Rescue By Sea

                            by Ruth Kozodov

Sometimes, when everything looks lost, we can only hope that others will help us - not because they must, but simply because it is the right thing to do.

After conquering many countries and killing many Jews, Hitler's armies attacked the small nation of Denmark. The Danish people and their king, King Christian, were forced to accept Hitler as their ruler.

King Christian received an order from Hitler. It said: "Starting tomorrow, all Jews in Denmark must wear a yellow star on their clothing. This will enable us to gather them together and give them special treatment."

The king frowned when he read the order. King Christian loved his Jewish subjects and knew that Hitler wanted to kill them. Even though the king himself, and most of his people were Christians, none of them wanted their Jewish friends harmed.

"I will not help Hitler with his evil plans," he said. "If each Jew must wear a yellow star, then I will wear one too, and so will everyone in my family."

News of the king's words quickly spread. The people of Denmark said: "We will wear Jewish stars too! We shall all pretend to be Jewish!"

The next morning, German soldiers rode into the towns and cities of Denmark. They were looking for Jews wearing yellow stars. They were greeted with an astonishing sight: The streets were filled with people all wearing yellow stars! Not one single person could be seen who did not have a star upon his clothing.

"What? Is all of Denmark Jewish? growled the soldiers. "We cannot carry out our orders." So they rode out of the towns and told Hitler of the trick that had been played on them.

Hitler saw that it would not be easy to carry out his wicked plan against the Jews. For many months nothing happened: The Jews lived in peace. But during all those months, Hitler's men were working to discover the names of all the Jews in Denmark. They made lists of every family and every building where Jews lived. The day the lists were finished, Hitler said: "Now we will assemble all the Danish Jews and kill them."

When the Danish people heard of Hitler's plan, they spoke with their Jewish friends. "You must escape from Denmark," they said. "It can only be done by sea. If we can find enough boats to carry all of you, we will take you across the sea to Sweden at night, without being seen. In Sweden, you will all be safe."

That night, and for many nights to follow, the Danish people escorted their Jewish neighbors down to the harbor. They traveled by cart, by truck and by train.

One night, on a small country road, German soldiers caught sight of a truck full of hay moving along in the dark. "Stop!" shouted a soldier. "Where are you going?"

"I am only taking my hay to my cousin's barn in the next village," the farmer replied.

"Why at night?"

"It looks like rain tomorrow. I must get my hay inside," said the farmer.

"Very well," the soldier snarled. "You may drive on."

The Danish farmer started his truck again and rumbled down the road. Hay was not all the truck was carrying. A little Jewish boy, his brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents were hidden beneath the hay, lying very still.

The farmer did not drive to his cousin's barn. He stayed on the road until he reached a town near the ocean. There he helped the boy and his family out of the truck and led them to the back of a small store where they were kept hidden throughout the next day.

The next night, as soon as it grew dark, the store owner led the family to the ocean's edge where a fisherman was readying his boat for the voyage. Other Jewish families appeared, brought there by other Danish rescuers. The fisherman helped the Jews climb aboard and told them: "You must lie down and stay perfectly still. I will cover you with empty sacks. There are German boats patrolling the waters. If they see us, they will stop and question me. I'll say that I'm going night-fishing. Pray to G-d they do not search the boat."

The Jewish families did as they were told, and soon the small boat left shore. The little boy heard the lapping of the waves. He could peek out from the edge of his hiding place and see over the rim of the boat. It was very dark, but he saw the shadows of many other small boats silently crossing the sea alongside his own.

Suddenly a huge gray shape appeared in their midst. A German patrol boat was passing right in front of them. It was too dark for the Germans to see the little fishing craft, and the German boat moved on.

At last the little rescue boat reached the opposite shore. "You are in Sweden now," said the fisherman as he helped his Jewish passengers out of the craft. "You will be safe. The people here will help you."

The little boy looked at the Danish fisherman in wonder. "If the Germans catch you helping Jews, they will kill you just as they planned to kill us," he said. "Why are you helping us?"

"Well, young fellow," said the fisherman. "If I were in your place, I hope you would do the same for me. Now go quickly."

Rescue By Sea

Behrman House, Inc. New York

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