‘I am pleased to say that a detailed and effective solution was agreed upon. It was decided that the Jewish populations in every country we control will be deported to the east, where six camps have been established to dispose of them. This map here – turn to the next sheet, please – shows the camps: they’re all in the General Government zone in what was Poland: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Bełżec, Chełmno, Sobibor and Majdanek. The transportation and extermination programme has been proceeding with great efficiency. Last year alone we dealt with two million seven hundred thousand Jews. Taking into account those we have also dealt with…’ he smiled appreciatively as laughter filled the room, ‘since the start of the war, we have managed to reduce the Jewish population by some four million.’

A loud murmur of approval.

‘So far this year we have already dealt with a further three hundred thousand Jews. But the Führer is unhappy that the progress is not quick enough. And specifically, he wants to know why the Jews here in Denmark are still at liberty. I have been in Berlin on a number of occasions recently. I have endeavoured to explain that the particular situation pertaining in this country means we need to be careful about upsetting the delicate nature of the occupation. I have pointed out that the last thing we want is trouble here in Denmark, and I fear if we dealt with the Jews here in the same way as in France or Poland, for example, we could have a serious problem that would mean a distraction for our armed forces.

‘Notwithstanding this, the patience of Eichmann and others in Berlin has worn thin. On my last visit to Berlin I was instructed to deal with the Jewish question in Denmark once and for all. In recent weeks, some of you will have been aware of the work we have been doing to identify the Jews here and discover where they live. This work is now complete: we have identified somewhere in the region of eight and a half thousand. The arrests and deportations will start next week. I expect that by the middle of October, Denmark will be free of Jews.

‘For this to happen, I require the cooperation of everyone here. From now on, this is the priority of each and every one of you. All your normal duties should be postponed until the Jews have been dealt with. All leave is cancelled and you should expect to work over the weekend. Heil Hitler!’

Ferdinand Rudolf von Buhler waited until the following day before making his move. The simplest course of action would be to do nothing, avoid making contact with the British and keep his involvement with the arrest and deportation of the Jews to a minimum.

But he knew he couldn’t possibly do that: his conscience would not allow him to be a bystander.