and Jews began to flee, attempting to reach Sweden across the few miles of the Oresund strait, they received a great deal of help. Activists, Jews, and non-Jews knocked on doors to alert those who had not gotten the news. Others organized transportation to the coast and recruited ships for the passage. Heroism wasn't universal; many boat owners charged passengers, some a great deal, but in the end, about 95% of Denmark's 8,000 Jews survived the war. Even those caught were relatively fortunate, being shipped to concentration camps where survivors were returned to Denmark a few months before war's end. Brady devotes most of the final 100 pages to the Danish resistance over the following years--an anticlimax but a good read. A satisfying account of wartime heroism. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.