While browsing through the children's section of our local public library today, I came across this charming picture book that takes place in Nazi-occupied Denmark, The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark. It is a very heart warming book, and its story a well-told one.
You see, the people of Denmark loved their king. And he loved them. Every morning he rode out among them on his horse, unarmed and unguarded. When the Nazis came, one their first acts was to fly a Nazi flag over the palace. King Christian sent a soldier to take it down. The next day, a Nazi official visited him and informed him that the flag was to be replaced. "If you put it back, I will send another soldier to take it down," was the King's reply.
"We'll shoot the soldier."
"Then you will shoot the King, for I will be that soldier."
No Nazi flag ever flew over the palace again.
Then, came the proclamation that all Jews must wear a yellow star. The King knew only too well that they would soon disappear from the streets of Denmark. The day the new rule was to take place, the King rode in the streets on his horse, among his people, unarmed and unguarded, as usual. Well, almost as usual. He wore on his breast a yellow star. And after that, every Danish citizen wore a yellow star, Jew or Gentile.
Wonderful story. Only one problem. It isn't true. No one, Jew or Gentile, King or commoner, was ever forced to wear the yellow star in Denmark. As the title suggests, it's a legend. But what a beautiful legend.
Happy Hanukkah.
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