Hour of Need: The Daring Escape of the Danish Jews during World War II: A Graphic Novel

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Hour of Need is a graphic novel telling the true story of the Nazi Resistance in Denmark during World War II and the heroes that saved the Danish Jews by helping them evacuate to Sweden.

In the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, legend had it that should danger ever come to Denmark, the mighty warrior Holger Danske promised to wake from his centuries-long slumber to protect its citizens.

When the Nazis move to round up young Mette and her fellow Danish Jews in a surprise raid in 1943 after years of letting Denmark rule its people, her father must make life and death decisions to save his family. Overnight, they have become refugees at the mercy of the complete strangers they meet during their escape. The mythical Holger Danske's promise to the Danish people manifests in the compassion and bravery of a school teacher turned resistance leader and other ordinary citizens who bravely defy the Nazi regime to come to her rescue in her hour of need.

Told from the point of view of Mette returning to Denmark years later with her grandchildren, Hour of Need tells the story of how the people of an occupied nation--from king to fisherman--risked their lives to evacuate their Jewish countrymen to Sweden in small fishing boats. Hour of Need is a tribute to the heroes that saved the Danish Jews and how humanity triumphs in the darkest hours.

Created in association with the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. ilholocaustmuseum.org

About the Author

Ralph Shayne is an entrepreneur and finance professional, and the son of a mother who was a Danish citizen until she married an American and immigrated to the United States in the 1960s. Born and raised in Chicago, his mere existence is predicated on being the offspring of a mother who was part of the one in ten European Jewish children to survive the War because of the rare bravery, compassion and exploits of her fellow Danish citizens.

Tatiana Goldberg is a Danish comics illustrator born in Frederiksberg and now living in Hillerød. Her work with illustration and comics has been informed by her background as a licensed psychologist specializing in psychological tools in visual design.