Name: __________________
Pre-reading Activity – Holocaust Hotlist
Number the Stars
_______/20 points
Directions: Use the Number the Stars Hotlist (attached or on my webpage)to answer the following
questions about Denmark and the role this tiny nation played in saving thousands of Danish Jews from
the cruelty of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
1. Denmark is located in ___________________ ____________________ and borders the
North Sea, the __________________ Sea, and ___________________.
Denmark is separated from Norway and Sweden by the Skagerrak and
_____________________________ Straits. (4 pts.)
2. Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party, was appointed chancellor (leader of the head political
party) of Germany on __________________________________. How did he later seize control of
the military? ___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________( 2pts.)
3. Although Denmark’s government wanted to remain neutral at the
start of World War II, Germany invaded that country anyway.
Based on the map to the left, why do you think Germany may have
wanted to have control of Denmark, a small nation without a very
strong army or navy? __________________________________
______________________________________________(1 pt.)
4. After the invasion, besides imposing strict press censorship on
Danish papers, Germany received ________________________
and ___________________________ from Denmark, forcing the
government to impose strict food rationing on its own citizens and leaving many of them hungry. (2 pts.)
5. During the German occupation, the ruler of Denmark was
__________________________ (1 pt). Many stories have
circulated about how he inspired the people of Denmark.
1
Briefly describe a legend that historians now say is fictional about King Christian X.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________(1pt.)
Now describe a true story of how he showed his support of his citizens: _______________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________(1 pt.)
6. What was the likely purpose of Arne Sejr’s creation and distribution of the “Ten Commandments for
Danes”? __________________________________________________________________(1 pt.)
7. The Danish Resistance movement was an underground group acting in secrecy to resist the German
occupation of Denmark during World War II. Kim Malthe-Bruun, a 21-year old fisherman, was a member
of the Danish Resistance. After the Germans captured Kim, they ___________________(1 pt.) him.
Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars, found his picture and story inspiring, so much so that she
modeled ______________________(1 pt), a character in the book after him.
8. What’s surprising about Kim’s feelings toward his Gestapo torturers? _____________________
____________________________(1 pt.)
9. What is the name of the German diplomat who warned the Danish Resistance about the impending
deportations of the Danish Jews? ______________________________ (1 pt.)
10. When the people of Denmark learned that Hitler was planning to arrest all of the Danish Jews, they
organized a nationwide movement to smuggle their Jewish citizens to _______________________.
Within two weeks, Danish ___________________________________ used their boats to transport
___________ Danish Jews to safety. (3pts.)
2