The Telegram Crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Denmark and Germany in October–November 1942 during the German occupation of Denmark.
The crisis was triggered by the text of a telegram from King Christian X of Denmark sent to Adolf Hitler as thanks for his congratulations on the occasion of King's 72nd birthday on September 26, 1942. The text was a mere, Spreche Meinen besten Dank aus. Chr. Rex (English: Giving my best thanks, King Chr.). Hitler, writing this long congratulatory letter at a personal level, felt that the King's mere remark was outrageous. Hitler also thought that the King showed complete ingratitude for the respect that he had for him. This perceived (and no doubt deliberate) slight greatly outraged Hitler and he immediately recalled his ambassador from Copenhagen and expelled the Danish ambassador from Germany. Attempts to placate Hitler, including a proposal of sending Crown Prince, later King Frederick IX of Denmark, to Berlin and apologize to Hitler personally, were refused.
In early November 1942, the plenipotentiary, Cecil von Renthe-Fink, was replaced by Werner Best and the commander of the German forces in Denmark Erich Lüdke was replaced with the more heavy-handed General Hermann von Hanneken, and all remaining Danish troops were ordered out of Jutland. German pressure also resulted in the dismissal of the government led by Vilhelm Buhl and its replacement with a new cabinet led by non-party member and veteran diplomat Erik Scavenius, whom the Germans expected would be more cooperative.
Background to the crisis was not only the famous telegram, but also a growing dissatisfaction in the German leadership – and especially Hitler – with the situation in Denmark, where the resistance movement was starting to be felt.