We also heard stories about growing discontent in Northern Germany. In a small village along the Danish border a large group of former Danish nationals had gathered in a theater. A newsreel shot of Hitler boarding a new German built plane was flashed on the screen. As he was getting into the plane, someone in the audience shouted, “Greet Hess!” The film was stopped. Lights were turned on. The gestapo demanded the identity of the person who had shouted. They were met with silence. The show was discontinued, but the people sat for two hours singing Danish national songs.
This is from Olga Guttormson, Ships Will Sail Again, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1942, p. 47.
“Hess,” of course, refers to Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuhrer of the Nazi Party, who, on May 10, 1941, flew solo to Scotland to try to engage in peace talks with the Duke of Hamilton, who he thought was opposed to Britain’s war policy. He was captured and spent the rest of his long life in prison, until he committed suicide at age 93.
I came across the book while researching my upcoming talk later this month on Uncle Fred and Aunt Jamie’s being taken prisoner by a German raider in April 1941. Their ship, the Zam Zam, was sunk. Guttormson was one of 7 Canadian women (Aunt Jamie was another) held in Berlin.
I found the story inspiring.
READER COMMENTS
Fazal Majid
Nov 4 2021 at 5:26am
Interesting, the name “Zam Zam” refers to a well in Mecca that is said to have miraculously appeared when Hagar was desperately seeking water for her infant Ishmael, an incident that forms the core of the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
It was sunk by the Atlantis, a warship concealed as a merchant ship. There was a documentary on TV about its sister ship Kormoran, which sank (and was sunk in turn) by Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney.
Henri Hein
Nov 5 2021 at 1:21pm
Thanks for posting this. The stories of your Uncle and Aunt are interesting. I wish I could be there for your talk.
The Rescue of the Jews is perhaps the Danish achievement I am most proud of. (I had no hand in it myself, so not trying to take personal credit, but it’s hard not giving it up for my ancestors.)
David Henderson
Nov 5 2021 at 3:03pm
You’re welcome, and thanks for your great link.
Because my talk has been oversubscribed, they plan to record it. I’ll talk them early next week to make sure that it will be available on line.
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