HP Hanssen gives a speech from the balcony in Folkehjem on November 17, 1918.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

Timeline

Get a timeline of the events that led to the Reunification of Southern Jutland and Denmark in 1920.

July 1864 - Denmark loses the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg. Prussia takes control of Schleswig, while Austria controls Holstein. Especially in North Schleswig, many Schleswigers speak Danish.

Prøjsiske soldater på skanserne ved Dybbøl i 1864.
Prussian soldiers in the entrenchments at Dybbøl in 1864.

Photo: C. Junod

23 August, 1866 - The peace in Prague ends the war between Prussia and Austria. Austria loses. Article 5 of the Peace Treaty ends up playing a central role for the Danish-minded Schleswigers. It says that Schleswig and Holstein must in principle be managed by Prussia, but that the northern districts of Schleswig must be reunited with Denmark if the people in these areas demand it in a free vote. Negotiations on such a vote failed as early as 1868, however - and in 1878 Germany repealed the article.

Map of the German-Roman Empire in 1715
The Holy Roman Empire (circa 1715), which dissolved during the war between Prussia and Austria.

Photo: Johann Homann Hübner

1871 - A German-Prussian Confederation defeats France in the Franco-Prussian War. A new empire is then established under the name Germany. The North Schleswig area is thus a part of the German Empire.

Portrait photo: Adolph Wilhelm Dinesen in uniform, Paris 1871
Adolph Wilhelm Dinesen in uniform, Paris 1871. ​​​The author Karen Blixen's father, Wilhelm Dinesen, is one of several Danes fighting for France in the Franco-Prussian War.

Photo: Pierre-Louis Pierson

1880 - The Danish movement in Schleswig arises. Associations are established where you can cultivate the Danish language and culture. The movement will branch out in the next decades in the Language Association, the Electoral Association and the School Association. The Danish movement is unpopular with the German authorities in the time leading up to World War I. Harassment and restrictions become part of everyday life, but it strengthens the community.

Portrait photo of HP Hanssen
H.P. Hanssen. Editor, politician and minister. Leader of the Electoral Association.

Photo: Holger Damgaard

1 August, 1914 - World War I breaks out after the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Ferdinand, and his wife are assassinated in Sarajevo.

World War One. German Machine Guns on the Eastern Front
German machine guns at the eastern front.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

23 October, 1918 - The war is not yet officially over, but the German defeat is obvious to everyone. In a closed joint meeting, the Danish Parliament and Landstinget discuss the possibilities for reunification.

H.P. Hanssen, de facto leader of the Danish minority and member of the German Reichstag (1906-1919), was informed as early as the beginning of October 1918 that a solution to the North Schleswig question was within reach. On 23 October, he therefore proposes, with reference to Article 5 of the Prague Peace Agreement and the right of peoples to self-determination, that North Schleswig be incorporated into Denmark.

HP Hanssen speaks at a reunion meeting in 1920
H.P. Hanssen speaks..

Photo: Ophav ukendt

11 November, 1918 - World War I ends. Germany loses the war.

World War I: German troops pass a shattered city
German troops pass by a city blown asunder.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

14 November, 1918 - The German Foreign Minister promises H.P. Hanssen a reorganization of North Schleswig's national affiliation. In the following days, the leaders of the Danish minority will prepare the so-called Aabenraa resolution, which requires a referendum for North Schleswig as a whole close to the current Danish-German border.

The Board of Trustees and Supervisory Board of the Electoral Association, which adopted the Aabenraa Resolution in 1918
The Electoral Association's board and supervisory committee who approve the Aabenraa Resolution, 1918.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

17 November, 1918 - A crowd of more than 3000 Danish-minded Schleswigers gathered in front of Folkehjem in Aabenraa breaks out in jubilation when H.P. Hanssen announces that they will have the opportunity to vote their return home to Denmark.

HP Hanssen gives a speech from the balcony in Folkehjem on November 17, 1918.
H. P. Hanssen speaks from the balcony of Folkehjem 17 November, 1918.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

28 June, 1919 - The peace treaty is signed in Versailles, France, but it does not come into force until January 1920.

From the Peace Conference in Versailles on May 7, 1919. The German Courier, who brought the Peace Terms to Berlin, leaves the Hotel in the evening.
The Peace Conference in Versailles 7 May, 1919. The German courier who brought the peace terms to Berlin is leaving his hotel.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

10 February, 1920 - Voting in zone 1, North Schleswig. Here the vote applies to the whole of present-day Southern Jutland. The vote can then not divide the zone if any sub-districts vote for Germany. This is important, because even though 74.2 percent vote for Denmark and only 24.9 percent for Germany, there is a German majority in the market towns of Aabenraa, Sønderborg and Tønder, and these only reunite with Denmark as a result of the rule.

Gathering place for those entitled to vote at the harbor in Åbenrå. 1920
Gathering place for voters at the harbours of Aabenraa, 1920.

Photo: A. Frankl

14 March, 1920 - Voting in zone 2, from Flensburg and the south to Flensburg-Tønning. Here the vote is by district, but no district has a Danish majority. All in all, the vote shows an overwhelming German majority. Only about 20 percent vote for Denmark.

Flagging in connection with the referendum in Flensburg, 1920.
Flags raised in connection with the vote in Flensburg, 1920.

Photo: A. Juul

15 June, 1920 - From this date on, Southern Jutland is again part of Denmark. It's the official Reunionification Day.

Reunification Day. Meeting in Aabenraa 1920
Meeting in Aabenraa on Reunification Day, 1922.

Photo: Ophav ukendt

10 July, 1920 - King Christian X rides across the old border from 1864 at Frederikshøj, Christiansfeld, to welcome the Southern Jutlanders.

Reunion Party 1920: Christian X on the White Horse
Christian X on his white horse.

Photo: Thorvald Larsen

11 July, 1920 - The royal family participates in the official Reunification Party at Dybbøl with over 50,000 participants.

The crowd at Dybbøl-Mølle. Reunion Party 1920
The crowd Dybbøl-Mølle. Reunification Party,1920.

Photo: Ophav ukendt