When Christian X turned 72nd, Adolph Hitler sent the king a long, congratulatory birthday telegram. Just as Hitler had been surprised at the Danish resistance to Germany's invasion, he was shocked and angered at King Christian X's response to the telegraphed compliments. The king responded with the briefest possible telegram, "Meinen besten Dank, Chr. Rex," which in English is, "My best thank you, King Chr."

Hitler noticed the immediate insult and took immediate action. He expelled the Danish ambassador to Germany and pressured Danish leaders to replace its elected officials with individuals the German government thought would be more sympathetic to Germany's views and actions. My mother also claims, rightly or wrongly, that once Hitler felt King Christian X had openly insulted him, the Germans began to take more seriously what they called "the Jewish question" in Denmark.

King Christian X outlived the Fuhrer by two years. At the time of Christian X's death, his country mourned his loss, and the Danes were joined by many others.

To read more about King Christian X's death and the Dane's reactions to it, navigate back to the King Christian page and go to A King's Death and Life Afterwards.