Battle of Als
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Als was fought on 29 June 1864 during the Second Schleswig War between Denmark
and Prussia
. It was the last major engagement of the war, as the Prussians under General Herwarth von Bittenfeld
secured Als after a night attack masterminded by the Chief of Staff (later Field Marshal) Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal
, thus bringing the Second Schleswig War to a close.
Als was occupied by 9,000 Danish troops including the garrison of Dybbøl
which had retreated to Als.
The orders were given for the crossing of the Als Sound to begin in the night of 29 June 1864. At midnight, the troops were gathered for the assault; without packs and wearing the fieldmutz instead of a helmet. The Commander-in-Chief had selected the narrow straight of East Schnabeck as the place to cross that enabled the Storeskov woods to be used to mask preparations from the Danes.
2500 Prussian soldiers started crossing the Alssund
, between the village Sottrupskov and the Estate Sandbjerg
, in small boats. The Danish modern armored warship Rolf Krake
was in Augustenborg
fjord, and sailed to the Alssund where
it caused the Prussians severe difficulties and stopped the crossing. But after that the Rolf Krake, obeying a misunderstood order, suddenly turned around and sailed away and the Prussian troops were able to continue the crossing. At 2 a.m. the Prussians landed in Arnkil and under a heavy fire took the Danish entrenchments. This enabled them to build a pontoon bridge
over the Alssund. Of the Danish army, Regiment No. 5 went north to Sønderborg
, and Regiment No. 18 fought the Prussians near the village of Kær. The Danes eventually retreated to Kegnæs
, some surrendered, some were evacuated by ship. The Danish army lost nearly 3000 men (dead, wounded or captured) on Als.http://www.milhist.dk/1864/1864/1864_dk.htm.
Following Denmark's defeat to the Austro-Prussian army, Als became part of Prussia
and later Germany
until the referendum of 1920
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. It was the last major engagement of the war, as the Prussians under General Herwarth von Bittenfeld
Karl Eberhard Herwarth von Bittenfeld
Karl Eberhard Herwarth von Bittenfeld was a Prussian field marshal .-Biography:...
secured Als after a night attack masterminded by the Chief of Staff (later Field Marshal) Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal
Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal
Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall. He was a member of the von Blumenthal family.-Biography:Blumenthal was born in Schwedt, Brandenburg on July 20, 1810...
, thus bringing the Second Schleswig War to a close.
Als was occupied by 9,000 Danish troops including the garrison of Dybbøl
Dybbøl
Dybbøl is a small town, with a population of 2,457 in the southeastern corner of South Jutland, Denmark. It is located around west of Sønderborg....
which had retreated to Als.
The orders were given for the crossing of the Als Sound to begin in the night of 29 June 1864. At midnight, the troops were gathered for the assault; without packs and wearing the fieldmutz instead of a helmet. The Commander-in-Chief had selected the narrow straight of East Schnabeck as the place to cross that enabled the Storeskov woods to be used to mask preparations from the Danes.
2500 Prussian soldiers started crossing the Alssund
Alssund
The Alssund is the narrow strait between Als island and the mainland of Jutland, in Denmark....
, between the village Sottrupskov and the Estate Sandbjerg
Sundeved
Until January 1, 2007 Sundeved was a municipality in the former South Jutland County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 69 km², and had a total population of 5,298...
, in small boats. The Danish modern armored warship Rolf Krake
Rolf Krake (warship)
Rolf Krake was a Danish ironclad named after Rolf Krake, a hero of Danish saga.The vessel was designed by Cowper Phipps Coles, a pioneering naval architect, and she was the first warship of any navy to carry a turret of the type designed by Coles...
was in Augustenborg
Augustenborg
Augustenborg is a town with a population of 3,279 on Als Island in Sønderborg Municipality, Region of Southern Denmark in Denmark. The town lies at the head of Als Fjord. To the east is the Little Belt...
fjord, and sailed to the Alssund where
it caused the Prussians severe difficulties and stopped the crossing. But after that the Rolf Krake, obeying a misunderstood order, suddenly turned around and sailed away and the Prussian troops were able to continue the crossing. At 2 a.m. the Prussians landed in Arnkil and under a heavy fire took the Danish entrenchments. This enabled them to build a pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
over the Alssund. Of the Danish army, Regiment No. 5 went north to Sønderborg
Sønderborg
Sønderborg Municipality , is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark partially on the Jutland peninsula and partially on the island of Als in south Denmark, at the border with Germany. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 76,236...
, and Regiment No. 18 fought the Prussians near the village of Kær. The Danes eventually retreated to Kegnæs
Kegnæs
Kegnæs is a peninsula on the southern coast of Als in Denmark....
, some surrendered, some were evacuated by ship. The Danish army lost nearly 3000 men (dead, wounded or captured) on Als.http://www.milhist.dk/1864/1864/1864_dk.htm.
Following Denmark's defeat to the Austro-Prussian army, Als became part of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and later Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
until the referendum of 1920
Schleswig Plebiscites
The Schleswig Plebiscites were two plebiscites, organized according to section XII, articles 109 to 114 of the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, in order to determine the future border between Denmark and Germany through the former duchy of Schleswig...
.