Danish Soldiers in WW1

[Guest Flintholm]

HI...

I am new to this site. I'm a dane (pardon me my english!) and currently working on a guide in danish to the war with speciel attention to the participation of danish soldiers.

As many as 45.000 - 50.000 danish soldiers participated. About 5.000(+) died in all major areas. There are danish in the cemetery on the Falkland Island (died in the naval battle of Falkland) - there are danish war graves in CWGC Dar-el-Salam, in Gallipoli, on Malta (wounded from Gallipoli) and all over Belgium and France. As an example: Olaf Andersen (13-03-1897), 2 Bn. Canadian Machine Gun Corps, ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY Grave: LXVI. T. 27. and Christian Andersen (29-09-1885) 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) VILLERS STATION CEMETERY, VILLERS-AU-BOIS (VI. A. 12) were brothers, both of Enghavevej 2 i Næstved, Seeland.

I have found danish soldiers in the british, canadian, australian, New Zaland, South Africa, Rhodesian, French, German army and US Army.

Soldiers in the "vestern" armies were all volunteers, the soldiers in the german army were 90% conscripts, though there were some "kriegsfreiwilliger". The two southern counties of Denmark were lost to Germany in the war of 1864, and only the norhtern most came back after the referendum in 1920. Some of the difficulties to quote the precise number of "danish" soldiers in the German army are, that in both these counties there were people of "danish conviction" and of "german conciction" and who-is-who?. The most difficult problem is the French army. I know possivily, that danes served in both the ordinary army and the Foreign Legion, but I have been unable to find a register on-line? as CWGC or Volksbund. Anybody know of such a register?

I have a list of som 5.000 graves - without a doubt with a lot of errors, but also many confirmed. Nothing is secret - can I help, I will. If any can help me, I would be very thankful.

PS: there are three danish VC during WWI and one in WW2

Regards Flintholm

[LarsA]

Flintholm

welcome to the forum and what an interesting project you have taken on. As you can see from my avatar we are scandinavian neighbours, living in on of your old provinces you did not hold on to.

Have been looking for countrymen aswell, most are found in the mercantile marine, some infantry, mostly from Canada, UK or Australia. Quite a lot from the US (my granduncle among them) and a couple in the french foreign legion.

Good luck on your project, if/when I encounter any danes I'll try to give you a heads up.

Hilsen,

Lars

[jhill]

Hi!

We have had a number of threads on this topic, one of which is here . In fact, I believe we have a member or two who have speciallized in this. You can probably find them and other stuff by using the "search" feature with the keyword "danish" or somesuch.

Good luck in your researches!

[Guest]

Hello Flintholm

Just as you are I am new to this forum and I am quite surprised at once to find another dane.

Some years ago I discovered, that the danes in the southern part of Jutland fought in the German army during the Great War. I had never heard about that before. Denmark is always mentioned as not participating in the war and it seems as if the danes fighting for the germans is a forgotten part of danish history.

I am in Belgium and the northern France once a year and have for some years been looking for danish graves. But they are very hard to locate so I am really looking forward to your guide. I have found a few arround Ypres - they were mentioned in a danish newspaper some years ago - and this winter I have discovered a cemetrary in Braine, France, with 80 danish wargraves which I plan to visit this summer. I also plan to visit the remains of the german defence line built to withstand a british attack through Denmark, which I have also discovered recently.

Great to meet another Dane with the same interest. I have occasionally felt me a bit alone.

Kind regards

Henning

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

Here is a list of Dans in the ALH;

Name, Initals, number, Rank, embark unit, service details, CMF, occupation, age, address, enlist/joined, RTA, NOK address.

BAY Johan Frederick Gruoob 3410 Pte 03 LHR 29R N/R Labourer 19 Queenstown SA 27-3-17 disch UK 23-5-19 Copenhagen Denmark

CARLSEN Julius Johannes 4476 Pte LH Reinf to "D" Field Troop & Bridge Trn N/R Labourer 20 Surry Hills NSW 30-10-17 RTA 1-5-19 Copenhagen Denmark

CHRISTENSEN Jens Peter Christian 3677 Pte 10 LHR 33R N/R Farmer 37 Fremantle WA 24-10-17 RTA 10-4-19 Vig Station Denmark

CHRISTENSEN Peter Emil Ludvig Valerius 64174 Pte 5 GSR Vic to 15 LHR N/R Planter 27 Sth Yarra Vic 22-12-17 RTA 1-11-19 Copenhagan Denmark

FREDERIKSEN John 424 A/Cpl 6 LHR 1R to A Sqn (G) to 60Bty/15 FAB to 55Bn (424a) to DCo/19Bn WIA 6-4-18 face WIA 11-8-18 hand F&B AKA Arnold Marius Frederiksen AKA alais John Johnston N/R Farmhand 25 Sydney NSW 7-8-14 RTA 25-10-19 Copenhagen Denmark

GARDINER Harry Hansen 2998 Pte 10 LHR 22R N/R Ships Carpenter 28 Perth WA 14-4-16 RTA 21-7-17 Corinth Fyn Denmark

HANSEN Hans Christian 3266 Pte 9 LHR 26R to AIF Cable Sect N/R Horsebreaker 28 Perth WA 28-8-16 RTA 4-10-18 Denmark WA

HOLM Robert William 9 AB Dvr RANBT to 14 AGH (82) enlisted in Egypt N/R N/R 25 Kubri Egypt 12-5-15 RTA 2-8-19 Elsinore Denmark

JENSEN Charles 3602 Pte 10 LHR 32R N/R Farm Labourer 34 Toodyay WA 7-8-17 RTA 28-1-19 Copenhagen Denmark

JORGENSEN Ernest Jacob 527 Pte 11 LHR C Sqn att 9 LHR (G) WIA 19-4-17 leg att rail constr to Cpl N/R Labourer 30 Brisbane Qld 9-12-14 RTA 18-7-19 Copenhagen Denmark

KINGSTON William Joseph 1607 Pte 10 LHR 12R N/R Farmer 20 Perth WA 10-9-15 RTA 16-1-19 Denmark WA

KOFOED Albert Victor 2035 Pte 04 LHR 14R to 1 Cyc Bn to DSqn/XXII Corps MR to 13 LHR F&B AKA Albert Victor Koford N/R Horsedriver 24 Maryborough Vic 13-9-15 RTA 1-7-19 Maryborough Vic / Bornholm Denmark

LARSEN Otto 3425 Pte 6 LHR 29R disemb Melbourne ill 2-11-17 relist 30R/4 LHR (3834) N/R Labourer 32 33 Pyrmont NSW Melbourne Vic 6-4-17 15-4-17 RTA 15-5-19 Bornholm Denmark Roone Denmark

MOURITZEN Marshall Christian 3364 Pte 10 LHR 28R to Dvr 37Co AASC AMDT to 32Co N/R Farmer 28 Burracopin WA 24-2-17 RTA 20-7-19 Copenhagen Denmark

NEERGAARD Ejgie (Ejgil) 265 Cpl 12 LHR B Sqn att 7 LHR (G) to Sgt 3 Troop ( (Danish Army 7 years) buried Beersheba War Cemetery Palestine N/R Farmhand 29 Danish Consulate Sydney NSW 12-1-15 KIA 31-10-17 Vejie Lungholm Denmark

NILSEN William 3484 Pte 10 LHR 30R N/R Farmer 27 Bruce Rock WA 1-5-17 RTA 10-7-19 Elsinore Denmark

PEDERSEN Aage Christian 3249 Pte 8 LHR 26R to B Sqn WIA 4-7-17 to RHQ N/R Gardener 23 Spotswood Vic 16-1-17 RTA 3-7-19 Denmark

PETERSEN James 964 Pte 05 LHR 5R N/R Labourer 22 Brisbane Qld 19-12-14 RTA 9-7-19 Lemvig Denmark

PETERSEN Jens Christian 938 Pte 11 LHR 3R to A Sqn att 02 LHR (G) N/R Stationhand 24 Brisbane Qld 5-3-15 RTA 20-7-19 Palruceston NZ / Thestard Denmark

PETERSEN Peter Anderson 3127 Pte 9 LHR 24R N/R Sailor 24 Broken Hill NSW 26-10-16 N/R Jutland Denmark

PETERSEN Robert 3309 Pte ICC 12R to 14 LHR N/R Storeman 34 Prymont NSW 13-4-17 RTA 26-1-19 Copenhagen Denmark

RUSHTON Lawrence Edgar 1655 Pte 10 LHR 12R to Dvr 4 DAC F&B N/R Farmer 18 Denmark WA 10-8-15 RTA 1-5-19 Denmark WA

SCHMIDT Niel Olsen 1287 Pte 9 LHR 10R reemb 21R to A Sqn to AProvC N/R Sailor Farmer 30 Loxton SA 7-1-15 RTA 17-7-19 Ventermark Denmark

SMITH James 556 Pte 6 LHR 1R to A Sqn (G) to Gnr 5 DAC to 2 Cyc Bn 2 Anzac Corps to XXII Corps Cyc Bn to Aust Corps Cyc Bn F&B N/R Farmer 26 Sydney NSW 8-9-14 RTA 23-10-18 Hoesens Denmark

SMITH Johannes 3733 Pte 01 LHR 34R to AASC N/R Mechanic 23 Surry Hills NSW 10-10-17 RTA 2-8-19 Copenhagen Denmark

SONDERSOL Torben 439 Pte 13 LHR B Sqn RTA VD reemb 8R to A/Cpl 2 Anzac LHR to 58Bn to 26Bty/7 FAB F&B AKA Torben Sondesoe or Sondorsoe N/R Farm hand / Contractor 26 Werribee Vic 7-1-15 RTA 2-9-15 disch in UK 13-3-19 Copenhagen Denmark

S.B

[NoRemorseDK]

Hello fellow danes,

While mostly working on the Canadian Railway Troops, I have also found time to do a bit of research on danes serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

In fact I have, with help from a lot of people, been able to compile a list of (all the?) danes who served with the CEF, some 1500 in all. I have also found about 400 Icelanders who, at the time, were subjects of the the Danish king.

AND....one weekend when the canadian sources were unavaliable, I managed to find about 400 danes who served with the Australian forces in WW1.

If you're interested in seeing these lists (in excel-format), send me a private message with your email address.

H

[Christian Franke Andersen]

Hallo all.

I am new in this Forum. Name Christian Franke Andersen 58 years of age. Living in Denmark, with my wive and 2 children. My great interest in the Scotish histery have brourgt os to Your beutiful Contry 5 times on the Motorbike. Wee have bin nearly allover, incl. the Hebrides from Kentyre to Lewis and the Orkneys. I do not have any conection to Sco. other than my love to the people and the land. And a wee dram of the singel is not a problem !! Might by I am a small Wiking who want to come home !!

I am living in the Sothern part of Denmark where we had a lot of trouble with the Germans!! In 1864 wee lost my part of Denmark to the Preuses and Austrian. It came back to Denmark in 1920 but in the meantime the ww1 came over us. By living in this part of the Contry my wives granddad bycame a German soldier, but wery much Danishmindet !! He vent to france and was kild by Riebecourt. We cant find him, but we try.

There ware 35000 Danish/German soldiers send out in the world, and 5500 didnt come home.

My dad, living in the north of Denmark found my mother in 1945, she was running away from the Rusian Amy from Preussen, in Hanburg. He was working as Danish Red Cross staf. He was in the Resistanse, making newspaper and other stuf.

Flintholm: Is it posible for You to find a name on Your list?

He was on of the 5000 who did not came home from France as German Soldier.

Hans Lorenzen. Born in Rinkenæs ( sønderjylland ) - Died feb. 1917 at Riebecourt ?

Have more info.

P.M. or a viset. Living on Isle of Als.

Gretings Chr. Franke.

[centurion]

Don't forget Corporal C N P Jensen who flew as an observer/gunner in Bristol fighters with the No 1 squadron Australian Flying Corps out of Ramleh Palestine. Killed in a take off accident.

[hazelclark]

HI...

I am new to this site. I'm a dane (pardon me my english!) and currently working on a guide in danish to the war with speciel attention to the participation of danish soldiers.

As many as 45.000 - 50.000 danish soldiers participated. About 5.000(+) died in all major areas. There are danish in the cemetery on the Falkland Island (died in the naval battle of Falkland) - there are danish war graves in CWGC Dar-el-Salam, in Gallipoli, on Malta (wounded from Gallipoli) and all over Belgium and France. As an example: Olaf Andersen (13-03-1897), 2 Bn. Canadian Machine Gun Corps, ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY Grave: LXVI. T. 27. and Christian Andersen (29-09-1885) 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) VILLERS STATION CEMETERY, VILLERS-AU-BOIS (VI. A. 12) were brothers, both of Enghavevej 2 i Næstved, Seeland.

I have found danish soldiers in the british, canadian, australian, New Zaland, South Africa, Rhodesian, French, German army and US Army.

Soldiers in the "vestern" armies were all volunteers, the soldiers in the german army were 90% conscripts, though there were some "kriegsfreiwilliger". The two southern counties of Denmark were lost to Germany in the war of 1864, and only the norhtern most came back after the referendum in 1920. Some of the difficulties to quote the precise number of "danish" soldiers in the German army are, that in both these counties there were people of "danish conviction" and of "german conciction" and who-is-who?. The most difficult problem is the French army. I know possivily, that danes served in both the ordinary army and the Foreign Legion, but I have been unable to find a register on-line? as CWGC or Volksbund. Anybody know of such a register?

I have a list of som 5.000 graves - without a doubt with a lot of errors, but also many confirmed. Nothing is secret - can I help, I will. If any can help me, I would be very thankful.

PS: there are three danish VC during WWI and one in WW2

Regards Flintholm

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Don't know much about Danes in the war except that one of the conscripts, Kresten Andresen is one of the soldiers whose war career is followed in Peter Englund's book "The Beauty and the Sorrow" which you might like to read.

Hazel C.

[centurion]

Don't forget Corporal C N P Jensen who flew as an observer/gunner in Bristol fighters with the No 1 squadron Australian Flying Corps out of Ramleh Palestine. Killed in a take off accident.

Made an error He was N P B Jensen an ex sailor. There is a good photo of him in "Men and Machines of the Australian Flying Corps 1914 -19" by Charles Schaedel

[Christian Franke Andersen]

Hi again.

Got him.

Hans Nielsen Lorenzen, Rinkenæs died in Lazerat in Richecourt 27-02-1917. Last rest in the danish cemetery in Braine.

Still interested in infos, like what happend in the area at that time, and why is the name Riebecourt mentioned.

Have a Picture with his grave with a Wooden Cross at a Church.

Picture later, if any interest.

Thanke for now.

[spof]

Hello Christian and welcome to the Forum.

Congratulations on finding him. What regiment was he in?

Glen

[Christian Franke Andersen]

Thanks SPOF.

No not yet. But came by a gue who suggested: 35:e Brigade af det 18. Division.

Infanterie-Regiment von Manstein (Schleswigsches) Nr. Infanterie-Regiment von Manstein (Schleswigsches) Nr. 84 84

Füsilier-Regiment Künigin (Schleswig-Holsteinisches) Nr. Fusilier-Regiment Künigin (Schleswig-Holsteinisches) Nr. 86 86. Bycourse of Schleswig-Holstein. Our region in Denmark.

But not sure.

Can´t find his name in Braine.

There are 79 names of Danes. But I have come quite far in the search.

[Christian Franke Andersen]

Hi all.

Here hi is: Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 362 Bat. 11.

Feb. 1917 at Ribecourt must have something to do with the Batle of the Somme.

Hi is in Braine, but not on the wall in Århus. Why, we dont no. Work to do.

[Guest Vivian Hansen]

Both of my grandfathers were conscripted to the German army.  They were Peter Petersen of Fogderup Denmark and Andreas Nissen Hansen of bested.  Both survived the war.  I have been wondering was regiments they were in.

 

[bob lembke]

Hello all;

 

My grandfather was a Prussian officer stationed near the Danish border at about 1893. He was married to a woman who lived in the area of Frankfurt am Oder, and he developed a second, "love family" with a Danish woman living in Germany near Denmark, and had two children with her, my father, and an older sister. His wife in Prussia heard of the second family, and mailed my grandfather food laced with Deadly Nightshade, which did not kill him, but paralysed him, and he had to resign his commission. He, of practical Prussian peasant stock, then sued his wealthy wife, and won a considerable amount in court, rather than prosecute her criminally.  

 

My Danish grandmother then had two children with a German innkeeper in Hamburg, so she then had four illegitimate children, but she then married the innkeeper, and got him to adopt the two children from her previous "love family", thereby making all four children legitimate, which was I think a big deal in those days. Upon the adoption my father's last name changed from her last name to her new married name. 

 

I am not writing detail as I am lying in bed with my laptop (and wife), and would not want to misspell names, places, etc. I have not worked on this history for several years.

 

My grandfather got better, and rejoined the Army as a Prussian reserve officer, and then fought in the Great War as an artillery officer (sort of). My father joined the Pioniere and fought as a volunteer at Gallipoli, and then as a flame-thrower Pionier in France for the rest of the war in a Prussian Guard unit. He was wounded four times, and then fought after the war in a Freikorps with the flame-thrower.

 

I thought that this story might be interesting; could it be said that my Danish grandmother also served in the Prussian Army? She must have been quite a gal, although I don't know too much about her. I do know her address in Hamburg about 1910-1914, when she was married to the innkeeper.

[Beechhill]

On 16/9/2016 at 02:46, Vivian Hansen said:

Both of my grandfathers were conscripted to the German army.  They were Peter Petersen of Fogderup Denmark and Andreas Nissen Hansen of bested.  Both survived the war.  I have been wondering was regiments they were in.

While you may not find specific details about your grandfathers, this site (in Danish) provides a lot of information on Danes in German service; battle descriptions and analysis, excerpts from diaries, letters etc., plus a large database of soldiers. 

www.denstorekrig1914-1918.dk

[Magnumbellum]

In any account of Denmark in the Great War it is worth noting that it was the first country in continental Europe to make formal provision for conscientious objection to military service,, which it did in 1917.

 

The extent to which this measure may have been influenced by the example of Britain the previous year has yet to be explored.

[CROONAERT]

On ‎10‎/‎03‎/‎2009 at 20:28, Flintholm said:

The most difficult problem is the French army. I know possivily, that danes served in both the ordinary army and the Foreign Legion, but I have been unable to find a register on-line? as CWGC or Volksbund. Anybody know of such a register?

 

 

 

http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/arkotheque/client/mdh/base_morts_pour_la_france_premiere_guerre/resus_rech.php

[bob lembke]

On this topic, there was a book, I believe published in the UK during the war, supposedly written by a Dane drafted into the German Army. It paints a very unflattering picture of the German Army. Some years ago someone on the Forum brought up the topic, I got the book, read it, and it is almost certainly a false book written as part of the very active large UK propaganda effort during the war. I studied this effort for a while, it is quite fascinating. The main purpose of the effort was to try to sway US public opinion and get the massive US economy into the war on the Allied side, and eventually the US armed forces.

 

If you know a lot about the WW I German Army (as I do) you can notice lots of errors in the book on the topic of the German Army. Just to warn people looking into the topic of Danes in the German service.