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Genforeningsmærke på Dybbøl Skanse II

Memorial marker honoring Danish reunification and the 1864 battle's fallen defenders on a historic fortification site.

A solemn memorial marker on Dybbøl Skanse II commemorating Danish reunification and the heroic defense of 1864. This historic fortification site, part of the larger Dybbøl Banke complex, honors the soldiers who fought during the Second Schleswig War. The marker stands as a testament to Danish resilience and national identity, set within a landscape of preserved earthen fortifications overlooking the Alssund strait.

A brief summary to Genforeningsmærke på Dybbøl Skanse II

  • Grønnekærvej 1, Sønderborg, 6400, DK
  • Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Local tips

  • Visit during clear weather to fully appreciate the panoramic views across Alssund and understand the strategic importance of the fortification's position overlooking the strait.
  • Combine your visit with the nearby History Centre Dybbøl Banke and Dybbøl Mill museum to gain comprehensive understanding of the 1864 campaign and its historical significance.
  • The site is accessible year-round and free to visit; allow time to walk the preserved earthworks and read the memorial inscriptions in quiet reflection.
  • Bring binoculars to observe details of the fortification structure and the surrounding landscape that shaped the battle's outcome.
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Getting There

  • By Car from Sønderborg Town Centre

    Drive south from Sønderborg town centre toward Dybbøl via Grønnekærvej, approximately 3 kilometers. The journey takes 5–8 minutes. Parking is available at the History Centre Dybbøl Banke visitor facilities nearby. The memorial site itself is freely accessible without vehicle access restrictions.

  • By Bus from Sønderborg

    Local bus services operate from Sønderborg town centre to the Dybbøl area, with journey times of 10–15 minutes depending on the route. Services run regularly throughout the day. Confirm current schedules with local transport providers, as frequency varies seasonally. The memorial is a short walk from the main bus stops serving the Dybbøl Banke attractions.

  • By Bicycle from Sønderborg

    Cycle south from Sønderborg town centre along local routes toward Dybbøl, approximately 3 kilometers. The journey takes 10–15 minutes on flat terrain. Bicycle parking facilities are available near the History Centre. This is a popular route for visitors exploring the region's cultural heritage sites.

  • Walking from History Centre Dybbøl Banke

    The memorial marker is accessible via walking paths from the adjacent History Centre Dybbøl Banke, approximately 200–300 meters away. The terrain is gently sloping with good accessibility. Walking time is 5–10 minutes depending on pace and route chosen through the fortification landscape.

Genforeningsmærke på Dybbøl Skanse II location weather suitability

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Discover more about Genforeningsmærke på Dybbøl Skanse II

A Monument to National Reunification

The Genforeningsmærke (Reunification Memorial) on Dybbøl Skanse II stands as a powerful symbol of Danish national identity and the restoration of territorial unity. Erected following the reunification of North Schleswig with Denmark in 1920, this marker commemorates both the tragic events of 1864 and the triumphant return of Danish sovereignty. King Christian X himself participated in a grand celebration on Dybbøl Banke on 11 July 1920, marking the culmination of decades of longing for national restoration. The memorial represents the collective memory of a nation that refused to forget its losses and ultimately reclaimed what had been taken.

The Battle of 1864 and Skanse II's Heroic Defense

Skanse II occupies a central place in the dramatic events of 18 April 1864, when Prussian and Austrian forces launched their assault on the Danish defensive line. The fortification was defended by Lieutenant Johan Anker and approximately 70 soldiers, supported by artillery positioned within the skanse. Despite fierce resistance, the position fell to overwhelming numbers—some 2,000 attackers required only ten minutes to overcome the defenders. Anker's courageous stand earned him legendary status; the Prussians valued his capture so highly that they gave specific orders to take him alive, which they succeeded in doing. His image was later placed on the German victory monument in Berlin, commemorating the assault. Within Skanse II's center stands a memorial stone honoring a Danish major who fell during the April fighting, preserving the memory of individual sacrifice.

The Fortification Line and Its Strategic Importance

Dybbøl Skanse II was part of a continuous defensive arc of ten fortifications constructed between 1861 and 1863 by Danish engineer troops. The line stretched approximately three kilometers in a semicircle from Vemmingbund to Alssund, with Skanse II positioned on the slope leading toward Dybbøl Mill. Each skanse was a modest earthwork with concrete ammunition magazines and wooden blockhouses for shelter. The fortifications were designed to defend the Sønderborg peninsula against invasion from the south, but their wooden structures proved fatally vulnerable when subjected to the relentless Prussian bombardment that began on 15 March 1864. Over 8,000 grenades rained down on the Danish positions during six hours of continuous shelling on the day of the assault, reducing the fortifications to rubble.

Prussian Reconstruction and the Path to Preservation

Following their victory, the Prussians demolished the ruined Danish skanses and constructed their own formidable fortification line between 1865 and 1871, incorporating the sites of the original Danish works. These new Prussian skanses formed part of the "Festung Sonderburg-Düppel," a major defensive complex comprising two armored skanse rows. However, these German fortifications never saw combat and were abandoned as military installations by 1883. After Denmark's reunification with North Schleswig in 1920, the Danish people undertook a public fundraising campaign to purchase the skanse area. The site was formally transferred to the state in 1924 as "Nationalparken Dybbøl Skanser" (Dybbøl Skanser National Park), ensuring its preservation as a monument to national heritage and historical memory.

Landscape of Memory and Reflection

Today, visitors to Skanse II encounter a landscape shaped by centuries of military history. The visible earthworks represent the Prussian-era fortifications constructed atop the Danish positions, creating a palimpsest of conflict and reconstruction. The memorial marker itself serves as a focal point for reflection on the costs of war and the resilience of national identity. The site's position overlooking Alssund provides commanding views across the water toward Als, the island to which Danish forces retreated after the battle. The surrounding terrain, with its gentle slopes and open vistas, allows visitors to understand the tactical challenges faced by the defenders and the overwhelming force brought to bear against them.

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