The background was Denmarks everlasting evil spirit - our strategic place as the cork in the Baltic Sea.
 A place we have used to our benefit, but also a place that have brought us between the big countries 
 in Europe again and again. Sweden, Germany, England and latest the Warsaw Pact had the need for
 access to the North Sea.
 In this actual period Denmark was interesting for England, because the narrow straits with mines could
 prevent the German Baltic Fleet from leaving the Baltic Sea. Germany was interested in
 preventing England form invading the Baltic Sea or attack through Jutland from the north. Therefore
 Germany was interested that Denmark remained neutral, with an army big enough to defend the
 neutrality. Denmark knew that, and mobilised the biggest Danish army ever at the outbreak of WW1.
 57.000 men were enlisted, of which the 40.000 were placed around Copenhagen in case of a German
 attack.

 The Situation in the Baltic Sea.
 
 Admiral von Tirpitz tried at the beginning of the 20th. Century to build a navy so big and powerful, that
 Germany for the first time ever, would become an important naval power.  

Alfred von Tirpitz

The German High Sea Fleet on parade

 Already in the autumn of 1904, this balance was twisted.  The Russian Vladivostok-fleet from the
 north was destroyed during the Russian- Japanese war, and the Russian Baltic Fleet was sent to
 take over. This fleet had to go south of India, but no states were interested to help them - except one.
 German HAPAG coal carriers delivered more than willingly coal to the Fleet in open waters.
 And thereby Germany helped the unpleasant Fleet to move further and further from home waters - and
 the German Baltic Fleet. 
 The Russian Baltic Fleet was totally destroyed by the Fleet of Admiral Togo in the battle at the
 the Tshushima-strait in 1905.

 The naval balance in the Baltic Sea was now twisted totally, and Germany now was the most important
 naval power in the region.
 So powerful, that England increased the power of the Home Fleet, and seriously discussed a
 preventive naval attack on the Imperial German Navy.

 Along with the English-French Entente, Germany felt they have been left alone in the colonial race, and
 the new status as a naval power should be used.
 France was making some progresses in the Marocco, and during this the German Kaiser Vilhelm made
 a rather clumsy visit to Tanger on a battleship.

Churchill and Kaiser Wilhelm II                before the war

 By France considered as a open challenge.
 During this crisis, the French Foreign Minister Delcassé got a promise, possibly by the English king
 personally, according landing of 100.000 English soldiers in  Aalbæk Bugt and Esbjerg in Jutland in
 case  of a war between France and Germany.
 This promise was revealed by the angry, now former foreign minister,   Delcassé in the French 
 newspaper Matin in 1906.
 At the time, Kaiser Vilhelm talked about Delcassé as “the most dangerous man for Germany in France”.

Théophile Delcassé

 The promise the English King had made Delcassé chocked both the German Army and the politicians
 as well, and English landing in Esbjerg was included in the German plans the next twenty years. 
 This is confirmed in the so called Lütken talks.
 L.C.F. Lütken, at the time a Captain in the army and close to the Danish Prime Minister, was of the
 opinion that  Danish neutrality could only be obtained if Denmark cooperated with Germany in closing
 the open German flank in the north. (Jutland)

 On his own initiative, he visited the German Chief of Staff, General Molkte in 1906, and from Lütkens
 memories we know, that Molkte again and again returned to an English landing in Esbjerg.
 We don’t know if Lütken was sent secretly by the Prime Minister, but it is interesting that General
 Molkte would waste time and concern on a Danish Army Captain, but it seams there have been
 some family realtions.  

 It is also interesting, that at the political defence deal in 1909, more resources were used in Jutland
 than in Eastern Denmark (where the capitol was situated).

 In Southern Jutland, that became German after the second Danish-Prussian War in 1864, there were
 held a lot of major drills. A lot of the soldiers lived during these drills in private homes, at they told
 everywhere to their Danish hosts about 100.000 English troops coming from Esbjerg.
 
 These Drills were in general held, where the Defence Line Sicherungstellung Nord later was placed.
 
 In 1909 some articles occurred in the major German Newspapers as the Vossische Zeitung and the
 Berliner Tageblatt about the vitality of a defence of the west coast of Southern Jutland and Esbjerg.
 During the years 1905-09 there were several English naval visits in Esbjerg, which without any doubt
 confirmed the German fear of an English landing.
 
 All ready in the initial strategic planning prior to WW1, the campaign plan from the German General
 Staff mentions:
 "To secure Slesvig-Holstein and the Kaiser Vilhelm Channel the following units will, on the 8-11 day of the
 mobilisation, start moving. The North Army composed of IX. Reserve corps and 4. "gemischten" Landwehr
 brigade under the command of Höherer Landwehrkommandeur 1..."  
 
 However, all available forces were needed on the Western Front, and IX Reserve Corps was moved
 here.  The responsibility of the Defence Line in Jutland was left over to the Landwehr and the
 Landsturm.
 
 The German military situation is bad in 1916, when Hindenburg takes over the position of chief of the
 German General staff, with Ludendorff as his nearest assistant. (Erster Generalquartiermeister).

Paul von Hindenburg

Erich Ludendorff

 Before the unrestricted submarine warfare was declared, the generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff
 had some conditions to be fulfilled. They feared the Submarine War could bring The Netherlands and
 Denmark into the war against Germany, because of their great naval and commercial interests.
 Therefore they demanded that the Northern Flank was effectively secured before Submarine War was
 declared.

Hindenburg and  Ludendorff

 Ludendorff in his memories:
 It was only with the deepest regrets, we could not recommend the unconditional Submarine Warfare. In the opinion
 of the  Reichskansler it could eventually mean war with The Netherlands and Denmark. To protect ourselves
 against these two nations, we didn’t have a one man available. They would be able to invade Germany with their
 armies, even not used to war, at give us the final stroke.
 
 The Danish mobilisation force from 1914 was decreased from 57.000 men in 1914 to 33.000 men in 1916
 and the plans were overall defensive, expecting a German attack.
 The preferred plan was a fighting withdrawal towards a defence line at the Limfjord in Northern Jutland.
 This plan could hardly treat hen neither Berlin nor Germany.
 But the two German made a treat of the Danish defence, and demanded the Defence Line.
 Maybe they never really forgot the English promise from 1905. ?
 
 The first time the Defence Line is actually mentioned, is an letter from the OKK, Oberkommando der
 Küstenverteidigung,  (The High Command of the Coastal Defence) to the Hochseekommando (the
 Command of the High See Fleet) 2. sep. 1916, where a position situated as the later Defence Line is
 prepared.
 According to this, the Defence Line had already been prepared, when the Admiral Staff sep.16th 1916
 receives a telegram from Ludendorff ordering them to establish a "Stellung in Gerippe" (a prepared
 and partly finished) positions following the line Hoptrup - Toftlund – Skærbæk.
 
 Sep. 18th 1916 reports General Malachowski from OKK, that the construction of a position between
 Genner Fjord and the island of Römö  already was started. 
 There were only 5 landsturmbattailone at the Danish boarder (Kongeåen), but two divisions were being
 formed, ready to march to the German-Danish boarder.
 September 1916, the General Command of the 9. Army Corps is ordered to establish the defence Line
 Sicherungstellung Nord according to the plans that has been ready for a long time.
 September 10th and 17th the first Pioneer units arrive to the Southern Jutland.  

 To day we know that in case of an attack form the Netherlands, two German Army Group Commands
 and 9½ infantry division were held in reserve.
 In case of a Danish attack, the German army would remain in the defensive. For this purpose one
 German General Command, 2 Division Staffs and 6 mixed (gemischte) brigades were in reserve.
 
 Which forces that should have been sent to the Defence Line are still not known?
 IX. Reserve Corps is a possibility according to the first plan, unless they were occupied on the western
 Front.
 It is only a guess, but it unthinkable that the Landsturm and the Landwehr should defend the Northern
 Front without forces trained in combat.