Danish People's Defence
Encyclopedia
The Danish People's Defence (Danish: Dansk Folke Værn or Dansk Folkeværn) was the civilian arm of the Danish
Schalburg Corps
active from April 1943 to August 1944, in support of the German occupation of Denmark. It was made up of civilians, some of whom were expected to provide financial backing.
The founding of Dansk Folkeværn commenced in April 1943, with Knud Børge Martinsen
among the first Dansk Folkeværn leaders. Dansk Folkeværn functioned as the political propaganda arm of the Schalburg Corps, and was open to both men and women. Dansk Folkeværn was formally working independently of the Schalburg Corps, though they shared the same address, and Dansk Folkeværn was described by one of its leaders as "Schalburg Corps' Group II".
Many of Frits Clausen
's former supporters in the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark (DNSAP) were recruited. For example, a group led by Max Arildskov called Landstormen, which had broken away from the DNSAP after Clausen's poor results in the March 1943 election
. In December, Arildskov put his men at the disposal of the Schalburg Corps as regular soldiers, but only around 50 were accepted. The others were put into the Danish People's Defence. In May 1944, DNSAP banned all DNSAP members who were also active in Dansk Folkeværn, Landstormen, Schalburg Corps, among other groups. In August 1944, Dansk Folkeværn was disbanded, and the members went on to join Dansk National Samling.
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...
Schalburg Corps
Schalburg Corps
The Schalburg Corps was a Danish volunteer army corps and a branch of the Germanic-SS. Named after Christian Frederik von Schalburg, commander of the Free Corps Denmark who was killed in combat operations in the Demyansk Pocket in 1942...
active from April 1943 to August 1944, in support of the German occupation of Denmark. It was made up of civilians, some of whom were expected to provide financial backing.
The founding of Dansk Folkeværn commenced in April 1943, with Knud Børge Martinsen
Knud Børge Martinsen
Knud Børge Martinsen was a Danish officer and the third commander of Frikorps Danmark.-Biography:Knud Børge Martinsen was born in Sandved in 1905 and became a soldier in 1928. After only ten years of service he was an officer with a rank of Captain Lieutenant...
among the first Dansk Folkeværn leaders. Dansk Folkeværn functioned as the political propaganda arm of the Schalburg Corps, and was open to both men and women. Dansk Folkeværn was formally working independently of the Schalburg Corps, though they shared the same address, and Dansk Folkeværn was described by one of its leaders as "Schalburg Corps' Group II".
Many of Frits Clausen
Frits Clausen
Frits Clausen was leader of the Danish Nazi party prior to and during World War II.Born in Aabenraa, since 1864 a part of Prussia, Clausen served in the German Army during World War I...
's former supporters in the National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark (DNSAP) were recruited. For example, a group led by Max Arildskov called Landstormen, which had broken away from the DNSAP after Clausen's poor results in the March 1943 election
Danish Folketing election, 1943
Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 23 March 1943 alongside Landsting elections, except in the Faroe Islands where they were held on 3 May. They were the first elections during the German occupation, and although many people feared how the Germans might react to the election, the event took...
. In December, Arildskov put his men at the disposal of the Schalburg Corps as regular soldiers, but only around 50 were accepted. The others were put into the Danish People's Defence. In May 1944, DNSAP banned all DNSAP members who were also active in Dansk Folkeværn, Landstormen, Schalburg Corps, among other groups. In August 1944, Dansk Folkeværn was disbanded, and the members went on to join Dansk National Samling.