00:00Hansen advanced quickly within the Gestapo and soon gained authority over a permanent circle
00:07of trusted collaborators who became known as the Birkedal Group. As their leader, he used them to
00:13hunt down Danish resistance members and to decide whether captured individuals would be interrogated
00:19or killed. Hansen built a reputation for harsh discipline and for demanding absolute obedience
00:26from the men who served under him. He also became known for the extreme brutality he used during
00:33interrogations, which made the group fear to cross Copenhagen. Hansen carried out torture in a direct
00:41and primitive manner. He forced victims to lie bent over a table while he beat their back and buttocks
00:47for as long as he believed necessary. Discover the full story on worldhistory.tv
00:56For more information, visit www.fema.org.
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