On April 9, 1940, Germany began operation Weserbung (Weser Exercise), named after the Weser River, the longest river in German that empties into the sea. The bucolic codename included German's plan to occupy both Norway and Denmark, ostensibly so that Germany could protect the Scandinavian countries from the threat of an invasion by Great Britain and France. Germany was also interested in securing safe passage of Sweden's iron ore through sea routes near Norway and Denmark.

Germany began the invasion of the Danish penisula in Southern Jutland around 5:25a.m, with several divisions crossing the border at the German city of Flensburg. On the Danish side of the border, three batteries of Danish soldiers, primarily young men ages 18-20, tried to defend their country with 75 mm anti-aircraft guns and 20 mm cannons. The weapons and some of the young soldiers are pictured on this page. Likely they posed for the picture earlier in April as rumor of an impending invasion circulated. All of the pictured men died defending their country on April 9, as did a total of 16 at this particular site. After the brief battle, German trucks and Panzers tanks moved north to Aabenraa, where one of the last deaths of the South Jutland invasion occurred. To learn what happened at my mother's hometown on April 9, 1940, navigate back to the Christian X page and go to Aabenraa and the Surrender.