Clearing murder
Encyclopedia
A Clearing murder was a revenge killing of a known and popular Dane
in the last part of the German occupation of Denmark
during World War II. When a German
or Danish soldier or informant
was killed by the Danish resistance movement
, the Peter group
performed one or more clearing murder.
Hitler
, at some time in the latter half of 1944, ordered that 10 civilians be killed each time a German soldier was killed by civilians. In Denmark, this was modified so that only one civilian was shot for one German soldier.
The first clearing murder was of famous author and priest Kaj Munk
January 4, 1944. Subsequently, several doctors were murdered, including a senior consultant in Vejle
and four doctors in Odense
. In all, it is estimated that around one hundred people were killed in clearing murders.
Usually the clearing murders were done as street shooting in order to increase the impact of terrorism
and make all uncertain. The aim was to turn the population against the Danish resistance movement. Doctors were especially vulnerable since they were out to look after the sick at any time of day.
The Germans demanded that the newspapers had to print articles linking resistance killings and clearing murders next to each other on the same page.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in the last part of the German occupation of Denmark
Occupation of Denmark
Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish...
during World War II. When a German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
or Danish soldier or informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
was killed by the Danish resistance movement
Danish resistance movement
The Danish resistance movement was an underground insurgency movement to resist the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. Due to the unusually lenient terms given to Danish people by the Nazi occupation authority, the movement was slower to develop effective tactics on a wide scale...
, the Peter group
Peter group
The Peter group was a terrorist group created in late 1943 during the occupation of Denmark by the German occupying power. The group inflicted so called counter-sabotage, also known as Schalburgtage, in response to the Danish resistance movement sabotage actions...
performed one or more clearing murder.
Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, at some time in the latter half of 1944, ordered that 10 civilians be killed each time a German soldier was killed by civilians. In Denmark, this was modified so that only one civilian was shot for one German soldier.
The first clearing murder was of famous author and priest Kaj Munk
Kaj Munk
Kaj Harald Leininger Munk was a Danish playwright and Lutheran pastor, known for his cultural engagement and his martyrdom during the Occupation of Denmark of World War II...
January 4, 1944. Subsequently, several doctors were murdered, including a senior consultant in Vejle
Vejle
Vejle is a town in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle and Grejs Rivers and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality and the Region of Southern Denmark...
and four doctors in Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
. In all, it is estimated that around one hundred people were killed in clearing murders.
Usually the clearing murders were done as street shooting in order to increase the impact of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and make all uncertain. The aim was to turn the population against the Danish resistance movement. Doctors were especially vulnerable since they were out to look after the sick at any time of day.
The Germans demanded that the newspapers had to print articles linking resistance killings and clearing murders next to each other on the same page.