After World War II, the people of Denmark, cooped up by the Nazi occupation for four years, felt an urge to explore the world, even if only vicariously. A Danish Expedition Fund was set up, but it had no funds. Then Oceanographer Anton F. Bruun had a bright idea. He persuaded the government to waive import taxes on scarce luxury goods sent to the Expedition Fund by overseas Danes. A hint to overseas Danes was enough. Back came a flood of canned pineapple, coconuts, cigarettes, honey. The gifts sold for $600,000 and paid for equipping the Galathea, an oceanographic research ship.
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