WWII: The Danish American experience
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  • Timeline
  • Themes
    • Danish Americans in 1940
    • Volunteer work
    • Public diplomacy
    • Armed forces and merchant marine
  • Bibliography
  • Links
  • About
  • Home
  • Timeline
  • Themes
    • Danish Americans in 1940
    • Volunteer work
    • Public diplomacy
    • Armed forces and merchant marine
  • Bibliography
  • Links
  • About

Themes

444,000 Danish Americans in 1940
How many people with Danish roots lived in the United States when war broke out and where did they live?

Volunteer work
Danish-Americans raised funds for Danish refugees in Sweden, carried out war bond drives and collected clothes to be sent to Denmark. 

Public diplomacy
Denmark's reputation was on the line, and Danish-Americans engaged in press relations and public diplomacy work to win the hearts and minds of Americans.

Danish-Americans and Danes in the armed forces and the merchant marine
30,000 Danish-Americans served in the armed forces and 2,000 Danish sailors served onboard American ships.










Picture
Assemblage relating to Reverend and Mrs. Henrik Plambeck in Iowa. The newspaper article on the left is entitled "MRS. PLAMBECK IS HONORED BY KING" and underneath is the Pro Dania medal. Mrs. Plambeck was the daughter of Danish immigrants and received the Danish medal for her contribution to Denmark's cause during WWII. Image provided by the Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, Iowa.

On April 9, 1940, Denmark was invaded by Germany - more than a year before the United States entered the war and Denmark's and America's war was united.
timeline
Copyright Catrine Antonie Kyster Christensen Giery © 2021