Biography
Herbert Krogman is the only son of Herman Krogman and Frida Wöhlmuth. He was born on June 13, 1926 in Copenhagen where his father owned an electrical wholesale business. The Krogman family was active in the Jewish community, and they sent their only son to a Jewish Boys' school. Herbert celebrated his Bar Mizvah in June 1939. A year later, on April 9, 1940, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark. Initially, life did not change much for the Danish Jews, but during the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) services in 1943, Rabbi Melchior warned of the imminent arrests of Jews. The Krogman family was among more than 7,000 Jews and 700 non-Jewish relatives who were transported by fishing boat from Denmark to Sweden over the next three weeks. On October 1, 1943, they arrived safely in Sweden. The Germans observed the boats crossing to Sweden, but many were bribed and chose to look away. Unfortunately, Thora Theresa Krogman, Herbert's 76 year old paternal grandmother, was deported to Theresienstadt where she died. The Krogman family settled in Malmo, where Herman started his own business. Herbert wanted to volunteer for the Danish Army, but his mother opposed the idea. However, in December 1944 Herbert joined the army established in secrecy in Sweden to aid the coming invasion and the liberation of Denmark. After the surrender on May 5, 1945 Herbert returned to Denmark with the Den Danshe Brigade. During this time, Herbert aided with the removal of the German soldiers and arrest of Nazi sympathizers. After a month, Herbert and his parents returned to Copenhagen. The Krogman electrical business had been taken over by a Danish woman, but former customers followed Herman to his new business. Herbert Krogman joined his father and continued the business until his own retirement. He currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark.
