The Danish Volunteers of the Waffen-SS: Danish Free Corps

The German invasion and later occupation of Denmark tends to not be discussed in the re-telling of history. Yet, it was in fact one of the few nations to retain it's pre-existing government to a large degree while under occupation. This came with a number of restrictions and exceptions though, one of which, was the creation of a Danish unit to fight against the Soviets, while under the German banner. These are the Danes of the German Army. The Danish Free Corps, was born.

Read more about the Legions:

Hitler's Vikings: The History of the Scandinavian Waffen-SS: The Legions, the SS-Wiking and the SS-Nordland: https://amzn.to/3YdPqd9

SS Foreign Divisions & Volunteers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, 1941–1945: https://amzn.to/3XWHcou

Hitler's Jihadis: Muslim Volunteers of the Waffen-SS (Hitler's Legions): https://amzn.to/3YdvFCu

Hitler's Flemish Lions: The History of the SS-Freiwilligan Grenadier Division Langemarck (Flamische Nr. I) (Hitler's Legions Book 2): https://amzn.to/483Xosv

Belgian Waffen-SS Legions & Brigades, 1941–1944: Wallonie, Wallonien, Flandern & Langemarck: https://amzn.to/3ZWufgV

Norwegian Waffen-SS Legion, 1941–43: https://amzn.to/3Bym8gi

SS Hitler's Foreign Divisions: Foreign Volunteers in the Waffen SS 1940-1945: https://amzn.to/3Y1lRdg

11th Waffen-SS Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division “Nordland”: An Illustrated History: https://amzn.to/4dzvx4N

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Denmark and Germany would enter into a non-aggression Pact in 1939, in an effort to stay neutral in the coming conflict, as they had in the first world war. Indeed, it was hoped that the whole of Scandinavia would be spared the direct impact of war. But, that was simply not to be. Scandinavia was a major supplier of a main war material, that being high grade Iron Ore. Vital in machining and weapon production. Here, Sweden was the primary exporter of said ore, and it was vital to the Germans that this line not be disrupted. An issue presented itself however, as the only ice-free port year round that transported this ore was that of Narvik, located in Northern Norway. The Allies, knowing how vital this ore was to the Germans, had developed a plan to cut the supply line. In an operation put forward as a way to help the Finnish against the Soviets, British and French troops would land at a number of important cities along Norway, including Narvik, Oslo, Trondheim and others. There, they would march overland to occupy the Swedish Iron fields in the northern end of the nation, depriving the Germans of their ore and opening up another front to fight them on. To counter this, Germany implemented Operation Wesurbung, a joint air, land, and sea invasion of both Norway and Denmark. Denmark's importance was as a staging area for operations in Norway, as well as acting as a strong defense towards the major German harbors.

Denmark would be invaded on April the 9th of 1940, via a combined land,sea,and air invasion. The Danish government, knowing that their splintered and significantly smaller army wouldn't be able to stop the Germans. Ordered them to stand down and surrender. Thus, the German invasion met only token resistance, with casutalites for the invasion, amounting to 50 men on both sides. Due to the more pressing matters in Norway, the quick capitulation, and over-all co-operation. Denmark was allowed to keep nominal independence, with their existing government staying in place, including the king, albeit with heavy restrictions. Their army was reduced down to 3,000 men, most of their military supplies were taken by the Germans, and the Island of Bornholm would be directly occupied by the German army. Their diplomatic and economic policies were meant to aid the Germans, more so then the nations populace as a whole, and a German diplomat would be accredited to the King and Parliament, to keep supervision.