What is a redoubt?

A redoubt is a fortified position where earthworks and other defences sheltered soldiers. At Dybbøl, the Danish redoubts formed a connected position. Prussia built larger works after 1864. Pay attention to numbers and signs: Danish and Prussian numbering does not necessarily refer to the same structure. [S09]

Key stops

PlaceWhat to look for and understand
Redoubt IThe connection from the coastal path towards the mill and redoubts.
Redoubt IIThe role of artillery and memorials to Anker, Castenschiold and Klinke.
Redoubt IVRemains of the Danish position and the site of Düppel-Denkmal.
KongeskansenPrussian Redoubt 10 over the former Danish Redoubts V and VI.
The bridgeheadProtection of the link to the pontoon bridges and Als.
AvnbjergA viewpoint from the Prussian side; the hill was later restored.

These descriptions draw on Naturstyrelsen’s guide and the Gendarmstien route. [S20] [S03]

Redoubt IV and the German monument

Düppel-Denkmal was inaugurated on 30 September 1872 and stood about 24 metres high. Beside the former Danish Redoubt IV, it expressed Prussian victory. It was blown up in May 1945; the sources used here do not reliably identify who was responsible. [S17] [S20]

Consider the monument’s history as part of changing power and remembrance in the border region. The same place can mean different things to different people over time.

Graves and memorial stones

Soldiers’ graves make the losses tangible. A memorial stone may lead to one person’s story, but it does not speak for everyone. Lex notes that many interwar memorials particularly commemorate officers. Ordinary soldiers and civilians also belong in the account. [S20] [S31]

Be quiet and considerate at graves. Read the name, date and inscription, and discuss what a family may have lost. For children, this is a useful opportunity to distinguish a place of remembrance from an activity area.

The cemetery and Langdamsgård

Dybbøl Cemetery contains memorials from several wars. At Langdamsgård on Grønnekærvej, stones commemorate people connected with the fighting and 8th Brigade. These places complement the central line of redoubts. [S29] [S28]

A guide on your phone

The free browser guide at app.1864.dk connects places with people and stories. The operator says no installation is required. Follow signs, maps and public paths; a historical marker does not grant access to private property. [S05] [S45]

Sources for this page

All sources