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Battle of Isted, 1850

July 24th-25th

In 1848, the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein rebelled against the Danish government, starting a little known but incredibly important conflict in present-day northern Germany. The First Schleswig war saw Schleswig Holstein, alongside Prussia and numerous other German states, battle with Denmark for over four years. Each side would suffer almost 9,000 casualties each. The Danes emerged victorious and retained control of the duchy of Schleswig and the German state of Holstein, solidifying the territories as part of the Danish federation. Twelve years later, however, a second war would ignite over the same territories. This time around, Prussia and the German Confederation would gain control of the duchies in a lopsided victory over Denmark.

Isted, or Idstedt in German, is a town in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein. Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein wanted to end the ongoing war with one decisive battle. At Isted, the two armies clashed over a terrain littered with defensive works, hamlets, and streams. Though outnumbered by over 10,000 troops, Schleswig-Holstein maintained a line of defenses that protected much of the town. Denmark's forces, bolstered by an unknown number of Swedish-Norwegian volunteers, fought through rain, humidity, and difficult terrain to defeat their dug-in foe, killing, wounding, or capturing over 2,800 troops to their over 3,600 casualties. The decisive battle both sides had wanted came and went, though neither gained a particularly significant advantage over the other and the war continued for two more years. This scene depicts the Danish main army at the Helligbæk stream, a chokepoint where the fighting of the first day was at its hottest. The redoubts and artillery pits of the German forces take their toll on the advancing Danes, especially the royal guard at the forefront. Cavalry from both sides enter the fray, hoping to tip the scales.

This collaboration with 8 builders earned the Best Battle Scene award at BrickFair VA 2024 and is our largest collaborative project to date at 3x8 gray baseplates!

 

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Uploaded on June 25, 2025