Chapter III - WAR
Danevirke
The day seemed to sunny and bright considering the situation General Haxthausen found himself in. It was a dry day and the last couple of days there had been no rain and the sky was clear. His troops were dug in and the artillery pieces where finally in place. Danevirke is the best bet they would have against the Austrians. Built hundreds of years ago, and throughout the years has been fortified. He had received a message that the Austrians would probably attempt to move into Denmark, through that place and it was fairly obvioius too. He sat in the tent together with the rest of his officers discussing the inevitable upcoming battle, as a messenger on horseback rode into camp to deliver a message from the King. The Officers were arguing right and left how to handle the situation, some suggested immediate surrender, and other suggested taking the fight to the last man. The General took a brief break from the argument to read the letter. The Officer’s arguments stopped little by little, as they noticed the facial expression by their general. The loud arguments turned into silence, and silence turned into whisper. He felt like his heart was stabbed as he read the end of the letter. He clenched his fist around the letter, and spontaneously let the letter fall to the ground. “General, what is it?”. He took rapid steps to the table and began packing the maps and papers. “Sir what are you doing? We aren’t done discussing our strategy?”.
“We aren’t going to need these anyway…”. The Officer looked appalled. “We can’t turn tail and run, the Austrians will be here at any moment!”. In fury he threw the maps at the Officer. “They are already here Frederik! Copenhagen is under siege, Austrian troops have landed and our Navy is doing it’s best against the Austrian Navy. Don’t you get it? They are already here!”.
Absalon (Danish Frigate)
“Aaargh!”. Another cannon ball struck into the broadside of Absalon, and pulled a number of its crew members with it. The crew dash back and forth like headless chickens after receiving perfect two broadsides. The Absalon would’t be able to hold much any longer, and Jonas knew it. His heart was beating more than ever before, and the smoke irritates his lunges and is barley able to breathe. Another broadside hits the Absalon, and Jonas is almost thrown down on the deck by the shake. He quickly picks himself up, and dashes across the ship to help the crew adjust the main sail. As he dashed across the deck, he saw several bodies of his comrades lay silent and ravaged by the cannonfire.
“All hands on deck, prepare to board the ship!”. Jonas finishes adjusting the sail with his crew, and then again dashes across the deck to prepare for the boarding, just as another Austrian cannonball hits the main sail, and the mast breaks. “Watch out!”. Jonas takes a glance behind him, and sees as death in form of a broken mast pursues him. Within a moment, he lies down on the deck the mast crushing his legs. The planks smack down and link the Absalon with the Jaeger, and the Danish marines dash over the plank, drawing their steel and engaging the Austrian crew. Jonas passes out to the sound of gunfire, clashing steel, the smell of gunpowder and smoke, forever
The Austrian Camp
The fields around Copenhagen and Copenhagen itself where ravaged by artillery, steel and bloodshead. Ernst Wittmann dipped the pen again and continued writing. “My lovely wife. We almost have Copenhagen under our control. It won’t be long before this campaign is over. I am sorry If my words are difficult to read, the last two battles have left me with a few wounds, however it is nothing to worry about. The Danes managed to destroy our fleet, but it will only be a minor inconvenience. The Danish Army has already assaulted us twice, and twice have we managed to beat them back. I doubt they will return for us, last battle left them badly wounded, and I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time before we have forced our way into the King’s Castle and signed the peace treaty. I miss you and the children, and I pray to god that he will protect you while I am gone, your’s truly, Ernst.”
Storming Copenhagen
Once again had the Danish Army gathered near Copenhagen, in another desperate attempt to retake the capital. Earlier had they only the support of seven regiments, this time they had reinforcements of two additional regiments. Despite the recent failures, Hans was convinced that this time they would do it. It disgusted him each time he saw the Austrian flags, wave in Copenhagen he couldn’t wait to fire his rifle, wet his bayonet with the blood of the Austria and burn the flag. The wait was pure torture, the longer he waited the more insecure he became. Finally, General Haxthausen gives the artillery order to fire, and initiates a bombardment of the Austrian positions. The 1st 2nd and 3th regiment charges towards the Austrian positions, supported by the 6th cavalry regiment and the artillery. Hans is in the 7th and his hands are getting shaky. Suddenly his confidence is more or less present, and he finally realizes the horror of war, as he sees his comrades fall one by one, as they charge through the field and towards the Austrian positions. “4th 5th and 7th charge!”. The order was given. Hans said a silent prayer, before he stood up and ran towards the Austrian positions. Bullets fly across his ears and the noise of screams, steel, guns and artillery echo through his head. One by one his comrades fall. He fears he will be next. Another one falls, and another. An artillery shell spontaneously explodes only a few meters away from him, and Hans throws himself to the ground. Terrified by the bombardment he cannot do anything but lay still, he keeps trying to fight his fear but cannot, he simply lays there afraid. A Danish Officer pulls him up, and tries to get him moving on. Hans manages to pull himself together and heads on towards the position. Together with the rest of the 7th Regiment, they fire their shots at the Austrians, and charge with their bayonets up hill. Suddenly the noise of steel clashing together takes over the noise of gunfire. Hans is given the Danish Flag, and orders to capture the Austrian flag and replace it with the Danish one. He dashes up the hill, tripping over the steep hill several times before reaching the top. Two Austrian soldiers lunge their bayonets in Hans’ direction. Both miss and with a swift stab, Hans takes out the first Austrian. The second slashes his leg with the bayonet, and Hans lunges out with his bayonet and misses. The Austrian pushes him down and stabs him in the stomach. Hans’ using all his strength to lunges his own bayonet, pierces the Austrians heart, and he drops dead. Suffering from a fatal wound, nonetheless Hans’ drags himself the small way to the Austrian flag, pulls it out and throws it down the hill. Despite the pain and bleeding he manages to get on his feet, and spends the last of his strength to plant the Danish flag, and in one swift motion Hans’ drops to the ground.