Denmark

Denmark’s strategic resistance to the Nazi occupation serves as a testament to the power of nonviolent action. The Danish movement tied in with the class discussion on power. By not working and not completely conforming to the Nazi’s will, the Danish took away the power held by the regime.

Wealth and availability of resources drove the occupation of many countries during Hitler’s reign. One of the main factors in Denmark’s success was making the resources more difficult to obtain or inaccessible. The Danish used noncooperation to regain some control over their country. By making the access and production of resources extremely difficult, the Danish made the Nazi’s occupation more trouble than it was worth.

The Nazis also expected the Danish to work. So, when the Danish people refused to labor, the Nazi’s place of power was compromised. By separating the Nazi’s from their means of production, the Danish were empowered. The Nazis tried to gain control of the country by making living conditions uncomfortable for the Danish people; but the Danish did not cave in to the pressure. They remained steadfast and continued to not cooperate with the Nazi power.

Through noncooperation, omission of action, and resistance in the form of collateral damage, the Danish drove the Nazi regime out of Denmark. I feel that, even though some Danish people were killed, the numbers were far less because of the nonviolent action used.