Erik-Christian Denman was a youthful genius-general in the Royal Danish Army who went rogue after the Danish occupation by Nazis in WWII. Leading a group of elite, saboteurs, and assassins to uncountable and legendary victories, in the final months of 1944, he made a series of strange decisions that seemingly put him and his men in mortal danger. With him as a brilliant militarist and fearsome combatant coveted by nation-states across Europe, his men wondered if Danish General Denman was a gifted warrior who would lead them to continued victories or a genius madman who would get them killed. With questions haunting him about life that man had yet to answer and might never answer, General Denman was not certain he was the godsend saint people believed him to be or the spawn of Satan he feared he might be. In December of 1944, in the midst of battle, his men realized that they had a very, very dangerous man on their hands.
Deliberately idealized and idyllic to depict his diametrically opposed selves graphically, General Denman’s cast of characters are likeable men and women to be enjoyed and admired as they live through his saga with him, often pulling him in opposing directions or supporting him lovingly. Plagued by remorseful doubt and whipped to the core, body and soul, General Denman struggled to continue to do his dirty job. While he performed superbly, like us, he was unaware of how he had impacted their lives.
General Erik-Christian Denman made his way among people who did not understand him, with his God, Who did not understand him, in a world that did not understand him, like the rest of us. Eventually, the disconnected pieces of the puzzle of his life formed a complete picture. Though he was once tormented by the unwelcome assaults of despair and resignation, his end of days was an affirmation of hope and a celebration of his virtue.
