Martin Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Martin Nielsen was a Danish
politician
, managing editor, member of parliament
for the Communist Party of Denmark
and Holocaust survivor.
Before his election to the Danish parliament (Rigsdag
) he was a dairyman and farmworker
.
Martin Nielsen had a wife and a son.
Later in life he became a member of the Folketing
and managing editor.
, Danish police
arrested Martin Nielsen and other known communists. In December 1942, the Danish authorities handed him and his file over to the Gestapo
for interrogation
.
On 29 August 1943, following the German dissolution of the Danish government, German occupation forces
took command of the internment camp where the Danish authorities held Martin Nielsen.
On 2 October 1943, he was deported as part of a group of 150 communists to Stutthof concentration camp
, on the ship Wartheland via Swinemunde and by cattle car.
On 25 January 1945, Nielsen was marched
from Stutthof.
On 10 March 1945, he was liberated
by the Red Army
, which sent him (part of the way on foot) to Moscow
, from where he was repatriated.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, managing editor, member of parliament
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
for the Communist Party of Denmark
Communist Party of Denmark
Communist Party of Denmark is a communist political party in Denmark which was founded as Venstresocialistiske Parti in 1919. VSP was a split from the Danish Social Democratic Party. The party assumed its present name in 1920...
and Holocaust survivor.
Before his election to the Danish parliament (Rigsdag
Rigsdag
Rigsdagen was the name of the Parliament of Denmark from 1849 to 1953.Rigsdagen was Denmark's first parliament, and it was incorporated in the Constitution of 1849. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses, the Folketing and the Landsting. The distinction between the two houses was...
) he was a dairyman and farmworker
Farmworker
A farmworker is a person hired to work in the agricultural industry. This includes work on farms of all sizes, from small, family-run businesses to large industrial agriculture operations...
.
Martin Nielsen had a wife and a son.
Later in life he became a member of the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
and managing editor.
Internment
On 22 June 1941, just hours after the commencement of Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, Danish police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
arrested Martin Nielsen and other known communists. In December 1942, the Danish authorities handed him and his file over to the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
for interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
.
On 29 August 1943, following the German dissolution of the Danish government, German occupation forces
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
took command of the internment camp where the Danish authorities held Martin Nielsen.
On 2 October 1943, he was deported as part of a group of 150 communists to Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof was the first Nazi concentration camp built outside of 1937 German borders.Completed on September 2, 1939, it was located in a secluded, wet, and wooded area west of the small town of Sztutowo . The town is located in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig, 34 km east of...
, on the ship Wartheland via Swinemunde and by cattle car.
On 25 January 1945, Nielsen was marched
Death marches (Holocaust)
The death marches refer to the forcible movement between Autumn 1944 and late April 1945 by Nazi Germany of thousands of prisoners from German concentration camps near the war front to camps inside Germany.-General:...
from Stutthof.
On 10 March 1945, he was liberated
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, which sent him (part of the way on foot) to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, from where he was repatriated.