Christian X and the Easter crisis of 1920 - a VDCW?

[tradgardmastre]

Morning all!
I was wondering if the situation in Denmark in 1920 would be a "jumping off " point for a Very Danish Civil War? It could involved separatist elements, Germany, the Danish army for and against the King or constitution and possibly a refight of 1848/1864?
Let me know what you think...

[Christian]

I just clicked here because of the topic.

[The Gray Ghost]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Crisis_of_1920
sounds like it was close to turning into a civil war

[kloejgaard]

I dont know much about VBCW concept, but as a Dane this sound interesting.

Lets say civil war had started, i think that Sønder Jylland (Northern Schleswig) which is the Danish name for the border region, would be a interesting area.

I dont think we would have the power to fight a 2nd "1864" war. During the great war Denmark remained neutral, but the Danish military was still weak, because we didnt wanted to upset Germany. At the moment it was almost only a border security force.

But maybe a civil war vith the local voting areas as a center, could be a possibility?

But in Northern Schleswig both then and now there is some German minorities. In 1920 a lot of the men in the area vould be veterans who had fought in the great war. Some would be German minorities who of course voted against a reunion with Denmark.
Both germany and Denmark had a very agressive election campaign. And minorities on both sides after the reunion, would not accept the results.

As far as i know there were areas like the town of Tønder who had around 90% support in favor of Germany. But since it was in a local region which votes in favor of Denmark Tønder ended being Danish.

The link shows how the votings vent blue is in favor of Denmark and purple in favor of Germany
http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Abstimmung-schleswig-1920.png

Then of course there could be communist supporters, Conservatives and Nationalist etc. in the rest of the country. Who would use the easter crisis situation to their own good.

[tradgardmastre]

Thanks for your reply.
I was thinking of platoon or smaller skirmishes. I wondered if volunteers would rally to the cause as in 1848 or even the  Schleswig minorities raising their own army. I wondered too about involving support from Germany too perhaps with this as an excuse to invade...
Any suggestions for factions scenarios would be helpful or even figure ideas too.

[kloejgaard]

I think the idea of volunteers, would work, After losing in 1864 your national pride sufferet a great defeat, so any chance for regaining it would be used i think. Im not sure if the Danish government and military official would enter such an conflict, i think they would be afraid other nations involved.

I know that some danish military peole would volunter to help the baltic nations against russia in 1919, but this was almost rejected by the government because, Denmark were afraid that the Russians would argue against the reunion of Schelswig and holstein.

Maybe Norvegians and Swedes, would help as well like in 1848/1864.

About the Schleswig Minorities, raising their own armies then The germans were supposed to withdraw the military in 1919, before the election in 1920. But they may secretly have have left equipment in case the election didnt went as they wished, which German or maybe Danish minorities could use.

The germans had a strong fortified line bild in 1916-1918, which were demolished after the reunion, because the danish government feared that is could be used in case of an german assault on denmark.

Also in the after the germans redraw, i have read something about english and french soldiers in the border areas


There is a lot of useful articles and books but in danish unfurtunately, but i have found one in English Maybe it could be useful.

http://forsvaret.dk/fak/documents/fak/publikationer/danish_armed_forces_net.pdf

Danish but maybe google translate could be used.

http://befaestningen.thm-online.dk/genstand/?select:page=alle&type3=Uniformstegninger

http://befaestningen.thm-online.dk/temaer/

[Camo]

I like thread necromancy

As I am working on something rather similar (German Civil War after the "Kiel Mutiny" in 1918) I thought to add a "Danish Invasion Force" to the Schleswig-Holstein-"Warzone", as everything was in turmoil already.
For this I would need a few danish troops... but I can't find any in 28mm. Any thoughts?

[Westfalia Chris]

Whatever you do, you'll HAVE to do some machine-gun carts drawn by Protest Pigs.

[FramFramson]

Maybe he could convert some of the LAF pigs!

[Camo]

Great idea.

[Metternich]

Don't forget that in 1920 the Germans are experiencing their own internal problems.  In March 1920 there is both the abortive Kapp Putsch (backed by Ehrhardt's  Freikorps, in which the new Reichswehr basically stays neutral - it took a general strike in favor of the govt. to put it down) and the Red Ruhr uprising (a particularly violent episode, in which Reichswehr and Freikorps troops had to contend with approx. 50,000 members of the Red Ruhr Army, many of whom were surprisingly well-armed and well-led).  I could see something on the order of the situation in Silesia, with underground organizations of both pro-German and pro-Danish adherents battling it out.  Small "volunteer" units from both sides could enter the conflict.