Memorial Stone for Fallen Gendarmes in Padborg
A memorial to three fallen gendarmes
In Gendarmhaven in Padborg stands the memorial stone to border gendarmes Johannes Petersen Birk, Albert Sørensen Albertsen and Anders Andersen Hansen. All three lost their lives on 9 April 1940, when German forces crossed the Danish border.
The front of the stone features a carved angel motif together with the names of the three gendarmes and the words: “Shot by civilians in plain clothes, 9 April 1940.”
The stone’s decoration and inscription were designed by the sculptor Aksel Einar Utzon-Frank. The verse on the back was written by the author and folklorist Hansigne Lorenzen, while the stone itself was donated by Smedeby Skærvefabrik.
From left: border gendarmes Johannes Petersen Birk, Albert Sørensen Albertsen and Anders Andersen Hansen. All three were killed in Padborg on 9 April 1940. Photo: Unknown/Museum Sønderjyllands Mediearkiv.
A camouflaged German armoured train at Padborg Station on 9 April 1940. Photo: Morten Poulsen/Bov Lokalarkiv.
The first hours of 9 April
In the early hours of 9 April 1940, the German occupation of Denmark began. At around four o’clock in the morning, a group of German agents dressed in civilian clothes moved northwards along the railway near Padborg.
Their task was to secure the railway viaducts before regular German troops crossed the border at 4.15 a.m. The bridges and railway were important for the further German advance through Denmark.
The Danish border gendarmes had previously been tasked with being prepared to destroy the viaducts in the event of an attack. That morning, however, they had been ordered to withdraw without fighting and without blowing up the bridges.
The gunfire at the viaduct
At the southern railway viaduct, the German agents in civilian clothes encountered the three uniformed gendarmes. When the gendarmes called out to the men, the Germans drew their weapons and opened fire.
Johannes Petersen Birk was killed at the scene. Albert Sørensen Albertsen and Anders Andersen Hansen were seriously wounded and taken to Sønderborg Hospital, where they both died later that same day.
The three gendarmes thus became the first Danish victims of the German invasion. They were not preparing to blow up the viaducts but were, on orders, withdrawing from the border when they were shot.
The memorial stone for the three fallen border gendarmes was unveiled on 4 May 1941, during the German occupation. Photo: Unknown/Bov Lokalarkiv.
The memorial stone for the fallen gendarmes in Gendarmhaven.
A memorial stone erected during the occupation
As early as the autumn of 1940, local residents decided to erect a memorial stone for the three gendarmes. The money was raised locally, and the stone was unveiled on 4 May 1941 in a ceremony attended by many people.
Shortly before the unveiling, the Danish Ministry of State demanded that the words “Shot by civilians in plain clothes” be removed from the stone. The words were therefore covered with stone filler, but when the stone became wet, the inscription could still be read.
Today, the words are once again clearly visible on the stone. People still gather here for commemorative ceremonies and wreath-laying on 9 April to remember Johannes Petersen Birk, Albert Sørensen Albertsen and Anders Andersen Hansen.