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'''Denmark''' (Danish: ''Danmark''), officially the '''Kingdom of Denmark''' (Danish: ''Kongeriget Danmark''), is a country in Europe. It borders [[Germany]] to its south, [[Reichskommissariat Norwegen]] to its north west and [[Sweden]] to its north east.
== History ==
=== World War II ===
At the outset of [[World War II]] in September 1939, Denmark declared itself neutral, but that neutrality did not prevent Nazi Germany from occupying the country almost immediately after the outbreak of war.
The decision to occupy Denmark was taken in Berlin on 17 December 1939, in plans that would eventually be formed into Operation Weserübung/
On 9 April 1940, Germany occupied Denmark in Operation Weserübung. In 6 hours, the Danish government capitulated, believing that resistance was futile and hoping to work out an advantageous agreement with Germany.
Not only was the flat Jutland territory a perfect area for the German army to operate in, the surprise attack on Copenhagen had made any attempt to defend Zealand impossible. The Germans had also been quick to establish control over the bridge across the Little Belt, thus gaining access to the island of Funen.
Believing that further resistance would only result in the futile loss of more Danish lives, the Danish cabinet ultimately decided to bow to the German pressure "under protest". The German forces were technologically sophisticated and numerous; the Danish forces comparatively tiny and using obsolete equipment; partially a result of a pre-war policy of trying to avoid antagonizing Germany by not supplying the army with modern equipment. Even stiff resistance from the Danes would not have lasted long.
The Danish government and King functioned in a relatively normal manner until 29 August 1943, when Germany placed Denmark under direct military occupation, which was lifted soon after the end of the war. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish institutions continued to function relatively normally . Both the Danish government and King remained in the country in an uneasy relationship between a democratic and a totalitarian system until 1943 when the Danish government stepped down in protest against German demands that included instituting the death penalty for sabotage, leading to the Board of Permanent Secretaries to be formed.
In the wake of its capitulation to Germany, Its other territories of Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland would either declare independence or come under Allied Occupation.
=== Post War ===
While Danish democracy was restored in 1952, Danish sovereignty remains under German thumbs, as German security forces continue to operate in the country, and Denmark's foreign policy remains at the mercy of the Pakt.
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