Roundtables and discussions about October 43 then and now at La Memorial de la Shoah, Paris

Among the guests at this conference, there will be members of the Royal Court of Denmark and the Danish government.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of the Jews of Denmark, the Memorial offers you an exceptional meeting in the auditorium, in the presence of historians and a delegation from Denmark.

In September 1943, the Nazi occupation authorities planned the deportation of Danish Jews (numbering around 7,700 people). Arrests were scheduled for the night of October 1st to 2nd, when families were gathered for Rosh Hashanah. However, a few days before, some Danish politicians were informed by German occupation authorities. These Danish politicians informed the Jewish community. Rabbi Marcus Melchior was able to alert the Jewish community during the morning religious service on September 29. Nevertheless, two convoys departed for Theresienstadt on October 2. Faced with these roundups, a pastoral letter was read in all churches on October 3, denouncing and condemning the persecution of Jewish populations.

The majority of Denmark's Jews managed to reach Sweden by their own means or with the help of acquaintances and individuals who came to their aid. The passage to Sweden was done by sea, across the Oresund strait, from several fishing villages along the coast. Individual initiatives, spontaneously organized small groups, and established resistance networks saved 7,220 Danish Jews in the largest and most massive rescue operation in Nazi-occupied territory.

14:30-16:00 Commemoration for the flight of the Danish Jews, October 1943

Pontus Rudberg, history professor at Uppsala University, Sweden, Silvia Goldbaum Tarabini, historian and author of The life and death of Danish Jews in Theresienstadt and Sofie Lene Bak, history professor at University of Copenhagen (tbc).

Moderated by Janus Møller Jensen, director of The Danish Jewish Museum

16:15 Screening of Voices in the void

16:45-18:00 Past / present. History, nuances and perspectives for the future

Bo Lidegaard, historian and former cultural attaché at the Danish Embassy in France and Janus Møller Jensen, director of The Danish Jewish Museum.

Moderated by Franҫois Zimeray, lawyer and former French Ambassador to Denmark.

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