Looking for a good read? Here is a recommendation. I have an unusual approach to reviewing books. I review books I feel merit a review. Each review is an opportunity to recommend a book. If I do not think a book is worth reading, I find another book to review. You do not have to agree with everything every author has written (I do not), but the fiction I review is entertaining (and often thought-provoking) and the non-fiction contain ideas worth reading.
Book Review
A Jewish Evacuation
Reviewed by Mark Lardas
August 10, 2025
“A Light in the Northern Sea: Denmark’s Incredible Rescue of Their Jewish Citizens During WWII,” by Tim Brady, Citadel, July 2025, 272 pages, $29.00 (Hardcover), $24.65 (E-book), $13.99 (Audiobook), $45.95 (Audio CD)
During World War II one occupied nation refused to turn over its Jewish population to the Nazis: Denmark. It smuggled most Jews in Denmark to neutral Sweden.
“A Light in the Northern Sea: Denmark’s Incredible Rescue of Their Jewish Citizens During WWII,” by Tim Brady, tells the story of Denmark’s evacuation of its Jewish population and of the Danish resistance to German occupation afterwards.
The book follows Denmark throughout World War II, from the German occupation in April 1940 through VE Day in May 1945. These were long, dark years for Denmark.
Denmark’s occupation differed from the rest of Europe. Germany overwhelmed Denmark. There was little fighting, Germany insisted it had not conquered Denmark. Germany claimed it established a protectorate, to prevent British occupation of Denmark. The Danish civil government continued operating. Germany asserted King Christian X remained Denmark’s sovereign.
In reality, Denmark was occupied, albeit ruled by a light hand. Some Danes, especially ethnic German Danes in Jutland, welcomed the Nazis. Most resented them. Minor resistance occurred, yet most Danes grudgingly cooperated. They knew their independence was due to German sufferance.
By 1943 Germany realized it was losing the war. It accelerated effort to exterminate Jews. Previously it largely confined efforts to Eastern Europe. Now it systematically began removing Jews throughout Europe to death camps. Hitler finally tuned attention to Denmark in fall 1943.
Brady shows Germany previously left most Jews in Denmark alone. The Danish Jews were assimilated into Danish society, Danes thought of Danish Jews as Danes. Danes lacked serious resentment to foreign Jews in Denmark, worried more that they were not Danish than that they were Jews. Led by their king they shielded Jews in Denmark.
When the Germany instituted an action to arrest Jews in Denmark, an underground composed of both Christian and Jewish Danes organized an evacuation to Sweden. Brady shows how over a three-week period, five-sixths of nearly 8000 Jews in Denmark were smuggled to Sweden.
The few caught were monitored by the Danish government. They were sent to a model concentration camp rather than death camps due to official Danish interest. Many survived the war there.
The German action also sparked Danish resistance which increased in violence as the war continued. The book covers those actions extensively. “A Light in the Northern Sea” is a book highlighting one of the times when things worked out against tyranny. It is an inspiring tale.
Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.