The First Dano-Prussian War, 1865-1867
A few months later after the King and his advisor Christoffer had a meeting, it was time to ready the troops for an inevitable war over the baltic.
The Reserves were mobilized and moved into position for transportation.
The Danish navy was already sailing out.
Not much later, the King had declared war on Prussia, along with Austria and the German minor states, in january 1865
First Dano-Prussian War
The Initial plans were so that the Danish fleet would first sail out and secure Naval supremacy in the Baltic along with the Russians.
Ofcourse a big part of the navy stayed in the kattegat strait to protect the Danish capital copenhagen, and counter any possible Austrian warships which might enter the area.
Then the transportation steamers would be loaded with several divisions and would beach assault Swinemunde, where later on would be many great battles. The area was quickly seized by the Danes and Denmark now had a foothold on Germany.
The southern Danish army, whom's initial task was to defend the Southern border, was commanded to move out and neutralize a few smaller German nations, such as Hamburg, Lubeck and Mecklenburg.
Lubeck was on the list of land the King would gladly add to it's Nation; It was quickly invaded, it's army annihilated, and annexed. Hamburg soon followed, but as the Danes weren't that interested in an extra port to the North sea, Hamburg was satellized instead.
the Danish southern army than moved towards Mecklenburg. In contrary to Lubeck and Hamburg, it found notable resistance.
But the battle of Schwerin ended in a victory for the Danes.
Schwerin was seized and the Mecklenburgians were been offered a white peace, they accepted. At the same time, Stralsund also had been captured by the Main Danish force and had been secured.
An assault on Danzig had also been launched, but failed. Too many troops were concentrated on the area, and the expeditionary force was forced to retreat to the Fleet.
Meanwhile, bad news came from the Russian front. Safe to say, Russia was getting it's ass whooped by the Austrians and despite their big army could not hold them back.
Soon they would accept a peace deal from the Austro-Prussian alliance in favor of the Austrians.
From here on things got worse for Denmark, as more and more Russian front Prussian troops flocked towards the Danish front.
The first Prussian attempt to drive the Danes out of their Homeland was unsuccesfull though.
A well reinforced army led by a good general would beat the assault, and several German divisions were annihilated. However, things got harder..
Even more divisions gathered around the Danes, and once again with a joined assault they attempted to drive them away.
Due to lack of troops the Danish main force.had no choice other than retreating would they not want to get their main army completely destroyed.
Soon the Danish troops we're forced to retreat to Copenhagen. It was decided to offer a white peace to Austria, strangefully they accepted.
Things were looking bad, and the only thing between Copenhagen and the 30 Prussian and German minor troops was the navy, another plan had to be introduced to get more out of this war for the Danes.
As Plan A did not work, Plan B got to the rescue (Operation Rurhgebiet)
The plan was to secure the Danish strait, and with all force strike Hannover into submission, gain a few provinces from them, and move quickly into the Rhine territory
to secure a white peace or maybe even gain a province, and the plan was inmediately executed.
A Danish fleet consisting out of 3 transport ships and 5 warships secured the High sea and Hannover was under heavy attack.
11 divisions in total were present. The Hannoverians could not handle such a size and before a Prussian army arrived to help it had already fallen, and ceded 4 provinces to Denmark.
Quickly the armies blitzed into the Rhine territory and seized a number of provinces, before Prussian troops arrived.
However, short of supplies, men and morale, the Danish troops got whorn down very fast and due to Prussian and other German minor divisions fighting them all over, it was to decided to offer a white peace, it was accepted.
Conclusions of the War:
Russia lost three provinces to Austria.
Denmark had gained Lubeck, Stade, Lingen, Emden and Nienborg.
Hamburg was made a Danish sattelite.
Prussia had lost most of its navy, Denmark had lost 6 warships
The struggle for the Baltic had not been finalized. Denmark did control the Seas along with the Russians, but a direct confrontation with a big Prussian army had rarely been won.
Territory was indeed gained for the Danes, but it was hoped that those would be in the Baltic.
It seems that a future struggle is bound to follow, and than hoped that Russia keeps up the war effort
(update to follow)