Escape from Darkness

    A few years earlier, Leo couldn’t have imagined this moment. Denmark had been a peaceful place to grow up. Leo’s family lived in the city of Copenhagen. On weekends, he played soccer and goofed around with his brothers. Leo’s dad was a singer. He led prayers at a synagogue. Jewish traditions and holidays were a big part of the Goldbergers’ lives. 

    Leo never felt unsafe being Jewish. Why would he? Jewish people in Denmark were treated just like other citizens. 

    But in many other European nations, this was not the case.

    Prejudice against Jewish people had existed for centuries. In the 1930s, this prejudice turned into hatred and violence.

    Only a few years earlier, Leo would have found this situation unimaginable. Denmark had been a peaceful place to grow up. Leo’s family lived in the city of Copenhagen. On weekends, he played soccer and goofed around with his brothers. Leo’s father, a singer, led prayers at a synagogue. Jewish traditions and holidays were an important part of the Goldbergers’ lives. 

    Leo never felt unsafe being Jewish. Jewish people in Denmark were treated just like other citizens. 

    But in many other European nations, this was not the case.

     Prejudice against Jewish people had existed for centuries—and in the 1930s, this prejudice erupted into hatred and violence.

    In 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany. He led a group called the Nazis. Under Hitler, Jewish citizens couldn’t vote. They were banned from shops, restaurants, and public parks. Nazis attacked Jewish people and burned their synagogues down.

    The terror spread beyond Germany. Hitler wanted to build an empire based on his hateful ideas. Leaders in other countries knew that Hitler had to be stopped. 

    In 1939, Great Britain and France declared war against Germany. Other countries, including the United States, joined them later. World War II had begun.

    In 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany. He led a group called the Nazis. Under Hitler, Jewish citizens couldn’t vote and were banned from shops, restaurants, and public parks. Nazis attacked Jewish people and burned their synagogues to the ground.

    The terror spread beyond Germany. Hitler wanted to build an empire based on his hateful ideas. Leaders in other countries realized that Hitler had to be stopped. 

    In 1939, Great Britain and France declared war against Germany. They would later be joined by other countries, including the United States. World War II had begun.

    The war soon reached Leo. On April 9, 1940, Germany attacked Denmark. It surrendered quickly. Soon Copenhagen was filled with German tanks and soldiers.

    At first, little changed for the Danes. (That’s what citizens of Denmark are called.) Still, there were terrible rumors.

    People said the Nazis had created prisons called concentration camps. There were also stories of Nazi death camps. These were places that had been built to murder Jewish people—thousands each day.

    Leaders of Denmark’s Jewish community told Jewish people not to panic. How could stories of such evil be true?

    Seven months later, the war reached Leo. On April 9, 1940, Germany attacked Denmark. It surrendered within a few hours, and soon Copenhagen was overrun with German tanks and soldiers.

    At first, little changed for the Danes (that’s what citizens of Denmark are called), but terrible rumors began to circulate.

    It was said that the Nazis had created prisons called concentration camps. There were also stories of Nazi death camps, places that had been built to murder Jewish people—thousands each day.

    Leaders of Denmark’s Jewish community advised Jewish people not to panic. How could stories of such incredible evil possibly be true?

    Most Danish people supported their Jewish neighbors. They hated that the Nazis had taken over their country. Many fought back. Some bombed factories and trains filled with German war supplies.

    The Nazis got angry. In August 1943, they took control of the Danish government. This put the Jewish citizens of Denmark in great danger.

    On September 29, Leo and his family were at synagogue. The rabbi (the synagogue’s leader) made an announcement. He had heard that Jewish people were going to be sent to concentration camps. Every Jewish person must go into hiding—right away.

    The Goldbergers ran home to pack. But they didn’t know what to do next. Where could they hide? What would happen to them?

    Then Leo’s dad ran into a woman named Fanny Arnskov. The two had met a few years before. Arnskov promised to help the Goldbergers escape.

    Across Denmark, thousands of non-Jewish people like Arnskov were making plans. They would smuggle Jewish Danes to Sweden by boat. 

    Arnskov told Leo’s dad she would take care of everything.

    All they had to do was wait on the shore on the night of October 2. Around 10 o’clock, there would be a signal.

    As the war continued, most Danish people supported their Jewish neighbors. They resented the Nazis’ takeover of their peaceful country, and many of them began finding ways to fight back—such as bombing factories and trains filled with German war supplies.

    These acts of rebellion angered the Nazis. In August 1943, they took control of the Danish government, which placed the Jewish citizens of Denmark in serious danger.

    On September 29, Leo and his family were at synagogue when the rabbi (the synagogue’s leader) made an announcement. He had heard that Jewish people were going to be sent to concentration camps. Every Jewish person must go into hiding—immediately.

    The Goldbergers raced home to pack, but they had no idea what to do next. Where could they hide? What would happen to them?

    Then Leo’s father ran into a woman named Fanny Arnskov, who he had met at an event a few years earlier, and she promised to help the Goldbergers escape.

    Across Denmark, thousands of non-Jewish people like Arnskov were making arrangements to smuggle Jewish Danes to Sweden by boat. 

    Arnskov assured Leo’s father that she would take care of everything.

    All Leo’s family had to do was wait on the shore on the night of October 2. At approximately 10 o’clock, there would be a signal.

    And so, on that freezing night, Leo’s family walked toward the light. When they reached the fishing boat, the fishermen guided them below deck. About 20 other Jewish people were already hiding there. 

    The boat made its way through the choppy waves. Then suddenly, it came to a stop. Leo heard voices and footsteps above. German soldiers were boarding the boat to check it. Leo and the others were terrified. If they were caught, they would be killed. Minutes felt like hours.

    Finally, the soldiers left. The boat sailed on. And after two hours, it reached Sweden!

    The families cheered. They were saved.

    And so, on that cold night, Leo’s family walked toward the light. They reached the fishing boat. They went below deck. About 20 other Jewish people were hiding there. 

    The boat moved through the waves. Then it stopped. Leo heard voices and footsteps above. German soldiers were boarding the boat to check it. Leo and the others were scared. If they were caught, they would be killed. Minutes felt like hours.

    Finally, the soldiers left. The boat sailed on. Two hours later, it reached Sweden!

    The families cheered. They were safe.

    And so, on that freezing night, Leo’s family walked toward the light. When they reached the fishing boat, the fishermen guided them below deck. About 20 other Jewish people were already hiding there. 

    As the boat was traveling through the choppy waves, it suddenly came to a stop. Leo heard voices and footsteps above: the sounds of German soldiers boarding the boat to inspect it. Leo and the others waited, terrified by the knowledge that they would be killed if they were caught. Minutes felt like hours.

    The soldiers finally left, and the boat continued its journey. After two hours, it reached Sweden!

    The families cheered. They had been rescued, and they were safe.