On 9 April 1940 Germany invaded Denmark. For the first 14 months of German occupation, DKP was allowed to continue operating legally, but more than 300 communists, including members of parliament, were interned by the Danish police on 22 June 1941, following the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The party was subsequently outlawed when the Communist Law was signed into law two months later on 22 August 1941. A national unity government was formed by the other major parties, which cooperated with the Germans, including the outlawing of DKP.