Chapter 14: Kingdom Ambition
It became clear to everyone that Bismarck was on the brink of achieving a significant milestone in his career as Prussia's leader. The defeat of the main Danish force on Als Island was all that was needed for the Danes to lose their last leverage in the war.
On June 29, in the Alsfjord, which connected Als Island to the Jutland Peninsula, the Prussian army prepared to cross the fjord. The weather was sunny and the sea was calm, providing excellent conditions for the operation.
Prussian engineers constructed pontoon bridges over the sea, and the troops and equipment began boarding the ferries in the bay. With the sound of steam engines roaring, the ferries set out for Als Island. The narrow Alsfjord quickly filled with ships, ranging from steam-powered vessels to hundreds of boats.
Danish observers on the island watched through binoculars as the Prussian forces advanced rapidly toward the coast. Witnessing this, they immediately reported to their superiors.
Realizing the imminent threat, the Danish army hastily retreated to Als Island. Their morale was low due to successive defeats, their organization was lacking, and there was insufficient time to fortify the island properly.
The Danish forces on the island could only rely on artillery to harass the Prussian landing parties. However, sporadic artillery fire proved ineffective against the determined Prussian forces.
Under the protection of gunboats, thousands of Prussian soldiers successfully landed on the coast of Als Island, initiating a fierce battle for control of the coastline.
The Danish defenders on the island, hindered by limited fortifications, struggled to hold back the Prussian onslaught. However, Prussian artillery continued to be transported from the rear via ships and pontoons.
Once the artillery support was in place, Prussian infantry advanced, and the Danish forces were quickly thrown into disarray. The rudimentary fortifications crumbled under Prussian artillery fire in no time.
As Prussian infantry closed in on the Danish positions, the demoralized Danish army surrendered quickly after a brief resistance. Als Island marked the final major battle of the Second Schleswig War, with the surrender of its defenders signifying the end of hostilities.
A few days later, on July 3rd, the Battle of Lundby took place, resulting in victory for the coalition forces and the complete breakdown of Danish resistance.
With no other options, the Danish government was forced to engage in negotiations with the German nations. Recognizing their defeat, Denmark announced its decision to cease resistance, and both Prussia and Austria halted hostilities. The war officially came to an end.
On August 10, 1864, King Christian IX of Denmark signed a preliminary peace treaty, relinquishing his rights in the two duchies to the Austrian Empire and the King of Prussia.
The final Treaty of Vienna, signed on October 30, saw Denmark cede all the territories in question to Austria and Prussia.
As a result of the Second Schleswig War, Denmark lost 40% of its territory, saw a retreat of 250 kilometers, and experienced a nearly 40% reduction in population. The total population dropped from 2.6 million to 1.6 million, with 200,000 Danes in the Schleswig region. Denmark's influence on the Jutland Peninsula was significantly diminished.
Prussia gained dominance over the Principality of Schleswig, stationed its troops in the region, and took control of the vital port city of Kiel. The Kiel Canal, an important waterway in the region, allowed Prussia to bypass the Denmark Strait, greatly enhancing its maritime capabilities.
The Austrian Empire acquired the Principality of Holstein in this war, and the Second Schleswig War concluded with the victory of the Prussian-Austrian coalition.
(End of Chapter 14)