Max Bæklund: A Brave Danish Resistance Fighter

Max Rolf Niels Bæklund (1913-1981) was a prominent figure in the Danish resistance during World War II. As a member of groups such as Holger Danske, BOPA, De Frie Danske, and Nationalt Værn, he fought against the German occupation of Denmark and took part in sabotage missions aimed at disrupting Nazi military plans.

Bæklund was closely connected to Josef Søndergaard’s group at Stjerne Radio in Istedgade, where resistance efforts intensified from spring 1943. One of his most significant actions came on August 24, 1943, when the Holger Danske group carried out sabotage against the Forum building in Frederiksberg. The Forum was set to be converted into barracks for about 1,500 German soldiers, and the sabotage aimed to stop this military expansion.

Max Bæklund arrived at the target on his bicycle, carrying a beer crate on the back. The crate concealed 28 kilograms of explosives, cleverly hidden beneath the pilsner bottles. This bold act sent a clear message that the Danish resistance would never yield to the occupying forces.