Dyby Knud

Dyby (Dyring), Knud Knud Dyby, born in Jutland, was in his mid-20s when he joined the Danish State Police in 1941 after finishing his studies in typographic and graphic arts. Over the war years, he used his position, mostly under the cover of the name Carlsen, to supply the Danish Resistance* with intelligence information and documents. He also helped with sabotage operations and actively participated in the rescue of Danish Jews in October 1943. At the end of September 1943, Knud Dyby received a call from police sources to help get Jews down to the port of Nordhavn and put them aboard fishing boats for the crossing to Sweden. That same evening, he moved 6-8 Jews, as well as a number of children first into fishing shacks, until skippers could be found who were willing to take them to Sweden. Knud made sure no collaborators were among the crews. Being a police officer he was also able to deflect German inspectors. He also transmitted personal letters for many of them who had already made it to Sweden, and transmitted relevant information for the section of the Danish Resistance that was working out of Sweden. Knud Dyby’s continued underground activities became known to the German authorities, and he became a wanted man. He nevertheless decided to continue his activities under the changed name, Dyby, which he used as his official name after the war. Until the very end of the war in May 1945, he managed to maintain almost daily transports for the Resistance to and from Sweden. Knud was honored by the U.S.A. and the UK for his resistance activities in helping downed Allied pilots and escaped soldiers. He immigrated to the United States in 1957. On December 21, 2004, Yad Vashem recognized Knud (Dyring) Dyby as Righteous Among the Nations.