With your support, the new documentary about Anders Lassen – one of the greatest heroes of the Second World War – is becoming a reality.
Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen (1920–1945) is often described as the greatest Danish war hero of modern times, a claim difficult to disagree with if you know his story.
Anders Lassen is an icon for special forces units in Denmark and abroad. Busts of him adorn the HQs of the Danish Navy and Army special forces and the HQ of 22 SAS in England. Books and articles have been written about Lassen and his exploits, and parts of his biography were told in a 1995 documentary.
Memorial ceremonies regularly honour Lassen in Denmark and Italy, and he is still considered an important figure by many in Britain and Greece. Despite these marks of respect, most people only have relatively superficial knowledge of his life and exploits. Or they have only heard myths about him, even though he was one of the leading Danes in the war against evil at a time when many of his fellow countrymen held back.
Why a new documentary now?
War and strife are encroaching on our part of the world and impinging on everyday life. Denmark needs to build up its armed forces in general, and is spending billions of kroner on arms and equipment. We are recruiting more soldiers, extending national service, increasing the size of the Home Guard, and we need more ships, missiles, air defence systems and drones.
All of this is leading to greater interest in military life and the roles of modern conscripts and professional soldiers, particularly at a time when Denmark may be asked to lead the special forces in a unified Nordic force within NATO.
Interest in the special forces is also great at the moment. The BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes attracts millions of viewers around the world, and a third season is on the way. Guy Ritchie’s film Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare premiered in 2024, and there is also considerable interest in the special forces on social media.
We have identified a need for an up-to-date TV documentary to convey the latest findings about Lassen as a historical figure, a narrative that doesn’t treat him as a cartoon character, a documentary that places his exploits in the wider context of World War II and shows that his story is still relevant.
A small group has set out to make a new TV series about Lassen. It consists of Thomas Harder, the author of the biography Special Forces Hero – Anders Lassen VC, MC; Suzanne B.D. Lassen, Anders Lassen’s niece, and Mark Gerber, the documentary maker.
We want to tell his story as realistically as possible. We believe it is particularly relevant in the world we live in today. New generations must not forget Lassen’s exploits and sacrifice.
Examples of what to expect
Watch a brief excerpt from an interview with Lassen’s sister Bente Bernstorff-Gyldensteen recorded in autumn 2023, as well as clips from interviews with Lassen’s comrades in arms that have never been made public before and archive material, e.g. from the Imperial War Museum..
Donate towards the development and production
Donate GBP 35 / EUR 40 or more
Contributing to the fundraiser will help make the documentary a reality, and you will also get something else out of it.
Donate 300 kr. or more, and your name will be mentioned here on the website.
Donate 1,000 kroner or more, and you will receive a copy of the new, updated edition of Thomas Harder’s book about Anders Lassen, signed by the author.
You are, of course, welcome to donate more and have your name mentioned in the “Acknowledgements” section of the credits.
Or you may prefer to make an anonymous donation.
We have started production, but still need about DKK 300,000 to fund it. The money will be used for interviews with historians and other experts, as well as members of Lassen’s family and others; research in Danish, British, German, Greek and Italian photo and film archives; scriptwriting, editing, casting and budgeting. The ultimate aim is to make a documentary that people can stream worldwide.
Partners and ambassadors
Read more about the people behind the crowdfunder and those supporting the project
Bente Bernstorff-Gyldensteen
Is Anders Lassen's younger sister. In December 1945 at the age of 14 she accompanied her parents to Buckingham Palace when Anders Lassen posthomumusly was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George VI. During spring and summer of 1947, she went with her parents on a three-month long trip to Italy and Greece, where her mother Suzanne Lassen collected material for her book "Anders Lassen, VC. The story of a courageous Dane”, which was published in 1949. It was the first book published about Anders and was read by a large audience for many years.
Suzanne B.D. Lassen
Graduate of the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. Worked for Citibank. Former director of the Danish American Business Forum. Member of the board of several Danish foundations. Worked for the EU Police Mission. Graduate of the Danish School of Media and Journalism, 2012. Freelance journalist and developer of the ideas behind several documentaries. Photographer and painter, exhibited in several art galleries.
Jens Mandøe
Lieutenant Colonel (retired). Former head of the Danish Army Special Forces. Multiple posts at home and abroad during 35 years in the Army. Consultant and security advisor for a range of companies in the private and public sectors as well as for private individuals for more than a decade. Eight years in special forces. Member of the board of the Anders Lassen Foundation for 20 years.
Thomas Harder
Graduate in Italian and History. Literary translator, conference interpreter and author of several books on Italy and World War II, including Anders Lassens Krig 9 April 1940-9 April 1945 (5th edition 2024; English and Greek editions were published in 2021); BIRK – Historien om Kaj Birksted (2024) and En sten for Eva – Bogense 1855-Theresienstadt 1943 (with Lene Ewald Hesel, 2022).
Nick Jellicoe
Studied Chinese politics before working in advertising and running global communications for Rolex. Has written extensively about his grandfather, Admiral Jellicoe, and father, George, an early member of the SAS, David Stirling’s second in command, and commander of the SBS in the Aegean where Anders Lassen served. Frequent TV and radio presenter. Works closely with a number of naval and maritime museums.
Mark Gerber
Ideas man and documentary maker. Creative director in the advertising industry, 1987–2003. Member of the board of directors of Scan AD Gruppen for several years. Developer and producer of many commercials, corporate videos and podcasts. Editor and film editor of TV programmes for Danmarks Radio, TV2 and Viasat since 2003.
Anonymous supporters
The documentary series is supported by many active military personnel, including members of the Danish Navy, Army Special Forces and Navy Special Forces, as well as the British Special Boat Service (SBS) and Special Air Service (SAS). They remain anonymous for security reasons.
Thank you to all our donors
Those who want to be anonymous and: Frederik Siems Marley Siemssen, Karsten Sevel, Ole Christian Madsen, David Grolin Kristensen, Mogens Vedsø, Gert Thomsen, Gorm Martin Larsen, Jørgen Nimb Lassen, Ingo Milton, Ole Blædel, Gert Ludvigsen, Jan Nielsen, Lars Krogh, Claus Heimann, Niels-Birger Danielsen, Peder Møller, Thomas Flandrup, Linda-Maria Kronborg, Raoul Janssen, Allie Larsen, Christoffer Castenskiold, Stanley Ross,Thomas Flandrup, Frants Erich Bernstorff Gyldensteen, Peter Rydell, Lars Bro Lundsberg, Poul Stevns Jensen…
Contact
If you have questions about the collection itself, please send an email and we will answer your question as soon as possible.
info@anderslassentv.com
Address: Pilevænget 26, DK-4370 Store Merloese, Denmark