1864-the Battle of Als

1864 - a fateful year in Danish history

Photo: Jonas Fægteborg Førstø

1864, is the year when Denmark lost Southern Jutland to the Prussians and Southern Jutland and the Sønderborg-area remains under German rule until the Reunification in 1920.

War is frightening, yet fascinating

- and the war of 1864 is no exception.

The latest focus on these fateful events in Danish history, was the drama series “1864” by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR, based on writer and journalist Tom Buk-Swienty’s marvellous books ‘Slaughter Bench Dybbøl’ and ‘Doomsday Als,’ that helped a great deal to create renewed interest in this chapter of Danish history. Buk-Swienty’s works take readers on a journey back to the fateful year and portrays various people and their involvement in the conflict.

The loss of the war in 1864 becomes extremely perceptible during WW1 (1914-18), Denmark is neutral and not participating, however the men living in the occupied South Jutland is enrolled in the German army and send to the front.

The journey will be complete only when you are standing on Dybbøl Banke, looking towards Broagerland, from where the Prussian grenades rained down on the entrenchments, or when, an early morning, you gaze across Alssund towards Sottrupskov forest on the Jutland side from Arnkilsøre, because this is where the final attack was made on June 29, 1864. The history is still present, and closing your eyes you can almost sense the sounds, the smells and the fear. 

If you would like to experience the whole story of the battle, you must begin south of the border at Danevirke. This is where the Danish army was ready to fight the Prussian soldiers when the war broke out on January 31, 1864. However, after the initial encounters in front of the position, it was evident that the position could not be defended, and the Danes decided to abandon it on February 4.

1864 the retreat from Danevirke

The retreat from Danevirke, the night between 5 and 6 February 1864. It takes the 40,000 soldiers 14 hours to march to Dybbøl. The wind from the northwest is directly in their faces and it is down to -10 degrees frost. Along the way, 10 soldiers are lost to the cold, while 120 are captured and 173 desert. The watercolor was drawn by Erik Henningsen in 1914 and hangs today at Christiansborg ©Erik Henningsen (1855-1930). Christiansborg SlotPhoto:Torbjørn Eriksen, CAT Productions.

A few kilometres from Schleswig, where the military road crosses Danevirke, lies the Danevirke Museum. Recently, traces were found of the gate that regulated traffic on the military road in antiquity. The museum tells the story of Danevirke and is worth a visit, but you must remember to bring some Euros; the museum does not accept Danish currency or credit cards. 500 metres west of the museum, Danish and German engineer corps have restored the entrenchment Skanse 14 on the basis of old drawings and photographs.

Coming from Gråsten towards Sønderborg, Dybbøl Banke lies as a natural hill that protects the town from the west. There is a fantastic view of the entire area from the entrenchments, and you can see the northern part of the sound Als Sund and the inlet Flensborg Fjord.

A visit to the History Centre Dybbøl Banke provides the best presentation of the battle of 1864 and is an adventure for both children and adults. The Centre communicates the story from both sides of the conflict, which means that, in the peak season, you can meet both a Prussian and a Danish soldier when exploring the Centre.

Under the cover of darkness on June 29, the first Prussian soldiers boarded their boats, took to the water and headed for Als. The Danes discovered far too late that the attack had begun, and they did not have time to react before the area was overrun by Prussian soldiers.

If you follow the path Nydamstien, you can still find slideways and depressions in the soil where the rowing boats were put in the water, and you can also see where the Prussian cannons were placed. Pick up a leaflet with the route at the tourist office.

Every year in June, the 'Battle of Als 1864-Days', which was the decisive battle in the 1864 war, is reenacted. The 1864 Days event is truly worth an experience.

Route 1864. By the help of your mobile phone, you can relive the events of the war on route 1864 through the Sønderborg area while you listen to eyewitness accounts in the locations where they occurred. Scan the QR code and find more information on the war of 1864.

Photo of Carl von Jena´s memorial stone at Dybbøl Banke. Many soldiers were buried on the spot they had fallen and you´ll find many crosses and memorial stones on Arnkilsøre.Photo:Kim Toft Jørgensen

Find more tips on 1864

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History Centre Dybbøl Banke
Photo: Kim Toft Jørgensen

History Centre Dybbøl Banke

Enter the dramatically days during the war in 1864, become a part of the drama and get new knowledge on one of the most important battles in the history of Denmark.

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The Museum at Sønderborg Castle
Photo: Kim Toft Jørgensen

The Museum at Sønderborg Castle

Learn more about the history and cultural heritage of South Jutland with a visit to the Museum Sønderjylland in the historic setting of Sønderborg Castle.

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Nydamstien
Photo: Erik Christensen - Wikimedia commons

Nydamstien

On the Nydam Trail, you don't just experience beautiful nature, here you also encounter both ancient and wartime history.

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Daneverk Museum - Germany
Photo: Martin Ziemer / nordpool

Daneverk Museum - Germany

Daneverk - the Nordic region's largest fortress - included in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2018

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1864-days at Dybbøl Banke
Photo: Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke

1864-days at Dybbøl Banke

Experience one of the major battles during the war in 1864, when the focus is set on April 18th and the Storming of Dybbøl Banke.

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