
Hope & Despair
Seven historic sites near the Danish-German border bring the Second World War to life. The landscape, buildings and atmosphere set the scene for powerful stories of hope, resistance, loss and human willpower.
Hope & Despair - traces of war in the borderland
Along the Danish-German border are seven places where the Second World War is still felt, not just in the landscape, but in stories that stick with you. Here, you will find both the grand historical narratives and the intimate, personal voices.
In Frøslev Camp, interned Danes found a glimmer of hope. In Zelle II in Kolding, the voices of resistance still hang in the air. At MARK in Grindsted, the difficult choices of everyday life unfold, while the memorials at Ladelund and Husum-Schwesing bear witness to those who never came home.
In Neuengamme, a monumental brick building stands as a silent reminder of forced labour and oppression. And at the Jewish Museum in Rendsburg, Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust is told, with people at the centre.
Frøslev Camp
Frøslev Camp is one of Europe’s best-preserved World War II German prison camps. Thousands of Danes were interned here, and the site tells powerful stories of hope, resistance and survival. The original barracks and exhibitions provide a unique insight into a harsh time and the lives of prisoners during the occupation.