Perth Voice Interactive

BEFORE IT ENDS is based on Denmark’s occupation by Nazi Germany in 1940, despite declaring its neutrality.

The occupation lasted five years until Germany admitted defeat as the Allies and Soviets surrounded Berlin.

In the final months of the war several hundred thousand German refugees fleeing the advancing Soviets ended up in Denmark. 

The story portrays the influx of German civilian refugees, mostly malnourished women and children who arrived exhausted and seriously ill. The newcomers are a dilemma for headmaster Jakob and his wife Lisa, as they are forced to close their school and church to house them. 

Jakob recognises the influx as another violent German occupation, while Lisa sees the people as victims of circumstances and tries to assist them.

It explores the tension between moral duty (helping refugees) and the deep-seated resentment towards someone from an increasingly malevolent invader.

The moral dilemmas are viscerally felt as you watch the unfolding situation; should they help the refugees, who are victims of war themselves, or turn a blind eye and leave them to their fate?

I hadn’t heard much about Denmark during the war, so it was quite interesting to discover this fascinating insight into the death throes of WWII. 

by PAULA HOLLAND