Memorial Stone for Private Jørgensen
Memorial Stone for Private Jørgen Jørgensen at Hokkerup
On 9 April 1940, Denmark was occupied by Germany. In the early morning hours, several short but intense battles took place in Southern Jutland, where Danish soldiers attempted to resist the German invasion. One of the men who lost his life that day was Private Jørgen Th. Jørgensen.
Jørgen Jørgensen was a private in the defence company of the 2nd Infantry Pioneer Battalion and took part in the fighting at Hokkerup between Kruså and Sønderborg. Here, the Danish forces were confronted by a far superior German force equipped with motorcycles, tanks, and air support. During the fighting, Jørgensen was struck by a bullet in the lung. He was taken to a military hospital in Flensburg, where he died a few hours later from his wounds.
He was only 21 years old.
Photo: Thomas Christesen, 30. juni 1940
The recoilless rifle group from Søgaard Camp before 9 April 1940. Private Jørgensen can be seen in the back kneeling row, third from the left. (Photo: Th. Christensen, National Museum of Denmark)
The Fighting at Hokkerup
The battle at Hokkerup stands as one of the places where Danish soldiers attempted to defend the country against the invasion. The Danish forces fought under difficult conditions and were quickly surrounded. They were heavily outnumbered and poorly equipped compared to the German forces, which advanced with motorcycles, armoured vehicles, and air support. Nevertheless, the soldiers resisted and continued fighting for as long as possible.
The fighting lasted only a short time, but it left deep marks on the soldiers and families affected by it. During the exchange of fire, Jørgen Jørgensen was mortally wounded and later transported to a military hospital in Flensburg. He became one of the 13 Danish soldiers who lost their lives on 9 April 1940.
Contemporary eyewitnesses reported great bravery among the soldiers. General Essemann later wrote about the fighting:
“At Hokkerup fell the fine and brave Sergeant Vous of the 4th Battalion and Private 584 of the 2nd Infantry Pioneer Battalion, J. Jørgensen from Valby.”
The Funeral and Memorial Ceremony
On 11 April 1940, a solemn funeral ceremony was held for the fallen soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel S. E. Claussen later described the moving journey through Southern Jutland to Odense:
“This journey remains in my memory as one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. It was the Southern Jutlanders’ farewell, and it was their gratitude.”
Along the route, people stood with the Danish flag at half-mast. Banners were lowered, flowers were thrown onto the road, and church bells rang as the fallen soldiers were taken toward Odense.
In Odense, the dead were received at the barracks by the garrison and the relatives. A deeply moving memorial ceremony was held in the barracks courtyard before the coffins were handed over to the families.
Jørgen Jørgensen was not among the five soldiers who took part in the ceremony in Odense. He remained at the military hospital in Flensburg, and the German authorities wished to transport the fallen Danish soldier to Copenhagen themselves as a final mark of honour. The coffin was taken via Søgaard Camp, where a memorial service was held, and three of his comrades were allowed to accompany him.
A contemporary account states:
“On the other side of the narrow road, Jørgen Jørgensen fell. He was one of the company’s finest soldiers and died on the way to St. Franziskus Hospital in Flensburg. After a memorial service at Søgaard, he was transported in a German hearse to Copenhagen, accompanied by a lieutenant, a corporal, and a private. The funeral took place at Vestre Cemetery.”
The memorial ceremony at Odense Barracks on 11 April 1940. (Photo: Christoffersen, Odense)
A Memory That Lives On
Today, the memorial stone at Hokkerup stands as a reminder of the dramatic hours of 9 April 1940 and of the young men who risked their lives for Denmark.
The memorial stone was unveiled on 30 June 1940 and stands on Rønshovedvej near the site where the fighting took place.
The inscription on the stone reads:
“Here fell on 9 April 1940 in battle for Denmark.
Private of the 2nd Infantry Pioneer Battalion
Jørgen Th. Jørgensen,
born 12 September 1918 in Copenhagen.”
The story of Private Jørgen Jørgensen is the story of a young man who, in an extraordinary situation, showed courage, duty, and willingness to sacrifice. His memory lives on — both at the memorial stone in Hokkerup and through the photographs, stories, and commemorations that continue to keep the history alive for new generations.