Danish Rescue Boat from World War II Exhibit

         Despite the evilness in what the railroad car was used for, there was still that hope that there was good in some people. After viewing the car, I noticed a boat and I thought to my head, I never remember there being a boat to torture people. That is when I came upon the stone that had some information on what this boat was used for and how it helped save thousands of lives.
        This boat was used for a 3-week period during the year 1943. Christians in Denmark risked their own lives to save more than 7,200 Jews from almost certain execution at the hands of Nazi Germany. The boat has been intentionally placed right next to the railroad car so it could teach students and visitors, the importance of each individual’s responsibility to act when confronted with injustice. The railroad car, tells of the evil committed by individual people to their neighbors. It reminds visitors of the horrible things that occurred while the world stayed idly who did little, or nothing at all. So by placing the boat next to the railroad car, visitors are able to learn of the heroic efforts of good people who refused to be bystanders and did the right thing, even at the risk of their own lives. Honestly why weren’t there more people out there like that? They could have formed something to go against Hitler. Then again he had a lot of power. It makes you think, if I were living in that time period, what would have happened? Would I have been able to withstand the work that was demanded of me? Would I actually eat the food that was served? Would I have tried to escape? Maybe switch it the other way around. If I was on the German side, I know I would have been against Hitler. I wonder how I would have helped. Even if you just saved at least one person. Saving one person is like saving many because you would have been able to do what you can to help those victims out.
        This authentic fishing boat was 7.1 feet long, 13.9 feet wide and 5.7 feet deep. So what happened was in the first few days of October 1943, when the Germans began a nationwide action to round up all Danish Jews for deportation to the concentration camps. Six percent of Danish Jews were captured, but Denmark’s citizens revolted and helped 7,200 make it safely to Sweden along with 700 non-Jewish relatives. The town of Gilleleje’s own 500 households cared for hundreds of refugees hiding them in attics of churches before ferrying them across to Höganäs in Sweden. Sadly to say, the Nazis eventually stormed the church and that is when the ferrying of innocent victims was put to a stop. Makes me happy to know that there are still those people who put their lives at risks for other people. The world is full of them but we still have that handful of people who still think nothing of the railroad car. It’s really sad but true.