Ringsted Occupied and Liberated

The exhibition – Ringsted Occupied and Liberated – in pictures can be experienced at Ringsted Library. 

To mark the 80th anniversary of Denmark's liberation, Ringsted Library is hosting a photo exhibition, created by Ringsted Archives. Occupation, resistance and liberation are the three themes in the small photo exhibition from Ringsted Archives. Through historical photos, you will gain an insight into daily life, the resistance movement and the liberation in 1945.

German soldiers took Ringsted on the morning of April 9, 1940. They left the town again five years later on May 7, 1945, somewhat less ostentatiously than when they arrived. Germany had lost the war, and on May 4, 1945, the German troops in Europe surrendered, and Denmark was free again.

Occupation, resistance and liberation are the three themes in this small photo exhibition from Ringsted Archives. The special exhibition provides an insight into local conditions told through photos – a unique snapshot of history.

The population of Ringsted lived under special conditions during the occupation. Ringsted Barracks was the regional office of the Schalburg Corps, a Danish branch of the German SS (Hitler's own guard), and the town was also occupied by a large group of German soldiers. Nevertheless, more resistance groups gradually emerged in the town as the occupation progressed.

Towards the end of the war, the resistance groups became more courageous. For a long time there had been a weapons depot at the freight railway. It was moved to Dampmøllen, shortly after being moved to Nørregade, at the home of a member of the group. From here the weapons were distributed.

The steam mill was used as a meeting place and sleeping place. And as a hiding place for illegal magazines and weapons. The steam mill was centrally located for monitoring traffic, and there were heavily armed guards at all windows.

At the liberation, the Steam Mill served as a meeting place, and the Stock Exchange as a guard station for the resistance movement.

The exhibition can be seen on the art screens by the non-fiction section until May 31st. library opening hours.