AH Challenge: Denmark Resists German Invasion in WWII

Okay, okay, I know the Danes "did" technically resist the German Invasion of 1940, but let's face it, the majority of their armed forces didn't do a whole lot and the country barely knew it was at war.

Furthermore the government had resisted rearming in order not to antagonize the Germans and was hoping to remain neutral througout the conflict.

Also, the lack of Danish resistance might have been the best option for the country. After all, what purpose would resisting the German invasion militarily serve other than to save some sense of national honor? Afterall there was no way in hell the Danish military could repulse the Germans. Perhaps more importantly what would that "honor" gained at being curbstomped by the Germans cost, both in terms of lives and the harsher occupation?

Anyhow, your task, if you choose to accept it, is to posit a Point of Divergence that would create the conditions neccessary for the Danish Government to militarily resist on a national scale, the German invasion of 1940 (without butterflying the invasion away). The closer to 1940 the better.

Even better if King Christian X establishes a free Danish government on the Faeroe Islands or something...
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Denmark surrender on the very day they were invaded? If they offered active resistance to the invasion, then they would have been crushed like the Netherlands and Belgium, and would have fallen a couple of days later anyway. I can't see it having much effect on the invasion of Norway. As for the Government-in-Exile, it might go to London, or it could go to Faroes or Icelands-- or even Greenland in the most extreme circumstances. Escaped Danish soldiers and sailors would add slightly to the overall allied forces, but really wouldn't have an impact, unless some brilliant leader emerged from the exiles.
 
Wasn Aalborg Airport fairly important to the Luftwaffe in the Norwegian Campaign?

Actually it was crucial to the Luftwaffe movement of troops an supply to Norway.
Problem is that nobody in Denmark realized this pre-occupation. If it had been government would probably have issued orders that barred destruction in fear of retaliation on the country.

Fact is that the Danish forces were quite well armed in terms of materiel but not in personnel.
And will to resist did exist among the officers but the government refused this wanting only a marking of neutrality to be observed i.e. no fighting to take place but only to protest German activities.

This would need some change of mentality of the ruling government or a change in government pre-war, say at the 1939 elections. This could bring the Liberals and Conservatives into office and make for a decision to resist any German action.
Then a lot of internal Danish butterflies comes into action such as change of policy, possible German cutback on trade - which could effectively damage Danish economy as overseas trade were impeded by U-boat action etc.
But politicians knew Britain would not come to the aid of Denmark so it would be a short term struggle like in the Low Countries - a couple of days at the most.
 

Valdemar II

Banned
Actually it was crucial to the Luftwaffe movement of troops an supply to Norway.
Problem is that nobody in Denmark realized this pre-occupation. If it had been government would probably have issued orders that barred destruction in fear of retaliation on the country.

Fact is that the Danish forces were quite well armed in terms of materiel but not in personnel.
And will to resist did exist among the officers but the government refused this wanting only a marking of neutrality to be observed i.e. no fighting to take place but only to protest German activities.

This would need some change of mentality of the ruling government or a change in government pre-war, say at the 1939 elections. This could bring the Liberals and Conservatives into office and make for a decision to resist any German action.
Then a lot of internal Danish butterflies comes into action such as change of policy, possible German cutback on trade - which could effectively damage Danish economy as overseas trade were impeded by U-boat action etc.
But politicians knew Britain would not come to the aid of Denmark so it would be a short term struggle like in the Low Countries - a couple of days at the most.


The problem was while the Conservative in the 30ties would have defended the country, the liberals would have continued the Social Democratic and Left Liberal defence politic. The liberals had fully supported the defence politic of 30ties. So we need the Conservatives gaining power and that's incredible hard, people still remember the de facto dictatorship of the Conservative, and in the periode a lot of them was plain fascists.
Of course another aspect if Denmark show itself willing to defend itself in the years up WWII, it's quite likely that Germany drop the invasion, and let Denmark and Norway stay neutral through the war. Ironic enough this would benefit both Germany and Denmark, Germany didn't need to waste troops occupiing Denmark, and wouldn't need to build the defensive "wall" along the West Coast, and Denmark would still sell it foodstuff to Germany. While it's unlikely to result in a German victory, we would likely see a much more pro-German Scandinavia after the war. German could still be first foreign language in Denmark.
 
The problem was while the Conservative in the 30ties would have defended the country, the liberals would have continued the Social Democratic and Left Liberal defence politic. The liberals had fully supported the defence politic of 30ties. So we need the Conservatives gaining power and that's incredible hard, people still remember the de facto dictatorship of the Conservative, and in the periode a lot of them was plain fascists.
Of course another aspect if Denmark show itself willing to defend itself in the years up WWII, it's quite likely that Germany drop the invasion, and let Denmark and Norway stay neutral through the war. Ironic enough this would benefit both Germany and Denmark, Germany didn't need to waste troops occupiing Denmark, and wouldn't need to build the defensive "wall" along the West Coast, and Denmark would still sell it foodstuff to Germany. While it's unlikely to result in a German victory, we would likely see a much more pro-German Scandinavia after the war. German could still be first foreign language in Denmark.

Okay, so what about having the Liberal/Conservative coalition that governed in the 1926-29 stay together? The liberals decide that adopting a Conservative Defense policy is worth staying in power and in so doing remain in power through the 30's and nto the 40's?
 
Is there any way they could have held Fyn,Lolland or any of the other large islands?

Also the point about destroying Aallborg airfield is a good one.
 
The invasion of Denmark took place only as a jumping point for the invasion of Norway so barring a massive and most implausible expansion of the Danish armed forces the invasion will take place.

Only if Norway appears beyond Germany's reach might the invasion be cancelled. How that would be done without Norway allying with the British, thereby probably provoking a 'defensive' occupation of Denmark is beyond me.

On the other hand, the entire operation was on the proverbial shoe string so if Denmark and Norway only modestly increased their standing armies by, say, two divisions each...
 
The problem was while the Conservative in the 30ties would have defended the country, the liberals would have continued the Social Democratic and Left Liberal defence politic. The liberals had fully supported the defence politic of 30ties. So we need the Conservatives gaining power and that's incredible hard, people still remember the de facto dictatorship of the Conservative, and in the periode a lot of them was plain fascists.

Yes but it would be the only way to get the Conservatives in power. And the Liberals were eager to cut defence spending. The only other way would probably be if Hitler doesn't fend in the Nazis in Southern Jutland when they become troublesome in 1937, which could lead to Nazi terrorism that even the Socialdemocrats would have to fend off.

Of course another aspect if Denmark show itself willing to defend itself in the years up WWII, it's quite likely that Germany drop the invasion, and let Denmark and Norway stay neutral through the war. Ironic enough this would benefit both Germany and Denmark, Germany didn't need to waste troops occupiing Denmark, and wouldn't need to build the defensive "wall" along the West Coast, and Denmark would still sell it foodstuff to Germany. While it's unlikely to result in a German victory, we would likely see a much more pro-German Scandinavia after the war. German could still be first foreign language in Denmark.

I'm not so sure. It could lead to Hitler actually encouraging Nazi terrorism in Denmark to have a border revision. That would be a terrible threat to all Danes no matter political affiliation.
 
Is there any way they could have held Fyn,Lolland or any of the other large islands?

Also the point about destroying Aallborg airfield is a good one.

Nope - the Germans were just too well prepared.
The reserves called up at the outbreak of war had been sent home so it was only a cadre of army troops available.
Only the Navy called up its reserves on April 8., as they needed to do so to move into a higher state of readiness.

Yes destruction of Aalborg airfield might buy the defenders of Norway a few precious days.
 
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