Secret Archives: The king offered Denmark to the Germans after the 1864
Queen Margrethe gave the author access to previously unknown documents in the royal archives
BY Kim Faber
Denmark as a German Land.
To most Danes totally unthinkable. But it was nevertheless what Christian IX in early July 1864 offered the Prussian King Wilhelm I.
Christian IX on the verge of treason
The Danish king made the offer that Denmark could be part of the German Confederation, in a desperate attempt to avoid the Danish monarchy losing Schleswig and Holstein to the Germans after their defeat in the 1864 war.
Christian IX initially contacted Prussians outside the Danish government, and thus moved the king himself to the edge of treason.
King would not dispose of Schleswig-Holstein
The reasoning was that Denmark would probably lose sovereignty. In turn, the kingdom would continue to include Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein.
And the idea was not so foreign to the king as for most other Danes; Christian IX was even born and raised in Southern Schleswig.
Historical insights into Christian IX's private documents
The dramatic events are described in author Tom Buk-Swienty's new book, 'Apocalypse Als' - the sequel to the bestselling 'Slaughter Bench Dybbøl'.
The book is published on August 25th, and Queen Margrethe has for the first time ever given access to Christian IX's private archive of documents on the war and subsequent peace negotiations for Buk-Swienty's research.
"When you read the main works on the war, these events are mentioned only very sporadically," said Tom Buk-Swienty.
"I have repeatedly thought: Holy shit, did you really try to get Denmark to become a part of Germany?".
Bismarck would not have Denmark
Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck reasoned, however, that Prussia would have major problems with Denmark's entry into the German Confederation.
Disputes between Danish and German-minded in Schleswig would still be unresolved, and connected could be forced to provide support to the Danish king against the German-minded Schleswig.
On the plus side spoke prospect of Prussian control over the Danish fleet. But here Bismarck assessed that France in particular would react aggressively if the German navy was suddenly much closer.
Strenuous Attempts by the Danish king
Later Christian IX in persuading the Danish government that the proposed Danish entry into the German Confederation in deepest secrecy was reiterated throughout the two occasions in connection with peace negotiations in Vienna.
But both times the offer got the cold shoulder from Bismarck, and the peace ended with Denmark losing Schleswig and Holstein - over a third of the Danish kingdom - so that the border was to walk Kongeåen.
Curator: Completely new knowledge
Inge Adriansen, curator at the Museum of South Jutland, has already seen references to the king's offer.
"But with its access to Christian IX's archive and by using German sources Tom Buk-Swienty brings quite new things forward," she says.
Resource:
http://politiken.dk/kultur/1038865/hemmeligt-arkiv-kongen-tilboed-danmark-til-tyskerne-efter-1864-
Published: August 17, 2010 9:54 PM
© POLITIKEN.dk