1864 -Whatever happened to the 'Forgotten' War?

Around nine years ago, as the centenary commemorations for the start of World War One were about to open, a Danish language TV series '1864' was screened. The English subtitled version was certainly noticed, especially as the Danish  production company were connected with 'Borgen' and 'The Killing' which attracted an international audience. The series was based on the book '1864:Slagtebaenk Dybbol' (2008) by Tom Buk-Swienty, and an English translation appeared under the title '1864 -the Forgotten War that shaped Modern Europe' in 2015. 

The book emphasised the significance of the Danish -Prussian war of 1864 : Germany, before unification, was a confederation of 39 states. The largest of them were Prussia and Austria. To the north the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein were nominally under the rule of the Danish crown. But there were large swathes of Germans in  Holstein, which was also in the German confederation. Schleswig was largely Danish speaking. A major complication was that the Ribe Treaty of  1460 decided that the two states had to be treated as one entity, forever undivided BUK-SWIENTY  A rebellion broke out in Schleswig-Holstein against  Denmark leading to war from 1848-1851. Denmark won and regained its control over the two states.

In November 1863 the recently crowned King Christian IX signed a new constitution-drawn up by a national Liberal party- which aimed to incorporate Schleswig into Denmark itself- a move that had already been considered in March 1863. Such an intention violated the London Protocol of 1852,drawn up by the European powers striving to end the first conflict. Prussian troops appeared in Holstein in December 1863 RIDLEY On 1st February 1864 Prussia declared war on Denmark after the latter refused to rescind the new constitution. Denmark had little international support, and found itself facing better trained and superior armies of Prussia and Austria. In fact appeared on the defensive, not invading Holstein but trying to hold on to Schleswig. 

The '1864 ' TV series was designed for entertainment . There is a modern day side story of a teenage girl, a stoner and petty thief whose brother died fighting with UN peacekeeping forces. She befriends an older disabled chap, whose ancestors took part in the events of 1864. And most of the series takes parts in the 1860's. Two brothers who grow up in an village in Jutland, both in love with the same young women, join the Danish army.

The extensive use of shell bombardment, trenches, a terrifying foretaste of future warfare, dominates scenes. There is an iconic scene involving some new recruits being trained in how to use cannon. A blunder leads to a pig sty being hit, causing the wretched creatures to be severely wounded, and shrieking in agony. The soldiers have to face the reality of conflict, and the realisation of what can happen in battle. The comradeship forged during warfare and the acts of subsequent heroism are certainly acknowledged, but this is not enough to win a war. Especially when the Prussians were using the new Zündnadelgewhr ( needle gun) LOWE .It was also apparent that Prussian shells were superior, more likely to explode when hitting their target, Danish shells detonated in the air. DICEY

  On 2nd February 1864  Danish forces repulsed the invading Prussian forces. Within days Prussian and Austrian command planned a more coordinated attack.  Danish soldiers quietly retreated  from the defence line at Dannevirke in Schleswig during the night. Some 154 guns and supplies were abandoned. Though Dannevirke was  well fortified, the Danes had simply not envisaged having to fight such a large hostile army. For a start there was not nearly enough barrack space for the new Danish recruits, who somehow had to bed down in the snow. There were clashes between the retreating Danes, and pursuing enemy. Some Danish forces were stationed in around Fredericia and Kolding in Jutland. A sizeable number were placed at the fortress of Dybbøl in north Schleswig and in the nearby island of Als. A large part of  Schleswig was lost and Denmark was facing invasion.

The Prussians decided to concentrate on trying to break through at Dybbøl , using persistent and severe shell fire. There was little opportunity offered for the Danes to repair the damage to their fortification and the psychological impact of being under continual fire must have been horrendous. By 14th April 1864, the Danish command were trying to persuade their own politicians to agree to a retreat. Their response order was to hold Dybbøl at all costs. On 18th April 1864 the major offensive began, ending in a humiliating defeat for Denmark. Around 5,500 men were killed, wounded or missing in action DICEY. The Prussians also shelled Sonderborg on the island of Als, causing great damage to the town and caused about 57 casualties, largely civilians. The 1864 TV series depicted the mayhem this action caused.  The shelling of this town across the water from Dybbøl arguably served no military purpose. DICEY

            Painting by Jørgen Valentin Sonne (1801-1890) , evoking the Battle of Dybbøl 1864

        

The 20th century disenchantment view of older deluded and opportunist politicians sending younger men to war -and prolonging their suffering due to ignorance and incompetence-is a key theme for the TV series.The Danish  President Ditlev Gothard Monrad is depicted as losing touch with reality and retreating into a Viking type historic fantasy. Some Danish historians have suggested that  Monrad was bipolar BUK-SWIENTY .  But on the other hand it can't be assumed that the war was unpopular amongst the Danish people. In the  mid 19th century nationalism and liberalism could merge as in Denmark, and Monrad was considered to be quite anti-conservative and fairly radical. 

Queen Victoria's daughter Victoria known as 'Vicky' had married  Prince Frederick of Prussia at St James Palace, London, on 25th January 1858. Vicky was to become mother to Kaiser Wilhelm II. Queen Victoria's son Edward - the heir apparent- known as 'Bertie' married the Danish princess Alexandra in March 1863.  Bertie and Alexandra's son Albert Victor-'Eddy'- was born on 8th January 1864 . 

Queen Victoria was pro-Prussian, perhaps out of loyalty to the late Prince Albert and to Vicky. The current Prime Minister Lord Palmerston, and the British government generally seemed to want to avoid being drawn into another land conflict in Europe after the losses incurred in the Crimean War from 1854-1856, but there was some sympathy for Denmark. Queen Victoria appeared to be set on a collision course with Parliament over this matter. RIDLEY

The geography of Denmark consists of peninsulas and islands. It's navy was formidable and included the legendary iron clad Rolf Krake the first European ship to have two turrets. This vessel was used to shell Prussian positions from the sea.  Denmark's capital Copenhagen is on an island and quite inaccessible. The '1864' TV series did not really include the maritime aspect of the conflict, though really the  war effectively ended with Prussian forces managing to take over the island of Als at the end of June 1864. Peace was finally concluded with the Treaty of Vienna signed on 1st October 1864.

 The '1864' book emphasises both the national and international consequences of the Danish defeat. The loss of  Schleswig- Holstein to Prussian-Austrian control with the two provinces later being incorporated into the unified Germany, meant that Denmark's lost two thirds of its territory and half of the population. BUK-SWIENTY

Victory over the Danes led to Prussia and Austria clashing, leading to the Seven Weeks War in 1866 . Prussia defeated Austria at the Battle of  Königsgrätz and the rise of Bismarck was complete.  Prussia defeated France in 1870-1871. A unified Germany was created, excluding Austria. French nationalists wanted revenge -  la revanche-  for the loss of Alsace- Lorraine to the new Germany. There is a claim that Prussian tactics used during this war became the basis of the German Schliefen Plan amended by Von Moltke, put into operation against France in 1914. Ironically Von Moltke attended a military college in Denmark. BUK-SWIENTY

The 'Forgotten War' argument seems to be based on the notion that if Denmark had not lost in 1864, a totally different Europe would have resulted. It's questionable. Prussia, especially with Bismark at the helm, may well have clashed with Austria and/or France even if the war with Denmark failed. 

Afterword

Prince Bertie and Alexandra visited Denmark in  September 1864 RIDLEY Bertie and Vicky seemed to have made up their difference the following year RIDLEY. Both Vicky and Alexandra shared Queen Victoria's carriage at the time of the Golden Jubilee procession in 1887 . Denmark stayed neutral during World War 1. 

Sources

The Dybbøl History Centre has a great wealth of information in both Danish and English . Features in the first episode of '1864' the series. 

Danevirke Museum Danish and German language only 

Youtube

Official trailer for '1864' series Danish with English subtitles 

Cannon training -from '1864'   Clip in Danish with English subtitles 

Both accessed on 13th May 2023 

Books consulted

'1864-The Forgotten War that shaped Modern Europe' Tom Buk-Swienty,translated by Annette Swienty, Profile Books, 2015

'Queen Victoria's Matchmaking -The Royal Marriages That Shaped Europe', Deborah Cadbury, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017

'Prince Eddy -The King Britain Never Had', Andrew Cook, Tempus Books, 2006

'The Schleswig-Holstein War Between Denmark and the German States' Edward Dicey, and 'The Redoubts of Dûppel', Charles Lowe,  Kindle version  of the two works originally from 1864, published by Oakpast Ltd, 2016

'The Heir Apparent-A Life of Edward VII, The Playboy Prince' , Jane Ridley, Random House, 2013

'Victoria-A Life' ,A.N.Wilson, Atlantic Books, 2014. 

Other blogs by Michael Bully

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