Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
History Of Schlewig- Holstein from medieval times
In medieval times Schleswig was part of Denmark. In 1326 the Earls of Schauenburg got from the Danish Crown also the duchy of Schleswig. They had already the duchy of Holstein since 1111. In 1460 Christian I of Denmark became Duke of Schleswig and Earl of Holstein- Stormarn. Therefore he had to grant both parts the inner autonomy and not to be divided. “Up ewig ungedeelt”. This is even today the motto of Schleswig- Holstein. For centuries this treaty was never a problem. In these times mainly Germans settled in Schleswig- Holstein. In the northern part the Danish were in the majority but in all the Germans.
In 1815 the German Confederation was founded. Holstein was part of it, but not Schleswig. The Danish king was as duke of Holstein also member of the German federation as well as the king of the Netherlands for Luxemburg and the British king for Hanover. But nationalism spread through Europe. Germany was not a nation. So with a revolution in France in March 1848 the Germans revolted. In Denmark The so called Eider Danes wanted to annex Schleswig until the Eider river, the border to Holstein. But the Prince of Noer and a few soldiers, sportsmen and students rebelled and went to the fortress of Rendsburg. Most of the soldiers based there were from Schleswig- Holstein and so the fortress fell without a shot. Although the Danish officers protested. The Schleswig- Holstein troops, which were formed now, were deployed at Bau North of Flensburg. 4000 men were attacked by a Danish force of 11000 men. They had to retreat.
In the meantime Prussian forces arrived. They attacked the Danish forces at Schleswig. This time the Danes had to retreat. Also their new position, Översee was not the best. They had to retreat another time. On August 28th the cease fire of Malmö was signed. The cease fire was broken by the Danes on March 26th 1849. 55000 Germans with 155 cannons were now facing 35000 Danes with 72 cannons. The sea however was ruled by the Danes. The German fleet was way too small. However at Eckernförde the first sea battle occurred.
On April 5th a Dansih squadron containing the ship of the line Christian VIII, the frigate Gefion, the corvette Galathea and two steamers with total 148 guns. 16 guns, deployed by the Prussian Premierleutnant der Artillerie Werner (von) Siemens, defended Eckernförde. Although the Danes were in numerical superiority the German guns damaged the ship of the line and the frigate heavily. Both ships were unable to be recovered and had to surrender. But the fire on the Christian VIII. was too big. She blew up. The frigate was captured and used by the German fleet until the 1870s. 224 Danes died and 86 were wounded. On the German side 4 died and 14 were wounded.
In the following time Düppel and Kolding were gained in heavy battles. The Germans advanced to Fredericia, but there they had to withdraw.
In the meantime in Frankfurt am Main in the Paul´s cathedral the first German parliament was constituted. They made the first constitution which was never in use. Bismarck later made it in use with some minor differences. But the time lapsed. The other European nations were not very amused to see a united Germany even without Austria. So they forced the Germans to sign a peace with Denmark. The status quo ante was reinstalled. In the meantime the revolution died when the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV. refused to become German Kaiser.
Although the people of Schleswig- Holstein fought after signing the peace. The Danes attacked and near Idstedt it came to battle. The troops of Schleswig- Holstein had to retreat. Although fighting braverly at other battles like Missunde or Friedrichstadt they were outnumbered. They couldn’t expect any foreign help since other powers like Russia intervened diplomatically they had to surrender on January 10th 1851. In this time the Bavarian Wilhelm Bauer was able to build the first U-boat, the Brandtaucher. Unfortunately she sunk at her maiden voyage. But the Danish ships were farer away as normal…
On May 8th 1852 the European powers declared Schleswig- Holstein should be under Danish rule. However this was not granted and Prussia rejected the signing. This peace was called the peace without any content.
On November 13th 1863 the Danish Reichsrat made a new constitution in which Schleswig should be annexed again. The Eider danes wanted it. 2 days later the childless king Frederic VII. died. His successor, Prince Christian von Glücksburg, who ruled as Christian IX., signed it. On January 1st 1864 the constitution was in action. This was a break of the London Protocol of 1852. The German states sent troops to convince the Danes to retake the constitution. On January 16th 1864 an ultimatum was made to the Danes. 2 days time. Nothing happened. Austrian and Prussian troops were sent to Holstein. At the end of January 56000 German soldiers were at the Eider river. At January 31st the Danish commander declined the last Prussian and Austrian ultimatum. At the very next day the 2nd German Danish war started.
On 7 o’clock in the morning German troops crossed the Eider river. At 11 AM Eckernförde is taken, the Danish ships damaged and retreating. The first advance is without big fights only a few small gunfights with retreating Danish soldiers. But now the Germans reached Missunde at the south bed of the river Schlei. At the first advance the German couldn’t take the fortifications.
On the other side are the fortifications of the Danewerk at the Schlei river. These old fortifications were originally built to prevent Danish raids in Holstein, but now the old fortifications are useless. Newer ones were built elder ones refitted. Now it was the main defence line with 181 guns. But only 38000 of the 60000 men were there. Most of the soldiers from Schleswig- Holstein deserted. 35 % of the army. But it was a tough way to reach this line: Only after fierce fights at Ober- Selk, Jagel, and the Königsberg (not the capital of East Prussia!!!) Prussian and Austrian forces were able to reach this line.
On February 3rd the German generals under the command of the Prussian Generalfeldmarschall Freiherr von Wrangel develop the strategy to wait for a frontal attack until Prussian troops crossed the Schlei and attack the Danewerk from the back.
But the Danish Generalleutnant de Meza is cautious and deploys 10000 men at Missunde. Now there a crossing is nearly impossible. A new crossing is found at Arnis, where a pontoon bridge had to be built. But within one night a whole corps had to cross the river to use the surprise. A very risky situation. In the night from February 5th to 6th this should happen. It snows on the 5th making the advance more difficulty but also hiding the Prussian forces. When they wanted to cross the river civilians came and told them the Danes retreated. So without a fight the Prussian forces could cross the Schlei river. Also the Austrian troops advanced but too late to catch the Danes. They followed the Danes and had a fight at the Sankelmark lake. The Austrians had problems with their rifles due to the bad weather so they suffered som casualities. The Danes can retreat to Flensburg. On the very next day Flensburg is taken by the Prussians. But now the allies agree to make a pause. The Danes however can reach the main defence fortress: Düppel.
The retreat of the Danish troops lead to a change of the commanding soldiers: Generalleutnant de Meza had been replaced by Generalleutnant Gerlach. But also in the German command is a change. V. Wrangel is 80 years old. He is supervised by the crown prince, the later Kaiser Friedrich III., who died in 1888 after ruling 100 days. A new officer was sent to help them: The Prussian Chief of staff General Helmut von Moltke the elder. He changes the strategy: Instead of taking Düppel, they should siege it but conquer whole Jutland. Without the taxes (collected by the Prussians) Denmark should surrender. But Berlin and Vienna were against this plan because they feared the other big powers could intervene if German soldiers would cross Danish territory. Nevertheless on February 17th when reaching the border Prussian troops take Kolding without a fight. Soon British and French ambassadors protested. Britain is close to send a fleet to Copenhagen. And although the Germans have a bigger fleet than before they are even now too weak to cope with the Danes. Nevertheless there are some sea fights and some ships are able to catch some Danish merchant vessels. But the British fleet would be too much.
Bismarck, who supported the occupation of Jutland, apologizes and promises to punish the officers responsible for that deed. Words of a politician. Within a week the diplomatic front was silent. Bismarck can convince the Austrians to attack Danish territory. On March 6th they agreed. 2 days later Prussian and Austrian troops marched on. The Prussians siege the fortress of Fredericia while the Austrians had a fight at Veile. There the Danes had to retreat and were followed by the Austrians until Horsen and Skanderborg.
But the Prussians have no heavy siege guns. So after a cannonade they switched the positions with the Austrians, who now siege Fredericia. And the Danes started a guerrilla warfare.
Now the Prussians retake another objective: Düppel. But in the further enclosing of the fortresses the Prussians believe it will be nearly impossible to take this fortress. 22000 Danes are facing 16000 Prussians. And the strategy failed: Although nearly all parts of Jutland are occupied the Danes refuse to make peace.
On March 15th the new 24 pder siege guns open fire on the Danish fortifications. With these new guns the Danes are surprised- and they loose the sea way. All ships were now in danger which is nearing the harbour of Düppel. Also the Danish warships were not longer able to bombard German positions. 2 days later both sides plan to advance. Although the Danes are at first successful they loose more terrain as they gained and hat to retreat into forts. But the Germans are still to weak. So they hat to wait for reinforcements. In the meantime the German troops advance but without making an attack on Düppel itself.
Now the German command wanted first to take the isle of Alsen in the back of Düppel to enclose this fortress totally. Therefore the Danes had to be deluded. The siege guns fired. The damage is bigger than the Danes can repair and Gerlach wanted to retreat partly to Alsen. This was rejected by the Danish government. They gave the order to hold Düppel côute que côute because they hoped a conference in London with the other powers would be better if there are still troops in Schleswig. But Bismarck managed it to delay the conference to April 25th.
In the meantime the Germans can advance further and further nearer to the fortresses by attacking in the night the forward posts and digging trenches there. On April 18th the storm shall start.
In the evening before 94 guns fired on the fort. In the morning the attack started. In a fierce battle all 7 fortifications could be taken. But the remaining Danish units could escape to Sonderburg. The Prussians lost 263 men. Further 938 were wounded. The Danes lost over 1800 men who died or were wounded and over 3000 captives. However the Danish figures are different in nearly all sources, so you have to be cautious here. The Danish General du Plat is dead as well as the Prussian Generalmajor von Raven, who was fatally wounded. A few days also Fredericia is taken without a single shot. Also here the Danes retreated to the Isle of Fünen. They wanted to wait for the conference of London. That’s why they retreated.
In London the Danes try even now to annex Schleswig! This is refused by all other parts. The Prussians want a border north of the line Apenrade- Tondern. Bismarck gave the order to accept a line Flensburg Tondern, if a northern line is impossible. But the Danes lost their diplomatic game: the other powers feel snubbed. Now the Cease fire is over.
On June 26th the war continues. Wrangel is no longer commander. Prince Friedrich Karl is the new CIC. The next step in the German advance is the island Alsen. With a surpising invasion Prussian troops can take the island within a few hours. The Danish command thought they were able to hold Alsen as well as Fünen and was surprised. Also the rest of Jutland is now under German control. On July 20th again the weapons are silent. The Danish government resigned and the new one made peace. On October 30th 1864 the Danish king had to sign the peace treaty loosing Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg.
Schleswig and Lauenburg are now under Prussian control, Holstein under Austrian. Bismarck wanted to unify Germany. Now he had only 2 main powers who would never accept a Germany under Prussian control: Austria and France.
For the war at sea: Denmark soon sent the fleet to blockade the German harbours. And like 1848 there was only a small fleet to act against that. Mostly Prussian ships. But when the Austrian ships came to help the Prussians, the tide was turned in the battle of Helgoland.
Due to the uproar in Greece in 1863 a Prussian squadron formed from SMS Preußischer Adler, Basilisk and Blitz left Prussia to protect German civilians, Commander was Korvettenkapitän von Klatt. In December 1864 the squadron got the news of problems with Denmark so they came home. The voyage had to be interrupted some times due to damages on SMS Preußischer Adler, so the arrived Nieuwediep not before 14.04.1864, where they got the news about the begin of the 2nd Danish German war. The commander decided not to drive to Germany directly, but to wait on Austrian ships. With SMS Radetzky and Schwarzenberg two Austrian frigates under the command of Linienschiffskapitän (= Captain) v. Tegethoff the Austrian help came. The use of Austrian ships in the North Sea had diplomatic trouble with Britain as consequence.
However the German ships, as Austria was still in the German Federation, left the port. At Helgoland the squadron was caught by a Danish squadron consisting of the Danish Niels Juel, Jylland (frigates) and the corvette Heimdal. As the Prussian ships were low on coal and were very small compared to the Danes Tegetthoff gave the order to save the ships if needed at the very beginning. Despite this and the need of firing fat instead of coals, the Prussian ships stayed in the line. Both Austrian frigates were damaged in this struggle. SMS Schwarzenberg had to be rescued by the Prussian ships together with SMS Radetzky. In this fight the Prussian ships were not hit. However Leutnant zur See von Werner, gun commander on SMS Basilisk, claimed after the battle to have hit Jylland. As there was no record in the Danish sources, he later said he must have seen wrong.
At the end of the day both frigates were damaged badly. So the battle itself was a Danish victory indeed. However it lead to the end of the Danish blockade and so had the consequences of a Prussian and Austrian victory. Later in that war more Austrian ships came to take prizes and to help the German armies. The Danish navy retreated after Helgoland and was not more very active in the North sea except a few small skrimishes.
On June 11th 1866 the war with Austria started. The Austrian troops are enclosed in Altona, until 1938 a part of Schleswig- Holstein now belonging to Hamburg. But they can retreat to Harburg in Hanover in the last minute. In Königgrätz/ Bohemia the Austrian loose a battle they had to win. The Peace was mild for the Austrians. But the people of Schleswig- Holstein were dissatisfied when Schleswig- Holstein became a Prussian province.
In 1870 the war with France begins. The French wanted to encourage the Danes to take revenge but now Germany had armoured ships- not the Danes. Even a Fench fleet can’t convince the Danes. So in Schleswig- Holstein peace ruled.
After WW1 the Danes can gain the northern part of Schleswig in referendum which would be now classified as questionable, as the whole treaty was questionable. So the border of Germany to Denmark is now north of Flensburg.
That is the history of Schleswig- Hostein.
Here is a map and a link to a better one:
http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps3098.html
In medieval times Schleswig was part of Denmark. In 1326 the Earls of Schauenburg got from the Danish Crown also the duchy of Schleswig. They had already the duchy of Holstein since 1111. In 1460 Christian I of Denmark became Duke of Schleswig and Earl of Holstein- Stormarn. Therefore he had to grant both parts the inner autonomy and not to be divided. “Up ewig ungedeelt”. This is even today the motto of Schleswig- Holstein. For centuries this treaty was never a problem. In these times mainly Germans settled in Schleswig- Holstein. In the northern part the Danish were in the majority but in all the Germans.
In 1815 the German Confederation was founded. Holstein was part of it, but not Schleswig. The Danish king was as duke of Holstein also member of the German federation as well as the king of the Netherlands for Luxemburg and the British king for Hanover. But nationalism spread through Europe. Germany was not a nation. So with a revolution in France in March 1848 the Germans revolted. In Denmark The so called Eider Danes wanted to annex Schleswig until the Eider river, the border to Holstein. But the Prince of Noer and a few soldiers, sportsmen and students rebelled and went to the fortress of Rendsburg. Most of the soldiers based there were from Schleswig- Holstein and so the fortress fell without a shot. Although the Danish officers protested. The Schleswig- Holstein troops, which were formed now, were deployed at Bau North of Flensburg. 4000 men were attacked by a Danish force of 11000 men. They had to retreat.
In the meantime Prussian forces arrived. They attacked the Danish forces at Schleswig. This time the Danes had to retreat. Also their new position, Översee was not the best. They had to retreat another time. On August 28th the cease fire of Malmö was signed. The cease fire was broken by the Danes on March 26th 1849. 55000 Germans with 155 cannons were now facing 35000 Danes with 72 cannons. The sea however was ruled by the Danes. The German fleet was way too small. However at Eckernförde the first sea battle occurred.
On April 5th a Dansih squadron containing the ship of the line Christian VIII, the frigate Gefion, the corvette Galathea and two steamers with total 148 guns. 16 guns, deployed by the Prussian Premierleutnant der Artillerie Werner (von) Siemens, defended Eckernförde. Although the Danes were in numerical superiority the German guns damaged the ship of the line and the frigate heavily. Both ships were unable to be recovered and had to surrender. But the fire on the Christian VIII. was too big. She blew up. The frigate was captured and used by the German fleet until the 1870s. 224 Danes died and 86 were wounded. On the German side 4 died and 14 were wounded.
In the following time Düppel and Kolding were gained in heavy battles. The Germans advanced to Fredericia, but there they had to withdraw.
In the meantime in Frankfurt am Main in the Paul´s cathedral the first German parliament was constituted. They made the first constitution which was never in use. Bismarck later made it in use with some minor differences. But the time lapsed. The other European nations were not very amused to see a united Germany even without Austria. So they forced the Germans to sign a peace with Denmark. The status quo ante was reinstalled. In the meantime the revolution died when the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV. refused to become German Kaiser.
Although the people of Schleswig- Holstein fought after signing the peace. The Danes attacked and near Idstedt it came to battle. The troops of Schleswig- Holstein had to retreat. Although fighting braverly at other battles like Missunde or Friedrichstadt they were outnumbered. They couldn’t expect any foreign help since other powers like Russia intervened diplomatically they had to surrender on January 10th 1851. In this time the Bavarian Wilhelm Bauer was able to build the first U-boat, the Brandtaucher. Unfortunately she sunk at her maiden voyage. But the Danish ships were farer away as normal…
On May 8th 1852 the European powers declared Schleswig- Holstein should be under Danish rule. However this was not granted and Prussia rejected the signing. This peace was called the peace without any content.
On November 13th 1863 the Danish Reichsrat made a new constitution in which Schleswig should be annexed again. The Eider danes wanted it. 2 days later the childless king Frederic VII. died. His successor, Prince Christian von Glücksburg, who ruled as Christian IX., signed it. On January 1st 1864 the constitution was in action. This was a break of the London Protocol of 1852. The German states sent troops to convince the Danes to retake the constitution. On January 16th 1864 an ultimatum was made to the Danes. 2 days time. Nothing happened. Austrian and Prussian troops were sent to Holstein. At the end of January 56000 German soldiers were at the Eider river. At January 31st the Danish commander declined the last Prussian and Austrian ultimatum. At the very next day the 2nd German Danish war started.
On 7 o’clock in the morning German troops crossed the Eider river. At 11 AM Eckernförde is taken, the Danish ships damaged and retreating. The first advance is without big fights only a few small gunfights with retreating Danish soldiers. But now the Germans reached Missunde at the south bed of the river Schlei. At the first advance the German couldn’t take the fortifications.
On the other side are the fortifications of the Danewerk at the Schlei river. These old fortifications were originally built to prevent Danish raids in Holstein, but now the old fortifications are useless. Newer ones were built elder ones refitted. Now it was the main defence line with 181 guns. But only 38000 of the 60000 men were there. Most of the soldiers from Schleswig- Holstein deserted. 35 % of the army. But it was a tough way to reach this line: Only after fierce fights at Ober- Selk, Jagel, and the Königsberg (not the capital of East Prussia!!!) Prussian and Austrian forces were able to reach this line.
On February 3rd the German generals under the command of the Prussian Generalfeldmarschall Freiherr von Wrangel develop the strategy to wait for a frontal attack until Prussian troops crossed the Schlei and attack the Danewerk from the back.
But the Danish Generalleutnant de Meza is cautious and deploys 10000 men at Missunde. Now there a crossing is nearly impossible. A new crossing is found at Arnis, where a pontoon bridge had to be built. But within one night a whole corps had to cross the river to use the surprise. A very risky situation. In the night from February 5th to 6th this should happen. It snows on the 5th making the advance more difficulty but also hiding the Prussian forces. When they wanted to cross the river civilians came and told them the Danes retreated. So without a fight the Prussian forces could cross the Schlei river. Also the Austrian troops advanced but too late to catch the Danes. They followed the Danes and had a fight at the Sankelmark lake. The Austrians had problems with their rifles due to the bad weather so they suffered som casualities. The Danes can retreat to Flensburg. On the very next day Flensburg is taken by the Prussians. But now the allies agree to make a pause. The Danes however can reach the main defence fortress: Düppel.
The retreat of the Danish troops lead to a change of the commanding soldiers: Generalleutnant de Meza had been replaced by Generalleutnant Gerlach. But also in the German command is a change. V. Wrangel is 80 years old. He is supervised by the crown prince, the later Kaiser Friedrich III., who died in 1888 after ruling 100 days. A new officer was sent to help them: The Prussian Chief of staff General Helmut von Moltke the elder. He changes the strategy: Instead of taking Düppel, they should siege it but conquer whole Jutland. Without the taxes (collected by the Prussians) Denmark should surrender. But Berlin and Vienna were against this plan because they feared the other big powers could intervene if German soldiers would cross Danish territory. Nevertheless on February 17th when reaching the border Prussian troops take Kolding without a fight. Soon British and French ambassadors protested. Britain is close to send a fleet to Copenhagen. And although the Germans have a bigger fleet than before they are even now too weak to cope with the Danes. Nevertheless there are some sea fights and some ships are able to catch some Danish merchant vessels. But the British fleet would be too much.
Bismarck, who supported the occupation of Jutland, apologizes and promises to punish the officers responsible for that deed. Words of a politician. Within a week the diplomatic front was silent. Bismarck can convince the Austrians to attack Danish territory. On March 6th they agreed. 2 days later Prussian and Austrian troops marched on. The Prussians siege the fortress of Fredericia while the Austrians had a fight at Veile. There the Danes had to retreat and were followed by the Austrians until Horsen and Skanderborg.
But the Prussians have no heavy siege guns. So after a cannonade they switched the positions with the Austrians, who now siege Fredericia. And the Danes started a guerrilla warfare.
Now the Prussians retake another objective: Düppel. But in the further enclosing of the fortresses the Prussians believe it will be nearly impossible to take this fortress. 22000 Danes are facing 16000 Prussians. And the strategy failed: Although nearly all parts of Jutland are occupied the Danes refuse to make peace.
On March 15th the new 24 pder siege guns open fire on the Danish fortifications. With these new guns the Danes are surprised- and they loose the sea way. All ships were now in danger which is nearing the harbour of Düppel. Also the Danish warships were not longer able to bombard German positions. 2 days later both sides plan to advance. Although the Danes are at first successful they loose more terrain as they gained and hat to retreat into forts. But the Germans are still to weak. So they hat to wait for reinforcements. In the meantime the German troops advance but without making an attack on Düppel itself.
Now the German command wanted first to take the isle of Alsen in the back of Düppel to enclose this fortress totally. Therefore the Danes had to be deluded. The siege guns fired. The damage is bigger than the Danes can repair and Gerlach wanted to retreat partly to Alsen. This was rejected by the Danish government. They gave the order to hold Düppel côute que côute because they hoped a conference in London with the other powers would be better if there are still troops in Schleswig. But Bismarck managed it to delay the conference to April 25th.
In the meantime the Germans can advance further and further nearer to the fortresses by attacking in the night the forward posts and digging trenches there. On April 18th the storm shall start.
In the evening before 94 guns fired on the fort. In the morning the attack started. In a fierce battle all 7 fortifications could be taken. But the remaining Danish units could escape to Sonderburg. The Prussians lost 263 men. Further 938 were wounded. The Danes lost over 1800 men who died or were wounded and over 3000 captives. However the Danish figures are different in nearly all sources, so you have to be cautious here. The Danish General du Plat is dead as well as the Prussian Generalmajor von Raven, who was fatally wounded. A few days also Fredericia is taken without a single shot. Also here the Danes retreated to the Isle of Fünen. They wanted to wait for the conference of London. That’s why they retreated.
In London the Danes try even now to annex Schleswig! This is refused by all other parts. The Prussians want a border north of the line Apenrade- Tondern. Bismarck gave the order to accept a line Flensburg Tondern, if a northern line is impossible. But the Danes lost their diplomatic game: the other powers feel snubbed. Now the Cease fire is over.
On June 26th the war continues. Wrangel is no longer commander. Prince Friedrich Karl is the new CIC. The next step in the German advance is the island Alsen. With a surpising invasion Prussian troops can take the island within a few hours. The Danish command thought they were able to hold Alsen as well as Fünen and was surprised. Also the rest of Jutland is now under German control. On July 20th again the weapons are silent. The Danish government resigned and the new one made peace. On October 30th 1864 the Danish king had to sign the peace treaty loosing Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg.
Schleswig and Lauenburg are now under Prussian control, Holstein under Austrian. Bismarck wanted to unify Germany. Now he had only 2 main powers who would never accept a Germany under Prussian control: Austria and France.
For the war at sea: Denmark soon sent the fleet to blockade the German harbours. And like 1848 there was only a small fleet to act against that. Mostly Prussian ships. But when the Austrian ships came to help the Prussians, the tide was turned in the battle of Helgoland.
Due to the uproar in Greece in 1863 a Prussian squadron formed from SMS Preußischer Adler, Basilisk and Blitz left Prussia to protect German civilians, Commander was Korvettenkapitän von Klatt. In December 1864 the squadron got the news of problems with Denmark so they came home. The voyage had to be interrupted some times due to damages on SMS Preußischer Adler, so the arrived Nieuwediep not before 14.04.1864, where they got the news about the begin of the 2nd Danish German war. The commander decided not to drive to Germany directly, but to wait on Austrian ships. With SMS Radetzky and Schwarzenberg two Austrian frigates under the command of Linienschiffskapitän (= Captain) v. Tegethoff the Austrian help came. The use of Austrian ships in the North Sea had diplomatic trouble with Britain as consequence.
However the German ships, as Austria was still in the German Federation, left the port. At Helgoland the squadron was caught by a Danish squadron consisting of the Danish Niels Juel, Jylland (frigates) and the corvette Heimdal. As the Prussian ships were low on coal and were very small compared to the Danes Tegetthoff gave the order to save the ships if needed at the very beginning. Despite this and the need of firing fat instead of coals, the Prussian ships stayed in the line. Both Austrian frigates were damaged in this struggle. SMS Schwarzenberg had to be rescued by the Prussian ships together with SMS Radetzky. In this fight the Prussian ships were not hit. However Leutnant zur See von Werner, gun commander on SMS Basilisk, claimed after the battle to have hit Jylland. As there was no record in the Danish sources, he later said he must have seen wrong.
At the end of the day both frigates were damaged badly. So the battle itself was a Danish victory indeed. However it lead to the end of the Danish blockade and so had the consequences of a Prussian and Austrian victory. Later in that war more Austrian ships came to take prizes and to help the German armies. The Danish navy retreated after Helgoland and was not more very active in the North sea except a few small skrimishes.
On June 11th 1866 the war with Austria started. The Austrian troops are enclosed in Altona, until 1938 a part of Schleswig- Holstein now belonging to Hamburg. But they can retreat to Harburg in Hanover in the last minute. In Königgrätz/ Bohemia the Austrian loose a battle they had to win. The Peace was mild for the Austrians. But the people of Schleswig- Holstein were dissatisfied when Schleswig- Holstein became a Prussian province.
In 1870 the war with France begins. The French wanted to encourage the Danes to take revenge but now Germany had armoured ships- not the Danes. Even a Fench fleet can’t convince the Danes. So in Schleswig- Holstein peace ruled.
After WW1 the Danes can gain the northern part of Schleswig in referendum which would be now classified as questionable, as the whole treaty was questionable. So the border of Germany to Denmark is now north of Flensburg.
That is the history of Schleswig- Hostein.
Here is a map and a link to a better one:
http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps3098.html
.
I've read about how Schleswig Holstein used to be allied with Sweden (against Denmark, of course), do you know anything about that? This would be in the 16th or 17th century, or so... Apparently the Swedish navy used to import oak timber from Schleswig Holstein for ship building...
In 1645 Denmark had to give up many territorial possessions to Sweden. 
war against Sweden. However the Swedish King saw this as a delightfully convenient excuse to withdraw from his Polish adventure. He rapidly marched to Denmark with his veteran army, overrunning all resistance, and crossing the frozen sea, he threatened Copenhagen. The result was the panic-treaty of Roskilde in 1658 where Denmark was forced to give up Scania, Halland and Blekinge. Especially the loss of Scania was mourned in Denmark. 
! Your king was only the duke of these duchies but they were independent (Personal union). So you lost no territory! But nevertheless WE must be aware by you Danes. 
