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Spitfire Continued...<br />
called ‘Royal Airforce’. Members of the Armed Forces<br />
have taken the hats from the girls on the street and<br />
brought them to the police station. The soldiers will continue<br />
to confiscate persons wearing the aforementioned<br />
hats and hand them over to the police.”<br />
Hats and displays of anything<br />
containing the British<br />
Air Force roundel were then<br />
banned. Not to be defeated,<br />
the youngsters then started<br />
to wear hats that were variations<br />
of the red, white, and<br />
blue theme to circumvent<br />
https://arkiv.dk/vis/5146434<br />
the ban.<br />
https://samlinger.natmus.dk/fhm/asset/16033<br />
In retaliation the Germans then demanded that the<br />
Danish police enforced a ban on the wearing or displaying<br />
of anything in any combination of the red, white, and<br />
blue colours of the British flag (not just the roundel).<br />
“The armed forces will consider any case where the<br />
colors blue-white-red together, as an anti-German act. I<br />
will give the police the opportunity in the course of the<br />
next 8 days to try to prevent the cases from repeating<br />
themselves. Should it not succeed in the course of the<br />
next 8 days, The armed forces will pursue every case to<br />
the point of prosecution and punishment. After the deadline<br />
has expired, I cannot assume responsibility for the<br />
soldiers' attitude towards emerging situations in the<br />
aforementioned cases."<br />
An example from Holstebro Police in 1943 (translated<br />
from Danish):<br />
"A 15-year-old girl who was brought to the police station<br />
last night by 4 German soldiers because she was<br />
wearing a red-white-blue blouse. However, it is stated<br />
about this blouse that it was sold in a clothing store,<br />
where it has been lying for about 3 years.”<br />
The State Attorney for Special Affairs wrote in a nationwide<br />
circular that (translated from Danish):<br />
"In connection with my circular letter of 06-07-1943 in<br />
which I have, among other things, drawn attention to the<br />
fact that the sale or display of caps in the colors of the<br />
British Air Force is a violation of the prohibition against<br />
demonstration in the Ministry of Justice's Order No. 254<br />
of 09-06-1941, and requested to take action in this regard,<br />
I must also draw attention to the fact that exhibitions,<br />
advertisements with a one-sided use of the colors<br />
in question may contain a demonstration. I must therefore<br />
request gentlemen to also draw attention to, if such exhibitions<br />
were to occur. Where this is found to be the case,<br />
the owner of the company is requested to change the nature<br />
of the exhibition, if the recommendation is not complied<br />
with immediately, a reminder with the necessary<br />
description of the exhibited (or advertising) is requested,<br />
and the matter is requested to be submitted as soon as<br />
possible to me. If there should be any doubt as to<br />
whether a recommendation should be made please submit<br />
a report in a similar manner sent here".<br />
The hats were still worn. Whenever a soldier was in<br />
view the wearer removed the hat and hid it in a pocket.<br />
Three days before VE Day Denmark was liberated<br />
from Germany on 05-05-1945. The popularity of the hat<br />
spread throughout the whole of the country. On 13-06-<br />
1945 those with criminal records and custodial sentences<br />
for ‘insulting German armed forces’ were pardoned and<br />
all fines connected with the wearing of red, white, and<br />
blue were refunded.<br />
To commemorate the ending of the occupation, and<br />
an acknowledgement to the British and the Allies, Danes<br />
continued to wear Spitfire hats each year on the anniversary<br />
of ‘Liberation Day’ 05 May.<br />
I was unable to ascertain whether this tradition has<br />
continued amongst contemporary younger generations. If<br />
any readers have any further information regarding this,<br />
don’t hesitate to contact blockedmagazine@gmx.com<br />
A pattern for a knitted version of the hat is available in<br />
Danish here:<br />
https://nordjyskemuseer.dk/den-provokerende-royalair-force-hue/<br />
You will be able to translate the pattern into English by<br />
clicking on the ‘translate’ button when prompted.<br />
NB. The translated version of the pattern contains an<br />
error (or mistranslation). After the ribbed section it states,<br />
“Continue knitting in garter stitch until the blue piece<br />
measures 6 cm”. This should be ‘stockinette stitch’.<br />
The original hats were crocheted but I was unable to<br />
find a pattern for that version. Following is my interpretation<br />
of the hat.<br />
31
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