She worked tirelessly to support survivors and rebuild communities that had been torn apart by the Holocaust. Her bravery and selflessness serve as a powerful example of the impact that individuals can have in the face of great evil.
The story of Denmark’s resistance to the Nazis during the Holocaust is a testament to the power of courage, compassion, and solidarity. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, there are always individuals willing to risk everything to stand up for what is right.
As we reflect on the incredible acts of heroism that took place during the Holocaust, let us remember the brave individuals like Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz, Gerda Valentiner, and the Danish resistance fighters who risked everything to save the lives of their fellow human beings. May their actions inspire us to always stand up against injustice and hatred, no matter the cost.
She took a leave of absence from her teaching job for two years and volunteered at Jewish refugee camps in Germany and Austria for Holocaust survivors.
Like many other heroes of the Holocaust, Gerda downplayed her courageous role during the war. She insisted, “I only did what many Danes did, nothing special. We thought it was perfectly natural to help people in mortal danger.”
Ceremony at Yad Vashem’s Hall of Remembrance honoring Gerda Valentiner
Gerda was honored by Yad Vashem in 1968 as Righteous Among the Nations. In 1971, when she was 68 and had retired from teaching, she came to live in Israel for a year. She wished to see the country and learn the Hebrew language of the people whose lives she had saved.
After the war, diplomat Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz said, “Everyone is obliged to imagine himself in another person’s position in a given situation. I do not think that my life is more important than the lives of 7,000 Jews.” Duckwitz, the highest-ranking German officer to be involved directly in the rescue of Jews on this scale, received the title of Righteous Among the Nations from Yad Vashem in 1971.