Europe 275
Narrative: Norway detained a German prize crew after they sailed a captured British
ship into a Norwegian port. Over the next few months, German U-boats sank several
Norwegian ships. The dispute culminated in the German invasion of Norway.
255 Germany/390 Denmark
MID#375
Dispute Number: 375
Date(s): March 31, 1848 to July 10, 1849
Participants: 240 Hanover, 245 Bavaria, 255 Germany, 269 Saxony/200 United
Kingdom, 365 Russia, 380 Sweden, 390 Denmark
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The First Schleswig War started with the German troop occupation of
Flensbourg on April 1, 1848. The Schleswig-Holstein question was one of the most
difficult, trying boundary issues of 19th-century Europe. The area was recognized as
Danish territory, though ethnic Danes only occupied Schleswig, and Holstein was
comprised of mostly Germans. The area was a separate administrative unit, indivisible
from one another, even though only Holstein belonged to the German confederation.
The area was also of vital importance to the Danish economy.
Consistent with the year of revolutions in Europe (see MID#19), King Frederick
VII of Denmark attempted to separate Schleswig from Holstein and incorporate it
into Denmark. This was cause for war. The Danes and Prussians continued to fight, in
spite of Anglo-Russian mediation efforts at the London Conference in January 1849.
Eventually, a truce was signed on July 10, 1849. The truce held until 1850, when
fighting commenced again.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 1, 1848.
MID#194
Dispute Number: 194
Date(s): April 17, 1863 to July 20, 1864
Participants: 240 Hanover, 255 Germany, 267 Baden, 269 Saxony, 271 Wuert-
temburg, 275 Hesse Grand Ducal, 300 Austria-Hungary/200 United Kingdom, 390
Denmark
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Second Schleswig-Holstein War marked a critical turning point for
the emergence of a unified Germany. The territories of Schleswig and Holstein were
the sources of this dispute. The territories were loosely administered by Denmark and
not well populated. However, further attempts by Denmark to consolidate control over
these territories were met with strong resistance by the overwhelmingly German resi-
dents of these territories. As the name indicates, it follows the First Schleswig-Holstein