Frederick Charles Christian; otherwise known as King Frederick VII of Denmark, lay still upon his bed, his last breath having escaped the lips of his 55 year old body. By his side stand his third wife, Queen Else Marie, his son Frederik Carl, and his adopted son Carl Christian; whose parents, Carl Berling and Louise Rasmussen had been killed in a carriage accident in 1842. As they mourned the passing of the King, the cogs of politics were all ready being put into motion; just as they had countless times going back as far as the Cnut the Great in the 11th century; the passing of the crown from father to son.
Three days later, the King having been laid to rest, 20 year old Frederik Carl Christian was crowned King Christian IX of Denmark. In his coronation speech to the Rigsdagen he took his father’s motto, “The People’s Love, My Strength”; to heart and spoke of the glories of Denmark’s past. In the years that followed, he worked dutifully to win over the hearts and minds of the people and encourage a sense of national pride; and instilled in the minds of his children that Denmark’s future and prosperity lay in the reunification of Scandinavia. Even Denmark’s defeat in the Second Schleswig war in 1864, with the loss of territory to Prussia and Austria, only served to add strength and vigor to the movement.
Christian IX wouldn’t live to see his plans put into full force, and neither would his son Frederick VIII; for it would take nearly 72 years of slow, methodical, planning and recovery before Christian X would be prepared to put the plan into action.
Historical Note:
King Fredrick had no official heir with a legitimate claim to the Danish Throne. His third wife was actually Louise Rasmussen, who had had an illegitimate child; Carl Christian, with the King’s close friend, Carl Berling.
In two books, one from 1994 and another from 2009, the claim is made that King Fredrick did in fact have a son in late 1843, although out of wedlock. The boy’s name was Frederik Carl Christian Poulsen and his mother was Else Maria Guldborg Pedersen. The book’s author, who claims to be King Fredrick’s Great-Granddaughter, states that she has four letters from the King to Else, one of which acknowledges the boy’s paternity. No other evidence is known to exist and even if true, a child born out of wedlock was and is still not a part of the line of succession.
When King Fredrick died in 1863 bringing an end to the older branch of the Oldenburg line of Danish Kings, the crown passed to his uncle Christian who became King Christian IX. Christian IX is sometimes referred to as the “Father-in-law of Europe due to family ties to many of the Royal Families.
This AAR is based on a change of events so that Fredrick marries Elsa instead of Louise and thus Frederik Carl Christian Poulsen is born in wedlock with a legitimate claim to the Danish throne. This means that the historical succession crisis which led to the Fredrick’s Uncle being named heir by way of legislative changes in 1854 does not occur. The royal line that follows sees Fredick VII’s great-grandson become King Christian X in 1912; a King with designs of rebuilding the Kalmar Union.
Also changed in this alternative history is the aftermath of the Second Schleswig war which historically humiliated Denmark and convinced its people that it simply couldn’t maintain its survival through the tools of war. In fact, Denmark didn’t participate in another military conflict outside of its own boarders until the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. In this AAR, Denmark’s defeat has the opposite effect, putting Demark on a similar path to that experienced by Germany after WWI. However it would take Denmark far longer to prepare. All other events between 1864 and 1936 occur in relative historical fashion.
Modification Notes:
This AAR uses the standard game with Simper Fi, updated to the latest patch. No mods were used.
The following modifications were made to accommodate the changes to Denmark’s history.
Denmark’s starting Neutrality lowered from 90 to 70.
Head of State, Christian X changed minister type to “Danish Unionist” which provides a bonus to the lowering of Denmark’s neutrality. Also provides a small bonus to ruling party support.
Traded colors with USSR.
Objectives:
The goal of this game is to expand Denmark’s territory through annexation of Norway, Sweden, and Finland; while defending itself from any possible German (or other) aggression. It is also planned to remain unaligned as long as possible.
Contents
--1936--
Chapter 1 - Preparations for War - Jan 1st 1936
Chapter 2 – Spain and Ethiopia - Jan 1936 - May 1936
Chapter 3 - Blood Steel - May 28th 1936
Chapter 4 - Making Waves - July 4th 1936
Chapter 5 – Spain United – August 17th 1936
Chapter 6 - The End of '36 - September - December 1936
--1937--
Chapter 7 - Situation Report - Jan 1st, 1937
Chapter 8 - Contacts Grow Cold - Jan - Feb 1937
Chapter 9 - The Plan Revealed - March 5th, 1937
Chapter 10 - The Dogs of War - April - July 1937
--Operation Slartibartfast - Norway - August 13 to September 17, 1937--
Chapter 11 - Operation Slartibartfast - August 13th 1937
Chapter 12 - The Race to Oslo - August 1937
Chapter 13 - The Lillehammer Armistice - September 1937
--Operation Steel Rat - Sweden - February 1 to ??? 1938--
Chapter 14 - The Next Great Adventure - September to December 1937
Chapter 15 - Charge of the Steal Rat - February 1938
Chapter 16 - Cat and Mouse Calamity - March 1938
Web Resources
History of Copenhagen
Maps
Danish Royal Navy
Danish Military History
1937 Danish Calendar
Public Holidays in Denmark
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