Bohr felt he owed his every opportunity to
his country, and the University of Copenhagen in particular. When
offered a permanent position in Manchester with Rutherford, Bohr
preferred to stay at Copenhagen, which was struggling to get its
own institute off the ground, because he felt a duty to those who
had made his career possible.
At the same time, Denmark adored and was immensely proud
of Bohr. He was awarded the highest honors of his country and considered
a national icon. As a public figure, he used this status for good
and served as an effective symbolic leader. When the Nazis invaded,
Bohr stayed as long as was possible, even until the very day when
he knew he was to be arrested. He recognized that his departure
would weaken the morale of the nation, and particularly its Jewish
citizens, as his mother had been from one of Denmark's prominent
Jewish families. When he did finally escape, he made sure to do
everything he could to help Denmark Jews to safety, working with
the Danish resistance despite threats to his own life.