Panel 1: Weapon Airdrops
It Started in 1943
During the German occupation of Denmark (1940-1945), weapon airdrops became an essential part of the resistance’s fight. They began in 1943 and intensified in 1944-45, coordinated by the British intelligence service SOE in collaboration with Danish resistance groups. Weapons were dropped from Allied planes over remote areas such as forests and fields, where special receiving groups were ready to collect and hide them.
SOE agents were also trained in England. These agents were parachuted in and trained to organize sabotage and provide support to the resistance groups. Training in explosives and weapons was crucial as the resistance had no experience with them.
Jens Toldstrup (born Anton Jensen) was the airdrop leader in Jutland from April 1944 until the liberation. Before him, Flemming Juncker served as the airdrop leader.
Weapons, Explosives, and SOE Agents
The weapons—primarily rifles, pistols, submachine guns, and explosives—were used for sabotage against German installations and to maintain order after the liberation. The planes mainly came from England. The operations were risky, as German forces actively patrolled, and many resistance fighters put their lives at risk.
The airdrops significantly strengthened the resistance’s ability to challenge the occupying forces and made a major contribution to the liberation struggle.
Photo: An English plane drops containers over an airdrop site. The receiving group on the ground is ready to collect them.
Photo: Frihedsmuseets Fotoarkiv
Photo: This is what one of the containers looked like.
Photo: Frihedsmuseets Fotoarkiv
Photo: The contents of the containers were weapons and explosives for the resistance.
Photo: Frihedsmuseets Fotoarkiv
Photo: Jens Toldstrup (born Anton Jensen) was the airdrop chief in Jutland. He led the reception and distribution of large quantities of weapons and explosives as the airdrop chief.
Photo: Nationalmuseet
Panel 2: Airdrop Sites
Airdrop Site TJ193 “ANKER”
There were also airdrop sites near Aabybro. The closest one was in Rævhede Plantation, about 3 km west of Aabybro, and it had the codename “ANKER.”
The receiving groups were notified of weapon airdrops through coded messages broadcast by the BBC’s radio transmissions to occupied countries. These messages were read as greetings, such as “Greetings to Anker.”
This meant that the leader of the receiving group knew that they needed to assemble people and be ready for the British plane arriving that night. They had to be ready at midnight and wait for the plane to fly over, dropping containers.
Who Operates “ANKER”?
“ANKER” was operated by people from Kaas, Birkelse, and Aabybro.
The Aabybro people included Harry Thomsen, Jens Christian Jørgensen, Robert Falborg, Erik Vad, and Jacob Sørensen.
Furthermore, according to an eyewitness account from Harry Thomsen, Airdrop Chief Toldstrup was present at one of the airdrops at “ANKER,” where he “shook hands” with the receiving team.
There were 5 attempts at airdrops between December 31, 1944, and April 4, 1945. There were drops twice with 12 containers and 2 packages of hand grenades and pistols each time.
Three times, the plane had to turn back due to engine damage or poor weather.
Photo: The receiving group listens to a special BBC announcement. When there was a “Greetings to” message, the receiving group would assemble and be ready on the site, waiting for the English plane to arrive and drop the containers.
Source: Frihedsmuseets Fotoarkiv
Photo: An original document from an airdrop at “ANKER.” No containers were dropped this night due to poor weather.
Source: Søren Flensted, Billund
Panel 3: The Contents Must Be Secured
It Was Hard Work and Dangerous…
After gathering the containers and hiding the parachutes in dug holes, the containers had to be transported to safety. Each container weighed over 150 kg, so it was hard work. Some containers would dig into the soft soil, and others would be scattered over a large area, so it took time to gather them. The truck from the Briketfabrik was used to transport the containers.
They borrowed a truck from the Briketfabrik near Kås and transported the containers to the Kalkværk located half a kilometer from the Briketfabrik. Here, the goods were stored in the large silo at the Kalkværk. The silo served as a depot for the other receiving sites in the area, and from here, weapons and explosives were distributed to resistance groups in Jutland.
The transport often didn’t begin until early morning, so the journey wasn’t without risk, as workers at the Briketfabrik started their shifts early. A group of workers noticed the transport but were asked by the receiving group to “act as if they hadn’t seen anything”—and for extra security, the workers were required to show their identification cards. No one from the receiving group was exposed, but the site was closed down due to the increased risk that the Germans had “caught on.”
They Were Supposed to Fly Directly to the Airdrop Site
The British planes and their crews faced high-risk airdrop missions and were supposed to fly directly to the airdrop site without turning back. A turn could easily be detected by the German listening stations in the area, which would then indicate that an airdrop had occurred nearby.
There were also several other airdrop sites in the area, such as “SIGMUND” in Tranum Klitplantage and “YRSA” near the Briketfabrik. On Øland, the site was called “BOJE.”
Map 1: Overview of the airdrop sites in the area. “ANKER” was notably close to the approximately 800 German soldiers stationed in the Aabybro area. There were 5 attempts at airdrops at “ANKER,” only 2 of which were successful.
Map by Aske Kristoffersen, Local Historical Consultant, Jammerbugt Municipality
Map 2: Briketfabrikken and Kalkværket. The silo at Kalkværket was used as a depot for all containers from the airdrop sites in the area. From there, weapons and explosives were transported to resistance groups in Jutland.
Map by Aske Kristoffersen, Local Historical Consultant, Jammerbugt Municipality
Photo: Briketfabrikken and Kalkværket as seen from the air. The Kalkværk is located just above the Briketfabrikken.
Photo: Arkiv.dk
Panel 4: The Largest Airdrop of the Occupation Period
Airdrop Site “BOJE”
On April 11, 1945, the receiving team at “BOJE” received three airdrops in one night. In total, 36 containers and packages were received that night. The last drop was most likely intended for another site, as one of the surrounding sites did not receive a drop, even though they had been mentioned in the BBC greeting.
Containers Hidden Near the Airdrop Site
The containers were initially hidden in a stack barn near the airdrop site, but shortly after, they were transported to the depot in Kalkværk’s silo.
Before all the containers were placed in the stack barn, a German night fighter plane flew over the area and dived down toward the barn. The receiving team was in a hurry. They also knew that the containers had to be moved quickly. A few days later, all the containers (around 10 tons) were transported to the Kalkværk silo. The transport was dangerous, as the Germans were patrolling the area intensely, but fortunately, the journey went smoothly.
The Largest Number of Containers During the Occupation
This airdrop is historically significant as it is the largest number of containers dropped on a single site in one night during the entire occupation!
There were 10 attempts at airdrops at the site, but only 3 times did the plane successfully drop containers for the receiving group.
“BOJE” was operated by receiving teams from Øland and Halvrimmen.
Photo 1: Excerpt from the Frihedsmuseet Database describing the large airdrop at “BOJE.” The largest number of containers received at the same site on one night during the occupation.
Source: Søren Flensted, Billund
Photo 2: Toldstrup’s overview of the airdrops in the area. Note the largest airdrop of the occupation at “BOJE” on April 11, 1945.
Source: Søren Flensted, Billund