Anna Grüner, who is now 96 years old, escaped from the Nazis exactly 80 years ago by hiding in a fishing boat with a net over her. Only by chance did she survive – a total of 7,200 Jews were saved from occupied Denmark to Sweden. Anna was 13 years old when the Germans occupied Denmark on April 9, 1940. In the first few years, the Danish government collaborated with the occupation forces and the Jews were left alone. But after the August Uprising in 1943, the Danish government was dissolved and a state of emergency was declared. When the Germans’ plan to deport all Danish Jews to concentration camps leaked out, a historic rescue operation began. But Anna’s family knew nothing about it – they were not religious and did not go to the synagogue, where the message was spread. Anna’s family managed to escape with the help of a doctor who discovered that her five-year-old brother was circumcised and realized he was Jewish. The doctor provided them with money, gave them a telephone number for someone who could help them, and said, ”I will take care of the boy.” Anna, her father, and the rest of her siblings had to flee, leaving their mother behind, not knowing if they would see each other again. They were picked up by two armed resistance fighters and taken to a fisherman in the small village of Taarbæk. The journey was dramatic, with moments of hiding from German vehicles in the forest. They eventually made it to a fishing boat and crossed the strait to the Swedish island of Ven, where they were welcomed by a Swedish military officer. Anna ended up in a refugee camp in Gothenburg and then at Wendelsbergs folk high school in Mölnlycke. She found life in Sweden to be wonderful and enjoyed being among other young people and going to school. Anna, who has spent many years speaking in schools about the crimes of Nazism and the dramatic mass escape in October 1943, now leaves the storytelling to her daughter. Jeanette Grüner-Vig believes it is important to recognize this incredible event in the dark history of Europe and the collective efforts of people to save lives. She also expresses her dismay over how refugees are treated today, criticizing the lack of empathy and support for fellow human beings. The article also provides historical context on the collaboration between the Danish government and the Nazis and the subsequent resistance movement in Denmark.
