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.