The author of Number the Stars, Lois Lowry, explained about her research process to create the story in the Afterword section. She explained that she was inspired to write the story by her longtime friend, Annelise Platt. Lowry's friend was "a child in Copenhagen during the long years of the German occupation." Annelise had told stories of how her family had suffered after the Germans took over Denmark. Lowry created Annemarie and her family partially based on these stories.
Lois Lowry also noted that the Danish people and their king, Christian X, kept a spirit of "courage and integrity" despite the occupation of their country by Nazi troops. The Danish Resistance remained strong and secretly fought against Nazi ideas. The Nazis were physically present in Denmark, but the people remained loyal to their country and the Germans "never controlled King Christian." The Danish people helped Jewish citizens escape to Sweden. When the Nazi occupiers approached, "the Danes sank their own entire navy in Copenhagen harbor." They did this to prevent the Nazis from claiming the navy ships for their own military use.
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