BOPA

BOPA was created in June 1942 by Borge Houmann and Thorkild Holst. These two men were leaders of the Communist part until Nazi occupation drove them underground. Having a mutual dislike for the Germans, the communist underground formed this sabotage group in order to resist German advancement. The group was taken over by more Bourgeois Partisans calling it BOPA. The group still sided closely with communist ideals. The BOPA was the first real and most active saboteur group. Based mainly in Copenhagen, BOPA members chose primarily industrial targets along with railways. BOPA performed 80-90% of industrial sabotage in Copenhagen and most of Denmark (Thomas 165). BOPA consisted of young workers that had the task of liquidating the Germans manufacturing and supplies. They were on their own without any Allied help for most of the resistance due to their communist ties (Werstein 57). A favorite trademark of the BOPA was the sten-type gun made from old guns and factory parts. BOPA forces destroyed the warehouse where the infamous V2 rocket was being created on June 6, 1944, as well as over 1000 other acts of sabotage (Werstein 61).
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