Reports regarding the planned deportation of Danish Jews were leaked to various Danish public groups by George Duckwitz, a member of the German legation in Copenhagen. The information evoked a spontaneous response. The Danish resistance warned the Jews, helped them go into hiding, and moved them to the coast where, with the assistance of the Danish fishermen, they crossed to Sweden. On the night of October 1-2, 1943, German police began arresting Jews in all parts of Denmark. After the initial period of spontaneous action, the Danes joined in and helped to organize the flight after the Swedish Government proclaimed its willingness to take in the escapees. In Denmark, all segments of the population went into action to save the Jews. Protests poured into the offices of the German authorities from Danish economic and social organizations, King Christian X expressed his firm objection to the German plans, the heads of the Danish churches published a strong protest and urged the public to help the Jews, and, the universities were shut down for a week, with the students lending a hand in the rescue operation. Within three weeks, 7,200 Jews and another 700 non-Jewish relatives were taken to Sweden. The operation was funded in part by the Jews themselves and in greater part by contributions from Danes. The Danish police not only refrained from collaborating with the Germans, but actually helped the Jews flee. Nevertheless, about 500 Jewish men, women, and children were captured and deported to Theresienstadt. The Danish population and leadership defended them vigorously, sent them food parcels, and had the Danish Foreign Ministry bombard the Germans with warnings. The ministry also put forward a demand that a Danish delegation be allowed to visit the internees. These Jews were not transported from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz.
