Seven historical sites near the Danish-German border bring World War II up close. Here, the past is felt in the landscape, buildings, and atmosphere – with powerful stories of hope, resistance, loss, and human strength.
In the borderland between hope and despair, traces of the Second World War are still visible in the landscape, the buildings, and the stories
Our three routes take you close to the places where people faced impossible choices – and where, along the way, you may feel your own moral compass begin to shift. The routes are based on the book I Was Here, developed through collaboration between museums and destination organisations north and south of the border. Choose a route below and click through to experience the full story, stop by stop.
Close to the Danish-German border, you’ll find seven historical sites where World War II still leaves its mark – both in the landscape and in people’s memories. Each place tells powerful stories, from big events to personal experiences. At Frøslevlejren, Danish prisoners held onto a fragile hope. In Zelle II in Kolding, echoes of the resistance still seem to linger. At Mark | The Museum for a New Danish History in Grindsted, you learn about the everyday choices people faced during the occupation. The memorials in Ladelund and Husum-Schwesing honor those who didn’t survive. In Neuengamme, a huge brick building reminds us of forced labor and oppression, while Das Jüdische Museum in Rendsburg brings Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust into focus..
In the dark cellars of Staldgården, you become part of a story about courage, fear, and consequences. Through intense sound and authentic surroundings, the interrogation rooms come to life. Here, the traces of Gestapo's presence in Kolding in 1943 are tangible. Voices from the past reach out to us – reminding us of the choices some had to make, and the price they paid. A place where history is concrete and our responsibility becomes clear.
Mark | The Museum for a New Danish History in Grindsted tells about life, choices, and doubt during the occupation. Here, you meet ordinary people who faced extraordinary situations. How does one balance between collaboration, resistance, and sheer survival? Through personal stories and objects, hope and fear come close. Mark not only provides insight into the past – it prompts reflection on the choices we face today.
In the barracks of The Frøslev Camp Museum, time stands still. But that stillness became a lifeline for many Danes. Here, you can sense the fragile line between hope and despair – and the responsibility to remember those who were held captive.
In Ladelund, nearly 300 people fell victim to the brutality of the concentration camp. Here, the dead rest side by side. Their silence speaks – reminding us why history still matters today.
Here, remembrance rises from the ground in the form of iron steles. Each nameplate carries a story of life, loss, and unfinished resistance. This place challenges us: What do we carry forward – and what do we forget?
The story of Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust lives on here. Not as statistics, but as people and culture. A place where vitality and loss stand side by side – and are remembered.
The massive factory buildings bear witness to the vast scale of the Holocaust. Thousands were forced to work and die here. At the same time, the place insists that every life had a name, and every voice must be heard.
©Destination TrekantområdetPhoto:Frame & Work
Explore the borderland between hope and despair. Here you encounter places and stories where the war put people to the test – and where the choices still cast shadows today. Step into history, feel the atmosphere, and find your way forward
The project is supported by Interreg
Read about the Interreg support programme here: Interreg Deutschland-Danmark
