Her involvement in the clandestine movement against German occupation demonstrated a commitment to both medical duty and the preservation of human life under extreme duress.
Early Life and Medical Training
Born on 30 March 1913 in the parish of Frejlev, located southwest of Aalborg, Ellen Marie Christensen was the daughter of farmer Peter Marinus Christensen and Christiane Hansen. Raised within a stable household, she completed her formal schooling before undertaking professional training to become a nurse. Her career path brought her into the medical environment that would eventually serve as a base for her covert activities.
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During the German occupation of Denmark, Christensen joined the resistance group Frit Danmark. She initially assisted in the production and distribution of prohibited publications. Her role intensified following the October 1943 crackdown on Danish Jews. She provided medical treatment to refugees, managed the logistics for the movement of weapons and explosives, and secured falsified identity documentation to aid those evading capture.
Partnership and Underground Work
Christensen developed a partnership with Jørgen Haagen Schmith, a resistance coordinator known as Citronen. Following his injury in September 1944, she provided daily medical care for him. After the Gestapo located their hiding place in October 1944, Schmith was killed. Christensen avoided capture despite the loss of her identity papers, forcing her to transition to a life working underground for the remainder of the conflict.
Post-War International Service
Following the cessation of hostilities, Christensen continued her nursing career through the Red Cross. She undertook several international assignments, including postings in Greece. She also served during the 1967 Six Day War in Israel. She died in 1998 in Skannerup at the age of 85, having spent her life moving between clinical practice and crisis response.
Fast facts
- Born: 30 March 1913, Frejlev Parish, Denmark
- Died: 1998, Skannerup, Denmark
- Occupation: Nurse
- Resistance Group: Frit Danmark
- Award: Florence Nightingale Medal (1953)
- Notable Partner: Jørgen Haagen Schmith
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
Questions readers ask
What was Ellen Christensen's role in the Danish resistance?
She distributed illegal publications, secured fake identification, moved weapons, and provided medical care to Jewish refugees and allied personnel.
Did Christensen continue her medical work after the war?
Yes, she worked for the Red Cross in Greece and served in Israel during the 1967 Six Day War.
Achievements
- Florence Nightingale Medal — 1953
