5th Column
5. Kolonne
LeadersErnst Fisker
Dates of operationJune 1943 - June 1944
HeadquartersAarhus, Denmark
Size130
Part ofDanish resistance
OpponentsNazi Germany German Occupying Forces

5. Kolonne (lit. 'Fifth column') was an organization using violence and sabotage to oppose the occupation of Denmark by German forces during the Second World War.[1] The organization was formed and based in Aarhus and with some 100 members it was one of the larger resistance groups in that area in the later years of the war. The group was created in response to the destruction of the resistance groups in Jutland by the Gestapo between late 1943 and the summer of 1944. The group functioned from June 1944 to the end of the occupation in May 1945.

Background

The Danish resistance was in the early years of the occupation dominated by communists, forced underground when the Danish government signed the Communist Law on 22 August 1941. In Aarhus there were a number of such groups, focused on disrupting production, telecommunications and transport networks. Generally the resistance groups had become increasingly active over the years as their members grew in numbers, gained experience and developed networks. Supporting the sabotage groups were groups focused on receiving supplies through allied airdrops, so-called receiver-groups (Danish: Modtagergruppe), a network which had also taken time to develop. By 1943 weapons and supplies were arriving with regularity and communications had been established with the central resistance command and contacts in England.[2]

On 13 December 1943 the British paratrooper Jakob Jensen was caught by the Gestapo in Aarhus. During interrogation he supplied information about the networks of receiver groups in Jutland which resulted in many groups being destroyed, including the Hvidsten Group whose members were arrested on March 11, 1944. These events effectively crippled the resistance movement throughout the peninsula as supplies dried up. In Aarhus the resistance groups faced another problem as Grethe Bartram from the communist and resistance environment in Aarhus was hired as an informant by the Gestapo in March/April 1944. Bartram in total informed on some 50 resistance members leading to many groups in and around the city being dismantled by German authorities, including the Samsing Group in June 1944.

The events in the 6 months from December 1943 to June 1944 had effectively wiped out the leadership of the resistance in Jutland and stopped resistance operations in Aarhus.[3] The city was, however, an important seaport and rail hub for the German war effort with troops and supplies arriving frequently from Germany to be shipped out through the Port of Aarhus to Oslo and Riga. German authorities had until the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 also been concerned that an allied invasion might take place in Jutland and had extended the Atlantic Wall along its west coast while concentrating administrative institutions in the peninsula to prepare defenses. The German headquarters for Denmark was moved from Copenhagen to Silkeborg in November 1943,[4] the Gestapo headquarters for Jutland was moved to Aarhus in September 1943[5] and the supply headquarters for Denmark was moved to Aarhus in October 1943.[6] Combined these factors had made Aarhus an area of particular interest for the resistance movement and it was considered a priority to re-establish new groups that could disrupt German operations.[7]

In the spring of 1944, lieutenant commander Ernst Fisker from the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, stationed in Aarhus' Langelandsgade Barracks prior to the war, came into contact with the resistance movement in Aarhus.[7] He was encouraged by the commander of the resistance in Jutland to take command of any units in Aarhus, build up a new command structure and develop sabotage groups that could interfere with German operations, especially the railway.[8]

Formation

The first groups in the new organization were formed over the early summer of 1944. Initially one group was to obtain supplies while two others were sabotage groups, primarily intended to target infrastructure; in particular the railway and port. The first shipment of weapons was collected in July and the first operation against the railway occurred later that month when the rail line to Randers was bombed as a means of testing equipment.[8] In August the Holger Danske resistance group sent a representative, Jens Lillelund, to help build up the new groups and the overall command structure. Through 1944 the organization was gradually expanded with groups specialized in attacks on production and repair facilities.[8]

In the fall of 1944, it was considered a possibility that fighting might reach Denmark and a new wing was established within 5 Kolonne, the Demolition Groups (Danish: Nedrivningsgrupper). The intent of these groups was to destroy vital infrastructure in the event of an allied invasion so as to isolate and immobilize the German garrison in Aarhus. Contact was made with groups in other cities and towns throughout Jutland and demolition groups were set up under the central command of 5 Kolonne.

Organization

5 Kolonne was organized around a system of small independent groups, composed of typically 3 members, that primarily interacted with a central commander but rarely with each other. [9]

Commander
Ernst Fisker
Second in commandCommander,
Demolition Groups
Receiver GroupSabotage Groups
12 Groups		External groups
12 Groups		Internal groups
9 Groups

The external demolition groups included groups in Randers, Tilst, Viborg, Silkeborg, Odder, Grenå and Aalborg. The sabotage groups were generally made up of people who worked in specific locations. One group was entirely made up of workers from the harbor, another of DSB personnel and another of workers from the electricity company.

Operations

The German steamer Scharnørn, sunken after sabotage, Port of Aarhus
Aftermath of sabotage action against Universalfabrikkerne, Aarhus
Aftermath of sabotage action against Universalfabrikkerne, Aarhus
Aftermath of sabotage action against Universalfabrikkerne, Aarhus
Aftermath of sabotage action against car repair shop on Silkeborgvej, Aarhus

1944

The group performed about 100 acts of sabotage between September 1944 and May 1945. The harbor groups sank or destroyed three ships and damaged or destroyed some 50 factories or businesses. 3 members of the group died during different operations and memorial stone has been erected in Tranbjerg for two of them.[10][11]

11 SeptemberOffices of Universalfabrikkerne on Park Allé torched.
13 SeptemberFactory building in Fredensgade bombed.
15 SeptemberElectrical substation in Derbys harbor destroyed.
17 SeptemberFactory in Fredensgade bombed again and destroyed.
26 SeptemberBike storage on Tordenskjoldsgade 16 bombed.
27 SeptemberExplosion in German marine depot in the harbor.
2 October4 German locomotives at Frichs destroyed.
8 OctoberMechanics shop on Nordrevej in Åbyhøj torched.
9 OctoberOffices of Derby destroyed bombed.
9 October2 explosions in workshop in the south harbor.
10 OctoberSteamer Scharnørn sunk at pier with bombs.
13 October3 cars bombed in the harbor.
16 OctoberCannon emplacement in Marselisborg Lystbådehavn bombed.
24 OctoberBombs on rail line between Aarhus and Hasselager.
25 OctoberBombs on rail line between Aarhus and Hasselager.
26 OctoberBombs on rail line between Aarhus and Hasselager.
26 OctoberHauling winge in south harbor destroyed.
27 OctoberMechanics shop in Østergade destroyed.
28 OctoberAir drying facility in Risskov torched.
1 NovemberMechanics shop at Kirkegårdsvej 10 torched.
1 NovemberMechanics shop at central bus station torched.
2 NovemberMechanics shop in Jægergårdsgade 101 torched.
2 NovemberCars in Búlows workshop in Trøjborg destroyed.
3 November9 track switches between Østbanegården and Aarhus Central Station destroyed.
5 NovemberTrack on the rail line between Aarhus and Hasselager destroyed.
6 NovemberFactory in Vejlby destroyed.
7 November2 cranes in north harbor destroyed.
8 NovemberRail line between Aarhus and Risskov damaged.
9 NovemberRail line between Aarhus and Skanderborg damaged.
10 NovemberGerman concrete mixer destroyed.
13 NovemberSlipway in south harbor destroyed.
16 NovemberFuel station on Randersvej bombed.
16 NovemberWorkshop in Vigenshus bombed.
18 November7 rail cars under Frederiksbroen destroyed.
2 DecemberGerman package depot at godsbanegården torched.
15 DecemberElectrical substation in Langelandsgade destroyed.
18 DecemberLaundry facility in Mejlgade bombed.

1945

2 JanuaryCamouflage material in Viby destroyed.
9 JanuarySabotage against German radio vehicle in the harbor.
12 JanuaryGerman command central in Handelsbankens hus destroyed.
13 January2 rail cars under Frederiksbroen destroyed.
23 January2 cars bombed.
23 JanuaryElectrical substation at orthopedic hospital destroyed.
25 January3 track switches between Aarhus central station and harbor destroyed.
3 FebruaryFactory in Fredensgade torched.
5 FebruaryExtensive sabotage against rail lines around Aarhus.
7 FebruaryFirefight between resistance fighters and German troops in Brabrand.
8 FebruaryMachines in factory in Vejlby destroyed.
8 FebruaryFactory in Bruunsgade 62 torched.
11 FebruaryExtensive sabotage against rail lines north of Aarhus.
19 FebruaryBombs against DSB bodywork facility.
20 FebruaryGerman truck bombed on the corner of Samsøgade and Hjarnøgade.
21 February5 rail cars destroyed.
22 FebruaryGerman locomotive in Viby destroyed.
23 FebruaryBombs between Bruunsbro and Frederiksbro. Firefight breaks out and 2 resistance fighters wounded and one dies.
24 FebruaryArmed robbery against German steamer and ammunition stolen.
26 FebruaryCars and trucks in Aarhus Hallen in Jægergårdsgade 162 bombed.
March 7Building on Kystvejen partially destroyed.
March 12Bombs in offices in Klostergade.
March 12DSB command central destroyed.
March 12Railway tracks between Lystrup and Risskov destroyed.
March 13Extensive rail sabotage.
March 16Fire set in German fortifications in Risskov.
March 18Railway bombings between Aarhus and Mundelstrup and at Risskov.
March 21Bombs placed at Fortevej to keep workers from working on fortification construction.
March 22Electrical substation on Marselis Boulevard destroyed.
March 23Failed attack on German plane results in the death of two resistance fighters.
March 24DSB locomotive between Aarhus and Mundelstrup destroyed.
March 25Military train derailed between Aarhus and Brabrand.
March 27Bombs against DSB central repair facility and train depot.
March 28Workshop in Åbyhøj torched.
April 2German ship Gotfred Hansen sunken.
April 4German locomotive in Viby destroyed.
April 5Phone masts between Langelandsgade Kaserne and Vorrevangen destroyed. Firefight between resistance fighters and German troops.
April 5Several bombs under cargo train in Brabrand.
April 610 German vehicles destroyed in Spanien.
April 6Several track switches destroyed.
April 8Cables for Wehrmacht emergency central destroyed.
April 9Warning bombs against worker barracks in Tøndergade.
April 11Rail line to Brabrand damaged.
April 11Several German cars destroyed.
April 12Rail line to Brabrand damaged.
April 12German barracks at the central train station blown up.
April 14Car bomb against truck company on Nordre Strandvej.
April 1420 explosions in railyard.
April 15Locomotive derailed at Brabrand.
April 16German ship engine in factory destroyed.
April 162 German express boats destroyed.
April 16Teargas bombs against guardhouse in Nygade.
April 178 bombs against cannon emplacements at Riisvangen.
April 19German steamer Anni on slipway in harbor destroyed.
April 203 trucks destroyed.
April 20Rail line between Aarhus and Brabrand bombed.
April 21Workshop in Åbyhøj torched.
April 23Several trucks destroyed.
April 24Rail sabotage at Brabrand.
April 26Hipo cars destroyed.
April 26Workshop in Brabrand torched.
April 27Villa in Risskov bombed.
May 1Bombs in cargo railyard.
May 3Extensive rail sabotage.
May 4Extensive rail sabotage.

References

  1. ↑ "Modstandsfolk i den gamle by" (in Danish). The Old Town Museum. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Hauerbach 1945, p. 13.
  3. ↑ Hauerbach 1945, p. 14.
  4. ↑ "Silkeborgkontorets sidste dage" (in Danish). Tidsskrift. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "I dette øjeblik meddeles det" (in Danish). Århus Stiftstidende. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-08-10. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Fode 2005, p. 46.
  7. 1 2 Hauerbach 1945, p. 15.
  8. 1 2 3 Hauerbach 1945, p. 16.
  9. ↑ Hauerbach 1945, p. 1.
  10. ↑ Hauerbach 1945, p. 25.
  11. ↑ "Mindestenen på Ellemosevej" (PDF) (in Danish). Tranbjerg lokalhistorisk forening. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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