In World War II Danevirke

following allied invasion of normandy during world war ii, wehrmacht feared second allied invasion might take place through denmark, , contemplated converting earthen wall anti-tank trench counter threat. had proposal been implemented, have destroyed structure.

hearing of plans, danish archaeologist søren telling – aware archaeological investigation under ultimate jurisdiction of ss chief heinrich himmler – telephoned both head of ss s archaeological department, amt für ahnenerbe ( office ancestral heritage ), , himmler himself. telling argued against destruction of important remnant of aryan civilization , himmler authorized him stop construction of anti-tank trench. informed telling written order dispatched take several days arrive. telling drove site , ordered commanding wehrmacht officers stop construction process. when local wehrmacht commander refused, telling threatened him reprisals ss. construction called off , himmler s written order arrived 2 days later countering wehrmacht s original instructions. telling later settled near site , considered himself custodian of until death in 1968.