Battle of Als

The Battle of Als (or Alsen) (German: Übergang nach Alsen) was fought on 29 June 1864 during the Second Schleswig War between Denmark and Prussia. It was the last major engagement of the war, as the Prussians under General Herwarth von Bittenfeld secured Als after a night attack masterminded by the Chief of Staff (later Field Marshal) Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal, thus bringing the Second Schleswig War to a close.

Als was occupied by 9,000 Danish troops including the garrison of Dybbøl which had retreated to Als.

The orders were given for the crossing of the Als Sound to begin in the night of 29 June 1864. At midnight, the troops were gathered for the assault, without packs and wearing the feldmutz instead of a helmet. The Commander-in-Chief had selected the narrow strait of East Schnabeck as the place to cross that enabled the Storeskov woods to be used to mask preparations from the Danes.

2500 Prussian soldiers started crossing the Alssund, between the village Sottrupskov and the Estate Sandbjerg, in small boats. The Danish modern armored warship Rolf Krake was in Augustenborg fjord, and sailed to the Alssund where it caused the Prussians severe difficulties and stopped the crossing. But after that the Rolf Krake, obeying a misunderstood order, suddenly turned around and sailed away and the Prussian troops continued the crossing. At 2 a.m. the Prussians landed in Arnkil and under heavy fire took the Danish entrenchments. This enabled them to build a pontoon bridge over the Alssund. Of the Danish army, Regiment No. 5 went north to Sønderborg, and Regiment No. 18 fought the Prussians near the village of Kær. The Danes eventually retreated to Kegnæs, some surrendered, some were evacuated by ship. The Danish army lost nearly 3000 men (dead, wounded or captured) on Als..

Legacy
Following Denmark's defeat by the Austro-Prussian army, Als became part of Prussia and later Germany until the referendum of 1920.

Johann Gottfried Piefke, the famous German march composer, dedicated his "Der Alsenströmer" to the battle.