The Day the Germans Came

I am not sure if I should sit in awe over the bravery of the people of Denmark or bawl my eyes out for those that lost their lives trying to do the right thing. "The Day the Germans Came" is a very dramatic, detailed story that takes place during the Nazi occupation. Unlike so many others, the people of Denmark had a different attitude.

In the story, a priest puts the Country's belief most elegantly, "We will therefore unambiguously declare our allegiance to the doctrine that bids us obey God more than man." Thanks to "The Day the Germans Came" I now know so much more about those that saved so many of the Jewish people from the Concentration Camp.

The author's details of the time period were so realistic. She ties the present and the past together by having Inger's granddaughter finding jewelry belong to a Mr.D. Nathan. David is soon traveling to Copenhagen to collect the jewelry and learns about a journal written by Inger.

The reader follows Inger through her days after moving to the small village of Helsinger, Denmark. She has gone to work for a book binder. She soon finds herself helping save lives along side many of her fellow residents. Her detailed journal gives understanding of the time period, including how they were able do so much.

Along with all of the success comes tragedy. The loss, the struggles, the evil comes out in the journal. The horrors of war are illustrated in detail. Tears rolled down my cheeks. They continued to flow as the story ended. Happy tears and sad tears.

Grab The Day the Germans Came and remember why we should avoid war. Grab the book and remember those that stood against those that wanted to destroy those that were different. We all need to read and remember so we don't repeat history.

A novel set in Denmark during WWII, this is a must read for all those who love historical fiction. In the present (2018), a woman discovers a box of jewelry while cleaning out her late grandmother's apartment. With this box are writings where her grandmother described her involvement in the Danish Underground. The reader is introduced to characters in that time including her grandmother's relatives and friends that she helped along with a Jewish man who we meet later in the present. I have read stories about the Danish Underground before and this one is especially well written. I highly recommend this book for those who want to read about this part of WWII history that some readers will not be aware of.

Thank you for unlocking the past in another book of the Holocaust, The Day the Germans Came, by Ella Gyland. I appreciate the privilege of reading an ARC of this amazing war time story.

Set during Nazi occupied Europe and present day Copenhagen, this book describes the selflessness on the part of the Danish citizenry to come to the aid of the persecuted Jews. It's a tale of families intertwined years ago who are reunited in 2018 after the death of their matriarch, Inger.

The theme of speaking up, never be a bystander, and humanity resonates throughout this lovely book.

Wow! What an emotional story. I learned so much from this very well written book. The characters are each well defined and believable. The storyline has you from the first page to the last. This book has it all suspense, trials, righting of wrongs, romance, friendships, heartbreaking and heartwarming. A must read. I was given an advanced readers copy by NetGalley and I am freely leaving my review.

Cecilie is cleaning out her beloved grandmother’s home after her death. While she comes across things that leave a warm memory of her grandmother, she also discovers an old cigar box with items in it that she knows nothing about. But the one thing Cecilie does know is that these items belonged to a Jewish family and her grandmother must have gotten them during WWII.

Now Cecilie is wondering whether grandmother took them from someone. Determined to return them to the owner or family of the woman they belonged to, Cecilie finds out far more about her grandmother than she ever knew. It’s a gif she never could have imagined and finds herself coming back to life as well.

Well written with strong characters, this is a story that connects the past to the present day and tells several stories all at once. It’s a heart warming tale of bravery and love that will make you proud to know that our ancestors fought for what was right when all else was going wrong.

The Day the Germans Came was an enjoyable read. Personally, I have not read many historical fiction books that are based in Denmark nor do I know much about the Danish people, so I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book showing this perspective. I also appreciated the authors descriptive writing style. She was very descriptive and made it easy to imagine what the setting looked like and what was happening.

The book starts off a little slow, but stick with it! Once the plot really starts developing and happening it is truly a good read. It is a duel setting timeline (World War II and 2018). Inger is a Danish woman that finds herself working with the Danish Resistance to help Jewish people flee occupied Denmark. Cecilie, her granddaughter, finds Inger’s diary in 2018 after she dies and discovers what her grandmother really did during the war. This story is full of courage, self-sacrifice, bravery, and patriotism to one’s country. There is love and loss and everything in between.

There were many things I really enjoyed about this story. One was how, unlike many other WWII stories, the setting was centered on one country only. I felt this allowed the author to dive deeper into the location and the characters and really focus on Inger and her family. I also found the fact that over 90% of Danish Jews were able to escape the Nazis fascinating. This is a piece of history I was not aware of. The Danish attitude that it was their duty to take care of their neighbors regardless of religion is something Denmark should be extremely proud of and all others should emulate in today’s political climate.

Set in Denmark 1943 and 2018, this historical fiction novel explores the role that every day Danish citizens played in helping their Jewish neighbors escape the Nazi regime. In 2018, Cecilie is grappling with the loss of her beloved grandmother, Inger. As Cecilie goes through Inger’s estate she comes across a makeshift jewelry box referencing David Nathan as its owner. Curious to understand how these items came to be in her grandmother’s possession, Cecilie reaches out to David. When David and his great grandson/caretaker, Rafi, arrive in Denmark they discover Inger’s journal hidden in the jewelry box and begin to read it together.

Inger’s diary delves into her life at her aunt and uncle’s home, where she’s been sent by her parents to keep safe during the war. Inger describes her and her extended family’s roles in helping hide and extricate Jewish Danes, her relationship with David Nathan and his mother, and her daily struggles to differentiate friend from foe in a tumultuous occupied Denmark.

There were a couple of things I really enjoyed about this story. One was how, unlike many other WWII stories, the setting was centered on one country only. I felt this allowed the author to dive deeper into the location and the characters and really focus on Inger and her family. I also found the fact that over 90% of Danish Jews were able to escape the Nazis fascinating. This is a piece of history I was not aware of. The Danish attitude that it was their duty to take care of their neighbors regardless of religion is something Denmark should be extremely proud of and all others should emulate in today’s political climate.

I love WWII books. They are essential reading - so we remember. They show the worst and best of human nature by contrasting the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the bravery and compassion of those willing to help the Jews escape. I liked but did not love this particular story. I liked that it was inspired by actual events; it's a historical fact that Denmark saved most of its Jewish citizens, which this book highlights. And I also enjoyed reading about the resistance movement and how ordinary citizens, facing many hardships, pulled together to help their Jewish neighbors. My problem was the pacing - the first hundred pages or so were slow for me. I also didn't think some of the descriptions were necessary, as they did not add any value to the plot. I would have preferred more detail on the characters' challenges and inner conflicts. However, I liked the story's basic premise and was drawn to it. Overall this was a well-layered exciting story about an aspect of WWII I was unfamiliar with. Recommend for those looking lighter historical fiction.

“Golden trees flanked the streets around Rosenborg Castle Gardens, also known simply as the King’s Garden, in the center of Copenhagen. A fresh September morning, the sun high in the sky and the air crisp, it was the perfect day for cycling, to work or to the shops, and something David always enjoyed.” (Pg 6) Thus, Ella Gyland vividly introduces us to the story, The Day the Germans Came.
Based on actual events, this historical novel celebrates the humanitarianism of the Danes in protecting its Jewish population from the invading German forces. I have read several historical novels about the heroic Danish resistance and their astounding dedication to saving their Jewish neighbors. This account is the finest I’ve been privileged to read.
Set in a flashback format, it is 2018 and we meet newly divorced Cecile Lund who is clearing out the home of her recently deceased grandmother in Helsingor. In the monumental task of sorting out a lifetime’s worth of belongings, she makes an unusual discovery.
Chapter two, it is 1943 and we meet twenty-one year old Inger Bredahl who has moved to the tiny seaside town of Helsingor, Denmark to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, Gudrun and Jens. She starts a new job at a local bookbindery. “Kiaer’s book bindery was on Stengade, a paved street with cobbles lining the narrow pavement on either side, and about ten minutes’ walk from Uncle Poul and Aunt Marie’s cottage on Kirkestraede. The sun was low in the sky, the streets shaded, and the air had that crisp new which tells you that summer was now a distant memory.” (Pg 30). Part of her job is to make book deliveries to customers using an old bicycle. What she doesn’t know is that the bindery is heavily involved in the Danish resistance. “The Helsingor Sewing Club” is the code name of their group.
Thus, two dramatic stories unfold with characters so well developed, you can hear their voices and feel their pulses. With incredible sensory imagery, dramatic plots, and vivid characters, Gyland has brought actual historical events back to life. Within the main stories, there are well-developed subplots involving Cecile and Inger’s cousins and friends. Gyland cleverly weaves all the strands together to create a riveting narrative of WWII in Denmark. Rating: 5

I love any WWII historical fiction books. I’ve never read one that took place in Denmark, so this was an interesting and new perspective. It was heartbreaking. The story was a bit slow at times, but it was worth sticking through

"An Inspiring Tale of Uncovering Family and History"

Cecilie embarks on the emotionally challenging task of clearing out her grandmother's cherished home following her passing. In the midst of this process, she stumbles upon an old cigar box filled with mysterious items that once belonged to a Jewish family. As Cecilie grapples with the enigma of how her grandmother acquired these possessions during World War II, she begins a quest to locate their rightful owners or descendants. Little does she know that her journey will unveil a side of her grandmother she never knew, igniting her own transformation.

This well-crafted narrative shines with compelling characters and explores both the past and the present, weaving together several intertwined stories. It's a heartwarming account of bravery and love that showcases the unwavering determination of our ancestors to do what was right, even in the darkest of times.

One noteworthy aspect of this story is its focus on Denmark during World War II, a departure from the typical WWII narratives that span multiple countries. This choice allows the author to delve deeply into the location and characters, offering an immersive experience that centers on Inger and her family's extraordinary actions.

The historical element of the novel, which highlights how over 90% of Danish Jews escaped the clutches of the Nazis, is both fascinating and enlightening. This particular slice of history, which might be less well-known to many, reflects the profound sense of duty within Danish society to protect and assist their Jewish neighbors, regardless of their faith. It's a powerful testament to the values of compassion and solidarity that we can all learn from, especially in today's complex political climate.

Set against the backdrop of Denmark in 1943 and 2018, this historical fiction work uncovers the vital role that everyday Danish citizens played in aiding their Jewish neighbors during the Nazi occupation. In 2018, Cecilie's quest to return these items leads to a deeper understanding of her grandmother Inger's past. Inger's diary, discovered within the jewelry box, narrates her experiences at her aunt and uncle's home during the war, where she played a significant role in hiding and assisting Jewish Danes. The diary also chronicles her relationship with David Nathan and his mother, offering a vivid depiction of the daily struggles in an occupied Denmark.

Overall, this story is a poignant tribute to the resilience and humanity of those who acted with courage and compassion during one of history's darkest periods. It is a reminder that even in times of great adversity, the indomitable human spirit can shine through, and the lessons of the past continue to resonate in the present.