Rydhave

Hidden within the elegant Charlottenlund district of Copenhagen, Rydhave stands as a silent witness to a turbulent chapter of history. Rydhave wasn’t always a peaceful ambassador’s residence. During World War II, it served as the private residence of Werner Best, the Nazi governor of civil affairs. Best, a shrewd and ambitious lawyer, rose quickly through the Nazi ranks. He played a key role in the deportation of Jews in France. His past painted a chilling picture of a man involved in legitimizing Nazi crimes. In 1942, Best’s ambition brought him to Denmark, a country initially spared the harshest realities of occupation. Denmark had surrendered peacefully in 1940. In return, they maintained some domestic control. Danish Jews, unlike their counterparts in other occupied territories, were initially protected by Danish law. This unique situation delayed their deportation. However, this fragile peace shattered in August 1943. The Germans declared a state of emergency. The Danish government was dissolved. Danish police officers were arrested and sent to Germany, joined by politicians and others deemed undesirable. October 1943 marked a turning point for Danish Jews. Best, perhaps sensing the shifting tides of war and seeking to preserve his own future, leaked information about impending roundups. This act, driven by self-preservation rather than altruism, allowed many Jews to escape to Sweden. While approximately 500 were captured, thousands more evaded the Nazi net. Rydhave, once Best’s sanctuary, played an unwitting role in this dramatic escape. After the war, Best faced justice in Denmark. Sentenced to death in 1948, his sentence was later reduced. He was released in 1951 and died in West Germany in 1989. The story of Rydhave is a stark reminder of the complexities of wartime. It’s a place where personal ambition collided with the plight of a nation under occupation, where a single act of self-interest had profound consequences. Today, as the residence of the American ambassador, Rydhave’s serene exterior belies its dramatic past. It remains a powerful symbol of a time when the world held its breath, and the fate of thousands hung in the balance.