During much of
World War II,
Denmark was
occupied by
Nazi Germany. The occupation began with
Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the
Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish institutions continued to function relatively normally until 1943. Both the
Danish government and
king remained in the country in an uneasy relationship between a
democratic and a
totalitarian system until the Danish government stepped down in a protest of the German demands to institute the death penalty for sabotage.