Harald Christensen (resistance member)

Harald Christensen
Born Harald Christensen[1]
28 May 1915[1][2][3]
Vestergade 29, Fåborg[1]
Died 27 February 1945 (aged 29)[3][4]
Cause of death
Execution by firing squad[3]
Resting place
Ryvangen Memorial Park[3] (initially)[5]
Residence Skyttegaardsvej 12,[3] Valby
Occupation Auto mechanic[3]
Known for Executed as member of the Danish resistance movement[3][4]
Religion Church of Denmark[1]
Parent(s) Niels Christensen and Maren Christine née Madsen[1][2]
Website
"Modstandsdatabasen" [Resistance Database]. Harald Christensen (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nationalmuseet. Retrieved 2014-12-19.

Harald Christensen (28 May 1915 – 27 February 1945) was a member of the Danish resistance executed by the German occupying power.

Biography

Harald Christensen was born in Faaborg 28 May 1915 as the eighth child of factory worker Niels Christensen and wife Maren Christine née Madsen[2] and baptized in Faaborg church the seventh Sunday after Trinity.[1]

In 1916 Christensen was living with his parents and siblings in Vestergade 29, Fåborg with his father supporting the family as a worker at Fåborg's wood wool factory with a permanently injured knee.[2]

On 27 February 1945 Christensen and nine other resistance members were executed[4] in Ryvangen.[3]

After his death

On 30 June 1945 a memorial service was held for him at Vestre Kirkegaard.[3]

On 29 August Christensen and 105 other victims of the occupation were buried in the memorial park founded at the execution and burial site in Ryvangen where he was executed. Bishop Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard led the service with participation from the royal family, the government and representatives of the resistance movement.[3][6]

His remains have since been moved.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Fødte Mandkøn" [Born Males]. Kirkebog [Parish Register]. 1909-1917 (in Danish). Fåborg. 1915. p. 63.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Folketælling [Census] (in Danish). Fåborg. 1 February 1916. Vestergade 29.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 "Døde Mandkøn" [Deceased Males]. Kirkebog [Parish Register]. 1941-1966 (in Danish). Vigerslev Sogn. 1945. p. 36. Død 1945 27 Februar Ryvangen. Ingen Skifteretsattest da Jordpaakastelse skal foretages senere. Jordpaakastelse af Biskop Fuglsang Damgaard. 1945 30 Juni Bisættelse (u. Jordpaakastel.) Vestre Kirkegaard Begravet i Ryvangen 1945 - 29 August. Automekaniker
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Kampen og dens Ofre" [The fight and its victims]. Frit Danmark (in Danish). 1 March 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Og som en blodig Afslutning paa Februar Maaned, der har kostet Danmark saa mange Ofre, kommer Meddelelsen om, at Tyskerne paa den næstsidste Dag i Maaneden har henrettet 10 danske Patrioter: Erik Crone, Einar Aksel Larsen, Svend Glendau, Karl Gustav Stricker, Poul Madsen, Karl Børge Sørensen, Preben Richard Christensen, Andreas Bronislaw Wadekoloff Nielsen, Preben Gylche og Harald Christensen. Det var unge Mennesker allesammen - fra 18 til 29 Aar - som har ydet en værdifuld Indsats i den aktive Frihedskamp. Deres Minde vil leve blandt os - de har givet deres Liv for Danmarks Frihed.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Det store Gravfelt - Mindelunden Ryvangen" [The large Grave field - Ryvangen Memorial Park] (in Danish). Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  6. "Historie - Mindelunden Ryvangen" [History - Ryvangen Memorial Park] (in Danish). Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Retrieved 2014-11-16.