Winston Churchill reacted to Germany’s lightning invasion of Denmark by calling the country, “Hitler’s tame canary.” A group of schoolboys from Jutland were so incensed they created a resistance unit to fight the Nazi occupation and called it ‘The Churchill club”.

They started by delivering anti-Nazi propaganda and spraying walls with graffiti, riding their bikes on these actions. They based themselves in a monastery, despite the enemy being “around us 360 degrees” at all times. Their logo (pictured) was called the 'Flame of Resistance'.

One of their main acts of resistance was painting their symbol on street signs and on the homes and offices of Nazi soldiers. Over time, the boys managed to steal weapons from their occupiers, learned how to assemble guns, and to make bombs.

Their early attacks took place during the day with what appeared to be breath-taking audacity, escaping on bicycles. The reality was the boys did not want to get in trouble at home by being late for their supper.

Churchill Club members were caught in May 1942 and sentenced to varying terms in prison and even threatened with Auschwitz. In October 1942, the boys escaped from prison and went on the run, carrying out 19 nights of sabotage before recapture.

The Churchill Club met Winston Churchill in 1952.

The Churchill Club were national heroes of the Danish resistance, which they helped build and inspire. Read more about their story, and about other heroes who risked everything to resist Nazism and fascism. https://heroesoftheresistance.org/profile/churchill-club