Battle of Lundby
| date | July 3, 1864 |
|---|---|
| place | Lundby , Denmark |
| output | Victory of Prussia |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
From Schlutterbach |
HCJ Beck |
| Troop strength | |
| 124 | 160 |
| losses | |
|
Three injured |
32 killed |
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Missunde - Königshügel - Danewerk - Schlei - Oeversee - Jutland - Vejle - Jasmund - Düppeler Schanzen - Fredericia - Helgoland - Alsen - Lundby - North Frisian Islands
The battle of Lundby took place during the German-Danish War on July 3, 1864 south of Lundby in the northeast of the Himmerland peninsula between the 1st Company of the Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment and the 5th Company of the 1st Danish Regiment.
Starting position
On the eve of the battle, the Danes had lost the battle for Jutland . The Danish army was decisively defeated at Düppel in April. The remaining troops had withdrawn to an area north of the Limfjord and withdrawn from Frederikshavn.
The First Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel HCJ Beck was left behind in Nørresundby in order to camouflage the retreat for as long as possible, to secure the sea inlet crossings and - if possible without disproportionate risk - to advance south. Beck had already fought in the Battle of Oeversee in February and had been criticized for leaving the battlefield too early while his men were still fighting.
On July 1, the Prussians sent three reconnaissance units north from Hobro. Beck immediately decided to move south with the 5th Company (160 men) against Ellidshéj. Here he expected to meet and surprise one of the Prussian units at night. However, this unit had since moved south, but other Prussians were sighted east of Gunderup. Beck reached this place at dawn. A column of Prussian dragoons was sighted here, and Danish reconnaissance units were found to be stopping at Lundby.
The battle
Farmers showed the Danish troops the way and showed Beck a kink that would have given his men cover. However, the officer decided differently: The 5th Company attempted a frontal bayonet attack along a long hill, which, however , was stopped by enemy fire 20 meters in front of the earth dike, behind which about 70 Prussians lay in cover. The Prussians had already noticed the preparations of the Danes and were prepared. This battle was the last of the German-Danish War and resulted in considerable Danish losses: 32 of the 160 attackers were killed and another 66 wounded. There were three wounded on the Prussian side.
Despite the defeat and high losses, Beck was promoted to colonel and awarded the Dannebrogden, as the battle was seen as a symbol of the fighting spirit of the Danish troops, which was unbroken even in the face of defeat.
Commemoration
- At the roadside of a motorway that runs along the scene of the event, there is a cross that commemorates the fallen Danes. Danish officers of the “Gardehusarregimentet” regiment, which sees themselves as the successor to the First Regiment, visit the site of the battle annually on the anniversary of the battle.
- At the cemetery of the church of Gunderup a monument commemorates the fallen.
- In Aalborg "Aalborg Forsvars and Garrison Museum" a relief reminds of the storming Danes.
- In Hobro there is a memorial to a Swedish officer who voluntarily fought on the side of the Danes and died of his wounds.
literature
- Sven Bjørke m.fl .: Krigen 1864. The Andes slesvigske krig i politisk og krigshistorisk belysning. Copenhagen 1968.
- Søren Nielsen: 1st Infantry Regiment in Vendsyssel. Kampene ved LUNDBY and HEDEGAARDE d. 3/7 1864. Copenhagen, 1967.
- FC Schiøtt: Affairen ved Lundby. Copenhagen 1877.
- Arne Stevns: Before Hær I Krig og Fred. Nordiske Landes Bogforlag, 1943, Volume 2, pp. 322-323.
- Carl Harding Sørensen m.fl .: Lundbyaffæren. In: Skalk , 1997, No. 3, pp. 20-26.
- Peter Thygesen: Træfningen ved Lundby 3rd July 1864. Næstved 2002.