Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard (29 July 1890 – 8 July 1979) was a

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of the

diocese of Copenhagen The Diocese of Copenhagen (Danish: ''Københavns Stift'') is a diocese within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. The Bishop of Copenhagen is currently Peter Skov-Jakobsen, who replaced Erik Normann Svendsen in 2009. The main cathedral of ...

for 25 years including the years of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

occupation.

Early life and education

Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard was born on 29 July 1890 in Fuglsang, Oksenvad parish to proprietor Ole Christian Damgaard. From and baptized Hans Fuglsang Damgaard in Oksenvad church on the fourteenth Sunday after

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

. At the time Oksenvad was part of Germany and Fuglsang-Damgaard was thus part of the Danish population in German

Northern Schleswig South Jutland County ( Danish: ''Sønderjyllands Amt'') is a former county ( Danish: ''amt'') on the south-central portion of the Jutland Peninsula in southern Denmark. The county was formed on 1 April 1970, comprising the former counties of A ...

. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Fuglsang-Damgaard was drafted into the German army and served on the Western front where he became a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Career

Fuglsang-Damgaard started his career at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...

. In 1933, he published the textbook ''Universitetspsykologi''. He was the same years appointed as ''stiftsprovst'' of Our Lady's Provosty. In 1934, he was appointed as Bishop of Copenhagen. As Danish bishop he was

primus inter pares ''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their sen ...

and during the later stage of the occupation notably outspoken against the German occupiers. He is especially known for his

pastoral letter A pastoral letter, often simply called a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of a diocese or to both, containing general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circumst ...

denouncing the Nazi antisemitism as irreconcilable with Christianity, signed by all bishops in Denmark and read out during the services on 3 October 1943, following the German attempt to capture and deport the Danish Jews. After the liberation, on 29 August 1945 bishop Fuglsang-Damgaard led the

state funeral A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of Etiquette, protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive ...

of 106 killed members of the Danish resistance, and thus inaugurated the cemetery that would later become

Ryvangen Memorial Park Ryvangen Memorial Park ( da, Mindelunden i Ryvangen) is a memorial park in Ryvangen officially inaugurated on 5 May 1950 to commemorate fallen members of the Danish resistance to the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. The locatio ...

at the site where the remains of the resistance members had been exhumed.

Personal life

Fuglsang-Damgaar was on 30 July 1926 in

Aarhus Cathedral Aarhus Cathedral ( da, Århus Domkirke) is a cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the longest and tallest church in the country, at in length and in height. The construction of Aarhus Cathedral began in the 12th century and it is the main edific ...

wed to Caroline (Caiina) Elisabeth Solveig Wagner (1900-1979), daughter of missionary and later priest at the Øresund Hospital in Copenhagen Carl Ferdinand Wagner (1871-1944) and Ellen Marie Elisabet Blankensteiner (1879-1959).

Accolades

In 1918 after he was released by the French in a Prisoner of War exchange, was awarded the Pour le Mérite, the highest medal in the imperial German army. In 1935, Fuglsang-Damgaard was created a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog. In 1936, he was awarded the Cross of Honour.In 1939, he was created a 2nd-class commander of the Order of the Dannebrog and in 1946 he was created a 1st-class commander of the Order of the Dannebrog. In 1960, he was awarded the Grand Cross. All of these awards were passed down his bloodline and reached America.

References

External links

1890 births 1979 deaths 20th-century Danish Lutheran bishops Danish Lutheran bishops World War I prisoners of war held by France German prisoners of war in World War I Recipients of the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog German Army personnel of World War I {{Bishop-stub