Chapter 9 Contact War
February 1, 1864.
The Prussian-Austrian coalition arrived at the south bank of the Ida River. Taking advantage of the darkness shrouded in night and the vast mist rising from the river, people and horses walked across the silent and winding Ida River.
The German Allied Forces Command on the south bank mobilized all available ships and hurriedly passed the icy Ida River with the large and small bridges under its control.
Tens of thousands of troops marched eagerly in front of the narrow and calm Ida River, causing considerable noise.
Even if the army is fully prepared before setting off, large-scale troop movements can still be observed as long as the Danish scouts are not blind or deaf.
But the Danes could only watch everything happen. The coalition forces had an absolute advantage, and the coalition forces scattered on the narrow terrain of the Jutland Peninsula were simply overwhelming for a small country like Denmark. .
The Aida River is winding and winding, and there are many places where you can land, making it difficult to defend. What's even more terrible is that the Ada River originates from the hills south of Kiel. The water flow is gentle and the river surface is not wide, so it is destined to be impossible to hold on.
Unless the entire country builds a defense line that stretches for hundreds of miles along the Ida River, it is naturally impossible for Denmark, with a population of only a few million, to do it in a short time.
Soon, the leading troops of the coalition forces landed on the north bank and began to set up coastal positions.
The Danish army did not dare to act rashly for the time being, but watched from a distance as the scout cavalry wandered around the edges of the coalition forces.
In this weird environment, the two sides stared at each other and reached a delicate balance.
The Danish military did not dare to neglect. While shrinking its troops and confronting the coalition forces, it quickly sent the news to the royal capital that the German coalition forces had crossed the Ida River.
Waiting for instructions from the government and taking corresponding measures, as the defensive side and the disadvantaged side, the Danish Army did not dare to act without authorization.
Exaggerate the problem as much as possible and convey the dangerous situation to the rear as much as possible, so that even if there is a subsequent failure, the blame can be pushed to the enemy.
It's not that the soldiers are slacking off, it's that the Germans don't have martial ethics, and the two rogue countries brought a bunch of young men to attack me.
Even if I fail, it will be the failure of the government's own politics. The enemy is so strong and you can't win over your allies. Just wait to step down!
Of course the Danish government cannot sit still and wait for death. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urgently contacted the British ambassador.
The Prime Minister personally led a team to seek help from the British Ambassador. At the same time, the government sent ministers to Russia, France, and even Sweden.
It is a pity that the ministers from various countries were unclear. However, the UK still clearly supports Denmark. However, when it comes to the issue of sending troops, the British said that they are waiting for domestic news. Don't be anxious. I believe that the kingdom will respond soon.
February 2nd.
Prussia took the lead in launching a tentative attack on the Danish position, trying to outflank the Danish flanks.
……
Half an hour ago
The winter on the Jutland Peninsula is still cold. The cold wind blows across the faces of the soldiers holding steel guns, and the cold air exhaled from their mouths instantly A white mist formed in front of my eyes.
The officer leading the team took out a pack of cigarettes from his arms. The cigarette pack was printed with the exquisite mark "Cornflower", which is the trademark of Ernst Tobacco Factory.
Open the paper lid on the cigarette box, take one out and put it in your mouth.
I casually took out a kerosene lighter from my pocket. In the tunnel, I leaned against the earth wall and shrank my head. I covered the air vent with one hand and turned the flint pulley with the other hand, and a burst of sparks spurted out fiercely. , instantly igniting the oil-soaked cotton wick in front.
The young officer put his mouth to the flame and lit the cigarette in his mouth. The front end of the cigarette began to emit a flickering red flame.
Take a big puff, pass through the throat, flow in the lungs, and then exhale a large amount of smoke along the breath.
The young officer felt refreshed and his inner anxiety seemed to have been relieved. Begin to wait calmly for the call to charge.
......
As the command issued the order, the Prussian army began to attack. Under the leadership of the officers, the soldiers charged towards the Danish fortifications.
With the roar of artillery fire, the battle-hardened Prussian soldiers advanced steadily forward, and no one dared to retreat. Only the offense and the gun in hand are what the soldier relies on. Reloading, aiming, and shooting are all done in one go.
The artillery fire intertwined, making craters one after another on the ground. The dust was filled with smoke, and only the fire of enemy guns guided the way forward.
"Bang...bang...bang..."
With a burst of fierce gunfire, the Danes relied on their fortifications and location to successfully block the Prussian attack.
Although the Prussian soldiers were still attacking, the gunfire was obviously sparser.
The first wave of attacks did not achieve the expected results. The charging troops suffered heavy casualties, but they did not defeat the well-disciplined Prussian army. As a test, the rear command post decisively ordered the storming troops to withdraw in an orderly manner.
The first step of fighting between the coalition forces and Denmark ended in this way. To the Danes, the Prussian barbarians were nothing more than that.
The Prussian rear commander doesn't matter, this is just an appetizer, it's just here! The artillery in the rear was not yet in place, and the previous attack was just a test of the Danish army's quality.
The Danes still had some destructive power, but in the eyes of the Prussian officers it was not enough.
The Prussians are not afraid of tough battles. As the country with the most martial virtues in Europe, they have never seen any battles.
And this time it is just Prussia testing alone, the German Confederation and the Austrian Empire have not taken action yet!
The strength of these parties can be said to be several times that of the Danes. For the Kingdom of Prussia, which has dealt with France, Russia, Austria and other powerful countries, it has always exploded in adversity in the past.
A country like Denmark, which has declined, is completely looked down upon. This kind of tailwind situation simply does not make you feel confident.
The last time the Danes were able to win (the First Schleswig War), they relied more on international forces. This time the Danish government showed political indolence.
Failed to contact other countries on the European continent in time to support, such as Britain, which had already warned Prussia before.
The British have not made any big moves yet. As a naval power, it is impossible for the British to act alone and show off their power on the European continent.
As for France, it could interrupt Prussia's plan, but Bismarck had already figured out the diplomatic field and exchanged other interests for the silence of the Napoleon III government.
The British hope to win over Tsarist Russia, but the last Crimean War, Britain and France jointly damaged the Russians, so it is naturally impossible for Russia to interfere in the European situation at this time.
This puts the British in a difficult position. It is impossible for the navy to go ashore and fight the Prussian barbarians!
So the British could only give the Danes all their verbal support, but they had no sincerity in sending troops.
Maintaining the balance of power on the European continent is of course the British national policy. Denmark's loss of two principalities will not have an impact on the situation on the continent at all.
At most, the Danes would withdraw to the interior of Jutland and lose some land. Moreover, the defeated Danes would inevitably intensify their hatred of Prussia and stand more firmly on the side of the British, laying the groundwork for the British to bury the ground in the next continental turmoil. Make a secret.
Of course, the British have other tricks they can use, but they are far from meeting the requirements of the war, and the Danes have not used their full strength!
You must know that although Denmark is a small country, it has also developed in history. In the last Schleswig War alone, it showed considerable strength.
The Danes control the outlet of the Baltic Sea. They have a superior geographical location and a developed economy. They can now raise a considerable army.
War is always full of uncertainty. What if the Danes survive? Moreover, the Danish government showed extraordinary confidence before the war began, otherwise it would not be where it is now.
Although I don’t know where the Danish government’s confidence comes from (at least Ernst thinks so). But this does not prevent the Danish government from being slow in the diplomatic field.
Now Prussia has stabilized most of the powerful countries through alliances, and has also won over Austria and the German Confederation.
The pressure on public opinion and diplomacy is gone. As long as they do not suffer major military setbacks, Schleswig and Holstein will be meat in the bowl. However, the prerequisite was to secure Austria after the war, but Bismarck already had a plan in mind.
(End of this chapter)