Military history of Denmark explained

The Military timeline of Denmark is centered around an involvement in wars in Northern Europe since 793 and, recently, elsewhere.

In the early Middle Ages, Danish Vikings invaded and conquered parts of the British Isles and Normandy. Later in the Middle Ages, Denmark was repeatedly in combat with Scandinavian neighbours and in the Baltic area. The "Union Wars" of the 15th and early 16th centuries took place between Denmark and Sweden, then united in the Kalmar Union. After Sweden broke away, Denmarkuntil 1814 remaining united with Norwayagain confronted Sweden in the Northern Seven Years' War (1563 - 70) and the Kalmar War (1611 - 13). Denmark was heavily involved in the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) on the side of the Protestants of the German lands. During the 16th to 18th centuries, Danish military involvement was also directed against Russia and other Eastern European nations in the series of Northern Wars and subsequent campaigns.

Denmark was brought into the Napoleonic Wars on the French side when attacked by Britain at the Battles of Copenhagen in 1801 and 1807. The eventual defeat of Napoleon led to the break-up of the Denmark-Norway union. The next major combats were over control of Schleswig, in the First and Second Schleswig Wars. The result hereof being that Denmark lost Schleswig, of which the northern part returned in 1920. Denmark remained neutral in World War I, but in World War II the country was occupied, with little fighting, by Nazi Germany in 1940.

As a member of the United Nations and NATO, Denmark has participated in military operations since 1992: in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

The Viking Age (793–1050)

See main article: Viking Age.

Early period

Union Wars (1434–1523)

War with Lübeck and "The Counts Feud" (1534–1537)

See main article: Count's Feud.

War against The Netherlands (1542–1543)

Seven Years' War (1563–1570)

See main article: Northern Seven Years' War.

Kalmar War (1611–1613)

See main article: Kalmar War.

Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)

See main article: Thirty Years' War.

Thorsteinson War (1643–1645)

See main article: Torstenson War.

Northern Wars (Carl Gustav Krigene) (1657–1660)

See main article: Northern Wars.

Scanian War (Skånske Krig) (1675–1679)

See main article: Scanian War.

Great Northern War (Store Nordiske Krig) (1700–1720)

See main article: Great Northern War.

Rákóczi's War of Independence (1703–1711)

See main article: Rákóczi's War of Independence.

Russo-Swedish War (1788)

See main article: Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790).

Napoleonic Wars (Napeoleonskrigene) (1800–1813)

See main article: Napoleonic Wars.

Gunboat War (Kanonbådskrigen) (1807–1814)

See main article: Gunboat War.

First War of Schleswig (Treårskrigen / Første Slesvigske Krig) (1848–1850)

See main article: First War of Schleswig.

Second War of Schleswig (Krigen i 1864 / Anden Slesvigske Krig) (1864)

See main article: Second War of Schleswig.

German Occupation (Den tyske besættelse) (1940–1945)

See main article: German invasion of Denmark (1940) and Occupation of Denmark.

Operations in Bosnia (1994)

See also: Operation Bøllebank and Operation Amanda.

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

See main article: Operation Enduring Freedom.

Military intervention in Libya (2011)

See main article: 2011 military intervention in Libya.

See also

References

Specific
  1. Book: Georg Haggren, Petri Halinen, Mika Lavento, Sami Raninen and Anna Wessman. Muinaisuutemme jäljet. Gaudeamus. 2015. 978-952-495-363-4. Helsinki. 380.