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Sicherungsstellung Nord
Sicherungsstellung Nord (Defence Line North) was build by the Imperial
German Army in the years
1916-1918, to prevent an invasion by either landed
English troops, or an attack by Denmark
900 concrete and timber rooms and artillery platforms across the Southern
Jutland. From the
Lillebaelt in the east to the Island of Roemoe in the west
this very strong and heavily defence line
blocked the Northern flank.
How could it be possible for Germany to build a Defence Line in an area that
is known to be
Danish?
In 1848 a rebellion started in two of the three the small Danish duchies
Slesvig and Holsten. It was
supported by Prussia.
The Danish Army moved into the region, and won what later is known as the
First Danish-Prussian war
1848-1850.
It ended without a lasting peace, but a treaty dictated by the big powers,
England, France and Russia.
In
Denmark it was considered a great victory.
The victorious Danish army
returning to Copenhagen 1850. . |
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In 1864 Prussia provoked the Danish King, and he acted as Germany hoped, and
the second Danish-
Prussian
War was a reality.
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The Boarder before 1920,
landsturm |
Denmark had a series of defeats, the last at Dybbøl outside the town
Sønderborg.
For
3 month the Danish palisades were bombarded by better German artillery than
the Danish. The
Danish positions were occupied, and only a peace
treaty saved the remaining troops at the little island
of Als.
The peace meant, that Denmark lost the southern part of Jutland, 20 % of the
territory, and overnight
the Danish population in the area became Germans.
The Area was considered German, the names of the cities were changed and
the Danish flag forbidden.
German became the language in the schools.
Also the young men were enlisted in the German Army.
In
1864 all the green areas became
German and the new boarder was drawn
at the top of the light-green area.
After 1920 the boarder was moved south
to the midle of the light green area. |
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At the time the defence line was build, the area was Germany and the
population Germans.
After World War 1, a referendum was held in the area. The people in the
three former Danish duchies
were able to
determine, where they
wanted to belong.
The Northern third voted for Denmark and the
boarder was moved south again to where it is
to day.
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After a
short documentation of the defence line, the Danish Army demolished most of
it in 1921-1922.
The government was afraid it later could be used ad the basic for a new
German attack on Danish
territory.
The Defence could not be used by Denmark because it was directed to the
north.
The Defence Line was forgotten by most people a covered by natural
vegetation. Some places the little
bunkers were used as storage for
potatoes.
But the Danes that had seen the batteries, the boys who played around them
remembered what they
looked like and what was in them.
In the mid 70’s a Danish engineer, Mogens Scott Hansen, got interest in the
defence line.
He quitted his job, and used 15 years to listen to witnesses, draw and
photograph the constructions
and trace the forgotten and concealed
constructions.
Most of our knowledge about the defence line to day is due to his work.
The original drawings and other papers were destroyed at an English air raid
on the German naval
headquarters in 1945.
The
Sources:
This site is mainly based on Mogens Scott Hansens Phenomenal work.
Sikringsstilling
Nord. Mogens Scott Hansen,Miljøministeriet, Skov- og Naturstyrelsen 1992
Guide til Sikringsstilling Nord, Sønderjyllands Amt 1994.
Sikringsstilling Nord, foreløbigt studie- og rekognoceringsgrundlag.
Institut for Militærhistorie ved Forsvarsakademiet
Sicherrungsstellung Nord, Ulrich Holstein
This site is
dedicated all the common people, who at a daily basis works to reveal their
History. |
