It has been inspiring to see Canada standing with the people of Greenland and Denmark. In a world that seems increasingly cynical and dark, it was genuinely moving to witness the warmth, joy and friendship on display at the recent opening of Canada’s consulate in Greenland.
But it wasn’t so long ago that Canada and Denmark were locked into a longstanding feud about sovereignty over a northern island. If Donald Trump had any class, he might learn something from how Canada settles disputes with an allied nation.
Okay, so the fight over Hans Island wasn’t nearly as high-stakes as Trump’s attempt to take over Greenland, but it does offer an important lesson in how allies resolve disputes.
For nearly 50 years, Canada and Denmark had been squabbling over control of Hans Island, a barren piece of rock in the Arctic, used by both the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 19th century and Greenlandic whalers.
In 1984, Canadian soldiers landed on the island, planted the Canadian flag, and cheekily, they left a bottle of Canadian whiskey for the Danes. The Danes responded with their own flag planting and a gift of a bottle of schnapps.
This was the beginning of the “Whiskey War”.
In the years that followed, both sides made numerous trips to Hans Island to plant the flag, erect cairns, and leave domestic alcohol for their adversary. In 2005, Canada’s defence minister, Bill Graham, even flew to the island to show Canada’s determination to advance its claim.
But in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two NATO allies decided it was time to settle the dispute. They drew a line down the middle and called it even.
No threats. No tantrums.
But there is another story about Canada and its relationship with Denmark that few Canadians know.
In May 1945, a small group of Canadian paratroopers with Sten guns stopped the Soviet takeover of Denmark.
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (1CanPara) had been fighting almost nonstop since June 6th, 1944. They were called in for many tough jobs, including helping the Americans during the Battle of the Bulge.
1CanPara were part of the largest airborne drop in history in March 1945 as Allied troops pushed across the Rhine. Over 16,000 paratroopers were dropped by 1500 troop planes.
In the war’s final days, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was growing increasingly concerned about the Soviet push for the German city of Wismar on the Baltic coast. It sits at a key link to Denmark. If the Soviets reached Wismar, they would move straight into Denmark.
Churchill needed soldiers who could move fast and fearlessly. He didn’t think twice about his choice. He sent the men of 1CanPara.
The Canadians advanced so quickly that they actually passed entire German convoys on the road. No shots were fired.
Sergeant Andy Anderson later described one such event:
“The strangeness of the situation is that we are passing complete units of the German Army, lying by the roadside, some with vehicles, even horse-drawn artillery, but no shots are exchanged, no white flags were shown, and we cannot stop to disarm them.”
The Canadians took control of Wismar as Russian armour moved on the city. The vastly outgunned Canadians were protecting both the Danish border and German civilians who feared heavy reprisals and mass rapes.
When the Russian forces encountered the small Canadian unit, they were shocked. Things were friendly at first, and then the Russian commander told them to step aside so that his tanks could continue moving forward.
Lt.-Colonel George Eadie refused.
Edie, from Winnipeg, had turned down a chance to play for the Chicago Blackhawks to serve his country, and ordered his paratroopers to hold their ground in the face of the Russian tanks. The Russians were shocked that Eadie and the outgunned Canadians were ready to fight.
They backed off.
In the peace agreement that followed, the allies gave Wismar to the Russians, but Denmark remained free.
This is not a story I ever read in any Canadian history book, but the people of Denmark remember. During the recent struggle for Greenland, a number of Danes reached out to me to tell me the story of how their freedom was won by a small, gutsy group of Canadians.
We have been allies ever since.
Despite the Whiskey War.
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