The war and assault of 1864

Why was there a war?

The conflict concerned the Danish composite state and the relationship between the kingdom and duchies. The November Constitution of 1863 tied Denmark and Schleswig more closely together. War against Prussia and Austria began on 1 February 1864. The unified German Empire did not yet exist; it was established in 1871. [S13]

From the Dannevirke to Dybbøl

After withdrawal from the Dannevirke, Dybbøl became a main position. It provided a link to Als and support from the sea. The army could hold a flank position, but political expectations were not the same as military possibilities. [S14] [S16]

Prussia built batteries on Broagerland and advanced attack trenches towards the redoubts. View the heights together with Vemmingbund and the opposite coast. Open lines of sight explain things a single monument cannot. [S14]

18 April

• From 4am: Heavy bombardment struck the Danish position.
• 10am: Prussian forces assaulted the redoubts.
• During the morning: The 8th Brigade and other units tried to halt the attack; withdrawal continued.
• Around 2pm: The last Danish soldiers had crossed the pontoon bridges from the bridgehead to Als.

This is a brief outline based on the History Centre’s account. [S23]

Reading casualty figures correctly

The History Centre uses these categories. They are not figures for deaths alone. Other accounts may round or group losses differently, so compare the categories as well as the numbers. [S23]

The navy and the war after Dybbøl

The ironclad Rolf Krake supported the army from the sea. Purchased in 1863, it illustrates the link between land and naval warfare. The war did not end on 18 April; Als was captured on 29 June, with the political settlement later that year. [S25] [S15] [S16]

Civilians and care for the wounded

Sønderborg’s bombardment, burning farms, flight and rebuilding are part of the story. Rute 1864 connects these experiences with specific places in town. [S24]

The Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1863 and carried out its first field mission during the 1864 war. This provides an international perspective on care for wounded soldiers. The organisation was not founded at Dybbøl. [S26]

Understanding the battlefield on site

Start with terrain, distance and water: where were the attackers? Where could help arrive? Which way did the army withdraw? Then explore individual stories. This makes a complex military event understandable without turning war into a game.