Denmark didn’t get involved in World War One. Despite this, after Germany’s defeat, Denmark was given northern Schleswig. So why? Why did a nation that did nothing get free land from a defeated foe?
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Danish history post WWI would have been unimaginably different had Denmark accepted the rest of the duchies. It would have made one third of the Danish population German and German speaking, and it would have massively changed relations between Germany and Denmark in the time afterwards.
Denmark would likely have been invaded in the years before WWII actually started, like the Sudetenland. It would also have made the occupation of Denmark much more hostile than the peaceful "protectorate" of the early occupation.
Then comes the internal tensions inside a Denmark holding the these territories. Even before the loss of Schleswig-Holstein to the Prussians there were increasing tensions in those lands, and odds are good they would only have been worse after World War 1.
It was honestly a very wise move in retrospect to not accept these lands, but obviously it was very much against the spirit of the times as international politics/geopolitics were still mainly focused on acquiring and holding more lands than everyone else. Will say though that Denmark at the time had already begun the process of "getting rid" of lands which caused issues, having sold the Virgin Isles and given up various colonial holdings around the world, at this point only maintaining hold of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Isles.
In 1917 Denmark had been pressured to sell its West-Indies islands to the US which some say was the price for remaining neutral, that may have factored into why the US took Denmark's side.
Sad story to me, Im Danish. Want land back where it belongs. Also 50 000 minority Danes minded people South of the now to high up border. Keep that in mind. If you look at a bigger scale, Danmark/Denmark is the southernmost part of the North! But not with that crazy border! Then the most south is determed by water borders instead of we human can make a better border down there! Exist is lot Danish activities south of border: like, cultural, companies, language, double citizenship, food etc! We also want Eastern part of Denmark back: “Skaane, Halland and Blekinge”! Sweden is so big anyway! Help me here!
If the wotes for unification was cast 40 years earlier, more would have went back to Denmark, but there was a lot of German minded migration since the war in 1861.
Many Danish MP's wanted to grab as much of this land as possible through gerrymandering. What prevented this was extensive research on land owner ethnicity in the area by H. V. Clausen. With this research in hand, negotiators on both sides agreed to draw up the referendum for a clear result in both zones.
These negotiations between France and Danmark in the Versailles reminds me to much of my mom trying to get me to take more of the leftovers after we have dinner, it's like "oi Danmark, if you wouldn't eat the shlesvick it'll go to waste, wouldn't it be a shame?"
Belgium also got some land from Germany, also full of German people. Few years later the government was secretly negotiating with Germany about giving the area back. The French got wind of that and needless to say, they were pretty furious.
Danish history post WWI would have been unimaginably different had Denmark accepted the rest of the duchies. It would have made one third of the Danish population German and German speaking, and it would have massively changed relations between Germany and Denmark in the time afterwards.
Denmark would likely have been invaded in the years before WWII actually started, like the Sudetenland. It would also have made the occupation of Denmark much more hostile than the peaceful "protectorate" of the early occupation.
Then comes the internal tensions inside a Denmark holding the these territories. Even before the loss of Schleswig-Holstein to the Prussians there were increasing tensions in those lands, and odds are good they would only have been worse after World War 1.
It was honestly a very wise move in retrospect to not accept these lands, but obviously it was very much against the spirit of the times as international politics/geopolitics were still mainly focused on acquiring and holding more lands than everyone else. Will say though that Denmark at the time had already begun the process of "getting rid" of lands which caused issues, having sold the Virgin Isles and given up various colonial holdings around the world, at this point only maintaining hold of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Isles.
Why the signs "Welcome! If you're swedish, stay out"?
In 1917 Denmark had been pressured to sell its West-Indies islands to the US which some say was the price for remaining neutral, that may have factored into why the US took Denmark's side.
Sad story to me, Im Danish. Want land back where it belongs. Also 50 000 minority Danes minded people South of the now to high up border. Keep that in mind. If you look at a bigger scale, Danmark/Denmark is the southernmost part of the North! But not with that crazy border! Then the most south is determed by water borders instead of we human can make a better border down there! Exist is lot Danish activities south of border: like, cultural, companies, language, double citizenship, food etc! We also want Eastern part of Denmark back: “Skaane, Halland and Blekinge”! Sweden is so big anyway! Help me here!
🌐🐆🐂🐆🐂🐆🐂😍🐪🍆🐪🍒🌐🌐🌐🌐
"Why did Denmark gain land after WW1?" Because everyone just hated Germany.
If the wotes for unification was cast 40 years earlier, more would have went back to Denmark, but there was a lot of German minded migration since the war in 1861.
Maybe do a video about when Vorarlberg wanted to join Switzerland and they noped out.
I’m from denmark
look at a map. the entente powers didn't want to give the krauts the mouth of the Elbe.
Many Danish MP's wanted to grab as much of this land as possible through gerrymandering. What prevented this was extensive research on land owner ethnicity in the area by H. V. Clausen. With this research in hand, negotiators on both sides agreed to draw up the referendum for a clear result in both zones.
Common Danish W, it's unlikely Denmark will ever be faced by a war in the next many millenniums.
The fucking circle around Berlin at 1:40 had me in tears :'D
Slesvig is Danish and always has been
So, Denmark is completely fine with stealing Norwegian territories. However, not willing to steal from the Germans.
0:24 note how Iceland is labelled as part of Denmark while the Faroe Islands aren't
Denmark: Yeah we would like territory but we know what’ll happen so we are just gonna not do that
Its just fair. Since the people of northern sleswig are danish people
TLDR: Denmark wanted a bit of land but France and UK demanded them to take more but they refused.
As a dane Im not sure if Im more proud or angry
If they didn't get that territory, they'd prob be approached by germany to help get Norway. Or they would get annexed by Germany (more likely)
“Discussion” with each other 😂
In summary: To punish Germany more
Now, Now,
It's completely wrong that Denmark didn't do anything in WWI.
The Country was working tirelessly to
sell the German war-machine everything it could produce.
These negotiations between France and Danmark in the Versailles reminds me to much of my mom trying to get me to take more of the leftovers after we have dinner, it's like "oi Danmark, if you wouldn't eat the shlesvick it'll go to waste, wouldn't it be a shame?"
Belgium also got some land from Germany, also full of German people. Few years later the government was secretly negotiating with Germany about giving the area back. The French got wind of that and needless to say, they were pretty furious.
😔😔😔😔😔
Nooooo Denmark to Hamburg!!!!🇩🇰stupid democrazy 😤