Battle of Als

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Battle of Als
Part of the Second War of Schleswig
Date June 29, 1864 Location Near Als island Result Danish defeat
Belligerents
Denmark	Prussia

v • d • e Second Schleswig War Mysunde – Dannevirke – Sankelmark – Rügen – Dybbøl – Fredericia – Heligoland – Als – Lundby

In 1864 the Prussians under Herwarth von Bittenfeld secured Als after a night attack masterminded by the Chief of Staff (later Field Marshal) Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal, thus bringing the Second War of Schleswig to a close. The Battle of Als (or Alsen) was fought on 29 June 1864 during the Second War of Schleswig between Denmark and Prussia. The Battle of Als was the last major engagement of the war.

Als was occupied by 9,000 Danish troops including the Danish garrison of Dybbøl which had retreated to Als.

In the night of 29 June 1864, 2500 Prussian soldiers started to cross the Alssund in small boats. The Danish modern armored warship Rolf Krake was in Augustenborg fjord, and went to the Alssund and caused severe difficulties and stopped the crossing. But after that the Rolf Krake, obeying a misunderstood order, turned around suddenly and sailed away, and the Prussian soldiers continued the crossing. At 2 a.m. the Prussians landed on Kærhalvøen and Arnkil and under a heavy fire carried the Danish entrenchments. This let the Prussians build a pontoon bridge over the Alssund. Of the Danish army, Regiment 5 went north to Sønderborg, and Regiment 18 fought against Prussians near the village Kjær. The Danes retreated to Kegnæs, and some surrendered, and some were evacuated by ship. The Danes lost nearly 3000 men (dead, wounded or captured) on Als.[1].

Following Denmark's defeat to the Austro-Prussian army Als became part of Prussia, and later Germany.

[edit] References

• George Bruce. Harbottle's Dictionary of Battles. (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981) (ISBN 0-442-22336-6).
• Kampen på Als den 29. juni 1864. (Danish)
• http://www.milhist.dk/1864/1864/1864_dk.htm (Danish)