During the First World War (1914 - 1918), Denmark maintained its neutrality. The position of neutrality was agreed to by all the major political parties.[1]
Denmark maintained trade with both sides of the war, and was among several neutral countries that exported canned meat to the German army. Danish speculators made fortunes on canned meat products, which were often of mediocre quality. 275 Danish merchant ships were sunk, and approximately 700 Danish sailors perished during the war.[1]
At the outbreak of war, Denmark mobilized around 50,000 reservists to man Copenhagen's fortifications. This was about half the force that Denmark was expected to mobilize in case of war. By limiting its mobilization and calling the mobilized units "security forces" (Sikringsstyrken), the Danish government was trying to reassure the major powers that it was not intending to join the war.[2][1]
An additional Tunestillingen ("Tune Line") defense installation was constructed during the war. It stretched from Køge Bay and to Roskilde Fjord. The war brought to the fore the fact that Copenhagen's old fortifications from the 1880s and 1890s were obsolete and too near the capital to protect it from modern artillery bombardment.[3][1]
Mining of Danish territorial waters
The Danish government bowed to pressure from Germany, and had naval mines laid in Danish waters with tacit British acceptance, despite the fact that Denmark was obliged under international law to keep its territorial waters open.[1]
The Germans had already begun to mine Danish territorial waters in order to protect Germany from a British naval offensive. By mining its own maritime area the Danish government was trying to avoid giving Germany a pretext for an occupation.[1]
Ethnically Danish population of Southern Jutland
During the war, more than 30,000 ethnically Danish men from the Southern Jutland region in the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein served in the German armed forces. In total, about 5,300 men from Southern Jutland fell during the war.[1]
Post-War Territorial Changes
After the conclusion of the war, the 1920 Schleswig plebiscites were held in German territory in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles. Northern Schleswig was awarded to Denmark after 74.9% of the territory's population voted in favor of joining Denmark.
References
^ abcdefgBaltzersen, Af Jan. "Denmark and Southern Jutland during the First World War". ddb.byhistorie.dk. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^Appel, Hans Henrik. "Det væbnede neutralitetsforsvar". Danmark 1914-18 (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^Sørensen, Af Nils Arne. "Første verdenskrig ved Tunestillingen". www.historie-online.dk. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
March 30, 2023
denmark, during, world, during, first, world, 1914, 1918, denmark, maintained, neutrality, position, neutrality, agreed, major, political, parties, denmark, maintained, trade, with, both, sides, among, several, neutral, countries, that, exported, canned, meat,. During the First World War 1914 1918 Denmark maintained its neutrality The position of neutrality was agreed to by all the major political parties 1 Denmark maintained trade with both sides of the war and was among several neutral countries that exported canned meat to the German army Danish speculators made fortunes on canned meat products which were often of mediocre quality 275 Danish merchant ships were sunk and approximately 700 Danish sailors perished during the war 1 Contents 1 Fortification measures 2 Mining of Danish territorial waters 3 Ethnically Danish population of Southern Jutland 4 Post War Territorial Changes 5 ReferencesFortification measures Edit Remnants of Tunestillingen At the outbreak of war Denmark mobilized around 50 000 reservists to man Copenhagen s fortifications This was about half the force that Denmark was expected to mobilize in case of war By limiting its mobilization and calling the mobilized units security forces Sikringsstyrken the Danish government was trying to reassure the major powers that it was not intending to join the war 2 1 An additional Tunestillingen Tune Line defense installation was constructed during the war It stretched from Koge Bay and to Roskilde Fjord The war brought to the fore the fact that Copenhagen s old fortifications from the 1880s and 1890s were obsolete and too near the capital to protect it from modern artillery bombardment 3 1 Mining of Danish territorial waters EditThe Danish government bowed to pressure from Germany and had naval mines laid in Danish waters with tacit British acceptance despite the fact that Denmark was obliged under international law to keep its territorial waters open 1 The Germans had already begun to mine Danish territorial waters in order to protect Germany from a British naval offensive By mining its own maritime area the Danish government was trying to avoid giving Germany a pretext for an occupation 1 Ethnically Danish population of Southern Jutland EditDuring the war more than 30 000 ethnically Danish men from the Southern Jutland region in the Prussian Province of Schleswig Holstein served in the German armed forces In total about 5 300 men from Southern Jutland fell during the war 1 Post War Territorial Changes EditAfter the conclusion of the war the 1920 Schleswig plebiscites were held in German territory in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles Northern Schleswig was awarded to Denmark after 74 9 of the territory s population voted in favor of joining Denmark References Edit a b c d e f g Baltzersen Af Jan Denmark and Southern Jutland during the First World War ddb byhistorie dk Retrieved 4 November 2020 Appel Hans Henrik Det vaebnede neutralitetsforsvar Danmark 1914 18 in Danish Retrieved 4 November 2020 Sorensen Af Nils Arne Forste verdenskrig ved Tunestillingen www historie online dk Retrieved 4 November 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Denmark during World War I amp oldid 1094495522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
