Preparing to refight the Battles of Dybbøl and Als

The recent publication of Steve Parker's DOMINION OF OTTO VON BISMARK has provided me with an excuse to do some background research before I refight the Battles of Dybbøl and Als.

I have several books that deal with the Second Schleswig War, including:

• THE SECOND SCHLESWIG WAR 1864: PRELUDE, EVENTS AND CONSEQUENCES which was written by Inge Adriansen and Jens Ole Christensen and published by the Tøjhusmuseet (now the Danish War Museum) in 2013 (ISBN 978 8787 37527 6) ... and I bought my copy from the museum when I visited it in December 2014.

• 1864: THE FORGOTTEN WAR THAT SHAPED MODERN EUROPE was written by Tom Buk-Swienty, translated into English by Annette Buk-Swienty, and published in English by Profile Books in April 2015 (ISBN 978 1 781 25276 5). (It was originally published in Denmark in 2008 by Gyldendal, entitled 1864: SLAGTEBÆNK DYBBØL [which can be translated as ‘The Dybbøl Slaughterhouse’].)

The latter formed the basis of the Danish TV/film series 1864. This was produced to mark to 150th anniversary of the war between Denmark and Prussia which ended with Denmark losing control of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg.

When I visited the Tøjhusmuseet in 20214, the museum was staging a special exhibition about the war, and I was able to take several photographs of the displays.

As one would expect, there are numerous paintings ...

The Danish trenches during the siege of Dybbøl. (by Jørgen Valentin Sonne)

The counter-attack of the Danish 8th Brigade during the Battle of Dybbøl. (by Vilhelm Rosenstand))

... and line illustrations that cover the war.

The Danish ironclad, Rolf Krake, which took part in the Battle of Als.

Prussian soldiers storming the Danish positions during the Battle of Dybbøl.

All very inspiring!