The Danish army is called the Royal Army. It, along with the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, the Civil Guard, is part of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom. Their goal is to protect the territory of Denmark, its freedom and independence.
Armed forces of the Kingdom of Denmark. History
Throughout history, Denmark has fought for territory and independence. The king was at war with the nobles. Nobles with the king. A series of continuous hostilities were a way for the survival of the heirs of the Vikings, maintaining the independence and integrity of the state. The Danish army fought a lot, until the war of 1864 with Prussia, participated in the colonial wars.
Denmark was an ally of the French emperor in the Napoleonic wars of 1799-1815 and after his defeat lost Norway, which went to Sweden. The country's territory consisted of the Danish lands, the islands and the county of Lauenburg, for which Prussia was given Swedish Pomerania and the island of Rügen in the B altic Sea. Holstein also went to Denmark. Formally, Denmark became dependent on Germany, since its king, as the ruler of Lauenburg and Holstein,became part of the German Union.
Germany and Prussia constantly interfered in the internal affairs of Denmark. In 1864-1866 there was a war between Prussia and Denmark. The reason for it was the adoption of the Constitution in the land of Schleswig. It ended with the victory of the Prussian army over the Danish army. Having lost Schleswig, the country turned into a minor state of Europe for a long time, but this was a positive moment. For a long time it became a peaceful country that resolved only internal issues and developed the army.
The state of the army at the beginning of the war
The Danish Armed Forces in 1939-1940. were reorganized and modernized, but did not take part in any military conflicts. The army consisted of two divisions, a division of seven regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry and two artillery regiments. They were stationed in Zeeland and Jutland. In Copenhagen there was a regiment of the Royal Guard. The total number of military personnel was 15,000.
The air force had two squadrons of fighters, bombers - 19 units, reconnaissance aircraft - 28 units. The Navy had 58 ships, including artillery battleships - 2, minelayers - 3, minesweepers - 9, patrol ships - 4, torpedo boats - 6 and submarines - 7. These were well-trained military forces capable of repulsing anyone aggressor.
Occupation
Denmark was able to provide decent resistance to Germany, having a well-trained and armed army. This can be judged by the fact that in an hour and a half of the militaryDanes shot down 12 armored vehicles, 3 tanks, shot down 2 aircraft - one of them was a bomber. Nevertheless, the government signs an act of surrender, deciding not to resist, which causes discontent among the inhabitants of the country, some of whom, fearing persecution, left its borders.
Reduction of the army in 1940-1943
Despite the loy alty of the Danish government to the invaders, Germany demanded the reduction of the army and navy, which represented a certain force. This was just the beginning. Formally, the police and army forces were subordinate to the Danish government. The German command gradually began to withdraw heavy weapons, including 25 anti-aircraft guns, air defense systems and military vessels to guard the bridge across the Small Belt Bay.
On August 23, 1943, the Germans simply dispersed the Danish government and brought their troops into the country. The military units that remained after the reductions were disarmed, the military personnel were interned, which means that all the equipment and weapons ended up in the hands of the German military - the Danish army ceased to exist in World War II. Only the Navy offered resistance - out of 49 ships, only 18 passed into the hands of the Nazis. The rest were flooded or completely disabled. The occupation continued until 1945, until May 5, 1945, the command of the German units in Denmark capitulated to the troops of England.
Participation of Danish citizens in the war on the side of Germany and the anti-Hitler coalition
Historically, in Denmarkmany Germans lived, so the Danes served in parts of the Wehrmacht, the SS, police and security units in the country, on the Eastern Front in the USSR and Croatia. Danish emigrants took part on the side of the Anti-Hitler coalition. Since 1941, the Danish government was created in London, which achieved the drafting of Danish emigrants into the ranks of the British troops.
Post-war years
In the spring of 1949, Denmark joined the NATO bloc, in which it took an active part in all operations. The military building and modernization of the army went on intensively. In 1951, an agreement was signed with the United States, according to which American military bases were built on the territory belonging to Denmark - Greenland. Without taking active action in Korea, the country provided medical and sanitation services.
In 1992, the Danish armed forces as part of NATO forces participated in military operations in the territory of the former Yugoslavia: Danish tanks participated in battles with Serbian troops in Bosnia, in 1994 they fired on Serbian positions during Operation Armada. In 1999, a country that is part of the NATO bloc took an active part in operations on the territory of Yugoslavia. Since the autumn of the same year, Denmark, as a member of NATO, has been participating in operations to ensure stability in Kosovo.
Present
Denmark, the only country in the West, retained the conscription of the population in the army. It is fundamentally different from military conscription in Russia. Serving in the army only 4month, conscription into the armed forces of the Kingdom of Denmark is voluntary, conscripts must write a statement about their desire to serve and wait a year or two, when the turn comes up. During the service, cadets undergo a course of initial military training. If there is a desire and a vacancy, then those who wish sign a contract for 3-4 years. The rest are enrolled in the civil guard, which is essentially a militia.
The commander-in-chief of the troops is the queen, but this title is formal, since all issues are decided by the Minister of Defense and the General Staff. In the units there are persons in charge of political issues - the role is assigned to the deputies of parliament representing the ruling party. The number of regular troops is 15 thousand people, 12 thousand are in reserve, 56 thousand militias are in the service of the civil guard.
In Denmark, there are three historical regiments left, which include three battalions - two main and one training. They are part of the First and Second Brigades, which include two guards regiments, one artillery battalion, consisting of two batteries, which are equipped with mortars and self-propelled guns.
Special forces of the fleet was created in 1957, in 1961 the army special forces were created, numbering 200 people.
The Danish fleet, due to its strategic position, is composed of large modern ships that control the entrance to the B altic Sea. The Air Force has 119 aircraft and helicopters produced in NATO countries and the USA.
