Niels Nielsen Kjær

Niels Nielsen Kjær
Niels Nielsen Kjær
Born
Niels Kjær Nielsen

(1903-04-02)2 April 1903[1][2]
Hvidsten Mark
Died29 June 1944(1944-06-29) (aged 41)[3]
Ryvangen
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad,[2] gunshot wounds to the chest
OccupationRadio dealer[3]
Known forExecuted as member of the Danish resistance movement[3]
Parent(s)Jens Christian Nielsen and Johanne Petrea Christensen
Website"Modstandsdatabasen" [Resistance Database]. Niels Nielsen Kjær (in Danish). Copenhagen: Nationalmuseet. Retrieved 2014-11-20.

Niels Nielsen Kjær (2 April 1903 – 29 June 1944) was a member of the Danish resistance executed by the German occupying power.

Biography

In addition to being a member of the Hvidsten group[2] Kjær was also a radio dealer.[3]

The group helped the British Special Operations Executive parachute weapons and supplies into Denmark for distribution to the resistance.

In March 1944 the Gestapo made an "incredible number of arrests" including in the region of Randers where a number of members of the Hvidsten group were arrested.[4]

The following month De frie Danske reported that several arrestees from Hvidsten had been transferred from Randers to Vestre Fængsel.[5]

On 29 June 1944 Kjær and seven other members of the Hvidsten group were executed in Ryvangen.[2]

After his death

On 15 July 1944, De frie Danske reported on the execution of several members of the Hvidsten group.[6] Six months later the January 1945 issue of the resistance newspaper Frit Danmark (Free Denmark) reported that on 29 June the previous year Kjær and seven other named members of the Hvidsten group had been executed.[3]

In 1945 a memorial stone over the eight executed members of the Hvidsten group was raised near Hvidsten Inn.[2]

Memorial stone for the Hvidsten group in Hvidsten

Similarly, a larger memorial stone for resistance members including the eight executed members of the Hvidsten group has been laid down in Ryvangen Memorial Park.[1]

Memorial stone in Ryvangen for resistance members including the Hvidsten group

Portrayal in the media

  • In the 2012 Danish drama film Hvidsten Gruppen (This Life) Niels Nielsen Kjær is portrayed by Niels Lund Boesen (as Niels Boesen).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b NIELS KIÆR NIELSEN (Inscribed Stone Monument) (in Danish). Ryvangen Memorial Park. * 2.4.1903 *
  2. ^ a b c d e NIELS N. KJÆR * 2. 4. 1903 (Inscribed Stone Monument) (in Danish). Hvidsten Kro. 1944 DEN 29. JUNI
    FALDT DE FOR DE TYSKE KUGLER
    DYREBART ER DERES MINDE FOR DANMARK
    REJST AARET 1945
  3. ^ a b c d e "29. Juni - 8 Frihedskæmpere henrettet" [29 June - 8 freedom fighters executed]. Frit Danmark (in Danish). January 1945. p. 9. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Utrolig mange Arrestationer" [Incredibly many arrests]. De frie Danske (in Danish). 18 March 1944. p. 10. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. ^ "ARRESTEREDE" [ARRESTED]. De frie Danske (in Danish). 23 April 1944. p. 10. Retrieved 24 November 2014. Kroejer Marius Fiil med flere fra Hvidsten er blevet overført fra Randers til Vestre
  6. ^ "EN FOLKELIG SKIKKELSE, ET HISTORISK EKSEMPEL PAA JYLLANDS SEJGHED UNDER FREMMEDHEREDØMMET" [A POPULAR FIGURE, A HISTORICAL EXAMPLE OF JUTLAND'S TOUGHNESS UNDER FOREIGN RULE]. De frie Danske (in Danish). 15 July 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  7. ^ "This life / Hvidsten Gruppen - nogle må dø for at andre kan leve". dfi.dk. Retrieved 2016-12-04.