First Schleswig War 1848-1850

The liberal German population in Schleswig opposed the autocratic rule of King Christian VIII and demanded a free constitution as well as affiliation to Holstein and the German Confederation (the successor to the Holy Roman Empire created by the Congress of Vienna, including Austria and Prussia). In response the Danish National Liberal movement emerged and demanded that Schleswig be incorporated in Denmark (the so-called Eider Policy, named for the Eider River, which formed the southern boundary of Schleswig). In January 1848, Fredrick VII succeeded Christian VIII and proposed a new constitution which practically adopted the Eider Policy. In response, German nationalists in Schleswig-Holstein resorted to arms and their leaders declared independence on March 24, 1848.

The rebellion received military aid from the German Confederation, especially Prussia, beginning on April 10th and the Danish armed forces could not suppress it; Sweden provided some military aid to Denmark during this period. Prussian forces advanced beyond Schleswig into Denmark but the army withdrew back to Schleswig in June. A seven month truce was then agreed upon on August 26, 1848; Denmark received diplomatic support from Britain, France and Russia. Warfare resumed, on March 25, 1849, after the truce expired and Prussian forces again penetrated into Denmark. A new truce was established on July 10th after substantial diplomatic pressure from Russia as well as Britain and France. Local German forces in Schleswig-Holstein continued to resist Danish efforts to reestablish authority over Schleswig. Fighting continued until December 31, 1850. About that time, the German rebel army in Schleswig-Holstein disbanded; the Danish army returned to barracks in January 1851.

Negotiations on a permanent peace and a resolution to the Schleswig-Holstein question continued. Denmark attempted to reach an understanding with local population of Schleswig but failed to achieve an acceptable compromise. Negotiations among the great powers produced the London Protocol on May 8, 1852 (approved by Austria, France, Prussia, Russia and the UK as well as Denmark and Sweden). Denmark pledged to take no measures to tie Schleswig any closer to itself than to Holstein. The Eider Policy was thus abandoned, and the Danish constitution of 1849 would be applied only to Denmark.

References

Clodfelter, 294-5; COW13; EB - German-Danish War; Svendsen, 116.

Nick Svendsen. The First Schleswig-Holstein War 1848-50. Helion. 2007.

Category

Inter-State War

Region

Western Europe

Belligerents

German Confederation, Denmark

Dispute

Territory, Governance

Initiation Date

March 24, 1848

Termination Date

December 31, 1850

Duration

2 years, 9 months, 8 days
(1013 days)

Outcome

Negotiated Settlement
(Danish victory)

Fatalities

Total: 6,500
Demark: 3,500
German Confed: 3,000

Magnitude

3.8