Denmark of 9 April 1940 ISOT to 1 February 1864.

(a post that could have been a series but I decided to put it all in here. May seem a bit jumbled but there's just so much)

Government work on supply – exports and imports meeting 11 April 1940

Minister of Defence Christmas Møller had set up a Procurement Commission of Army Technical Corps and Navy Works that was making a list of whats needed and which local Industries and other works could be drawn upon.
These included Carl Lunds Fabrikker - an Enamelware producer which since 1910 had also produced Handgrenades and Riflegrenades designed by Nils Waltersen Aasen, inventor of the Handgrenade, tested during the Balkan Wars. The Works had by 1932 been bought by competitor Glud & Marstrand A/S – the Defence Ministry wanted the works to continue producing munitions such as the already mentioned grenades but also CanisterShot for the muzzleloading guns of the 1864 Army to the specifications of the Ammunitions Arsenalet – Government Munitions Works.

The Commission had been going through famous inventor J.C. Ellehammer's projects and had asked him to start production of his kerosene Carburettor. Tested 1921 in an FF49 Aircraft of the Danish Navy – to be installed in cars as kerosene was thought to be easier obtainable in the 1864 world than Gasoline. That meant loss of power output but not as bad as a wood gas-generator would. The carburettor was also useable in cars – anything with an internal combustion engine.
Ellehammer Helicopter project of 1912 was deemed outdated and superceded by the Autogyro's which the Army Airtroops possessed two of but the plans and ideas were copied for possible future use.
Ellehammer radial engines for aircraft and car use as well as his electricengine for cars was another matter which should be looked into. The Navy Works with its experience in building in-line engines of reliability was tasked with close cooperation with Ellehammer in this sphere. It might prove a path to reliable radial engines for aircraft which was needed at present for the building of Army Fokker G-1 aircraft and for replacement of worn out or damaged engines in operation.
The Navy Works was also tasked with looking into the Ellehammer sailing ALV (AirLubricatedVessel); did it make sailing more economic or faster? Could it be applied to large vessels for a benefit in economy; the present reliance on liquidfuel that was in scarce supply in the 1864 world was felt sorely.
In that wein the Ellehammer dabbling in alcohol fuel for cars, windturbines and wave-turbines for electricity generation had also to be looked into. In this dire time where the country was about to run out of fuel and basic metals anything that could contribute to keep the national engine running should be tested or made work. Of course it needed be reliable solutions.
Christmas Møller asked Minister of Trade Ole Bjørn Kraft to submit personnel to the commission to work with issues more related to the general public than just Military users but also to work on issues relating to import.

Triangel Truck and Rail works had been called upon for continued production of its trucks and buses as well as railway material and engines.
Christmas Møller also asked Ole Bjørn Kraft to work on this with the Ministry of Defence on the sideline mostly interested in getting Trucks for the operational units and spareparts as needed; as Triangel also produced the half-track's for Army Trucks this was vital to be continued in a world lacking of paved roads.

In that wein was the various shipbuilding Wharfs scattered around the country with Burmeister and Wain at Copenhagen the major one which also produced combustion, diesel, steam-engines as well as steel. The latter needing import of iron to continue.
Besides Triangel the Frichs works at Aarhus produced railroad and other engines while Scandia at Randers, Jutland, build waggons of different kinds for the railways.
All these heavy industries needed metals of various kinds and power to keep going. The output of these would also be export items such as steamengines and railway equipment.
The railway rolling stock was thought to be a possible export to Europe still in the infancy of railway building. Steam thought to be the most obvious choice though also a number of dieselelectric or gasoline driven motortrains could be a possibility.
Some Stephenson and Esslingen steamlocomotives were running on local private Railways so a direct comparison possible within Denmark of the modern Litra E, H, R and S models with the Q switcher model for shorter lines. As the S and Q both had internal watertanks and coal storage a Litra V tender could be offered to extend their range.

The metals could be found in Sweden-Norway and Britain besides agricultural produce engines, steamlocomotives and ships ought to be the trade items.

Christmas Møller also had another card in his hand; wireless telegraphy – the Royal Navy would give its right arm for being able to continously stay in contact with every ship all over the World!

Modern Arms mainly so Artillery and Automatic weapons was to be held close until a later date.

Minister of Trade, Ole Bjørn Kraft, Conservative Party and Minister of Agriculture, Thomas Madsen-Mygdahl, Liberal Party both had a close cooperation with Christmas Møller as his needs were also the national needs.
Fuel for heating, trains and cars were needed by all and also fabrication of other items where metals were an important raw material.
Coffee a most indispensable commodity was on ration but access would surely secure public backing so had to be established which would entail dealing with South American nations such as Colombia and Brazil; the West Indies would be the natural treadstone in the Western Hemisphere.
Oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline could be obtained from Romania or Russia. Galizia and the USA was out of the question at the moment. The Middle East oilindustry hadn't been developed until the late 1920's and 30's and going into the Ottoman Empire with the knowledge of history wasn't deemed advisable at the moment.
The import of the large Medical Industry would also need a lot of materials imports to thrive and supply the European market.

Thomas Madsen-Mygdal Minister of Agriculture informed that the planting of seeds had been delayed due to the situation though that meant the farmers saving the seeds for planting thus saving money on buying from abroad. Madsen-Mygdal informed Government that the real problem the agricultural sector faced was the loss of markets mainly in Europe – the sector had been tailored to producing beef, bacon, butter and eggs for export and needed importing foodstuffs for the animal production.
This also meant that the major part of cereals for human consumption had been imported!
Madsen-Mygdal looked around the table: ”I really really hate having to utter this but we may have to change the priorities of the Agricultural Sector – at least till we have come through this crisis..”

Stauning PM: ”I know how that hurts You Madsen-Mygdal and me too as the Agricultural Sector is generating the major income of the nation. But we have to see this through.”

Madsen-Mygdal: ”The consolation is in knowing that 1939 was a good harvest only smaller than 1838 which was a record one. Unfortunately the winter seeding have now been prolonged by 2 months which I fear will have a very negative impact on cereals.. though on the other hand this crisis may lead to less Dairycattle for the production of Butter which is most expensive – that would also made for beef to be sold a reasobable prices though I don't see Government subsidizing..”

Stauning PM: ”No – we all have to carry our part of the burden.”

Madsen-Mygdal: ”Regarding Horses and Cattle the vaccination of the South Jutland Horses last year seems a godsend today – usually Foot- and Mouth Disease would enter the country from the south. This will make for much relief I expect.”

Here too!! also asked at AHcom - no it isn't. It was plates of soft steel used. Musket and Dreyse shots may not penetrate but it would be a waste of resources. BTW the roads outsiden Denmark is much too bad for such.

Slesvig, Dannevirke Position 12 April 1940/4 February 1864
Weather: clear, temperatures falling – evening worsening with snow.
Prussians reorganizing and preparing for crossing the Slie Fiord.

Danish Army building up position south of Dannevirke for assaulting the Austrian and Prussian Guards positions. Prussian 1. Corps still sitting in Svans Peninsular for crossing the Slie Fiord.

General Essemann had ordered 2., 7. Regiment and Jutish Dragoons supported by 8. Motorized Light Artillery Battalion to attack the Austrian positions at Flækkeby at drive them off. 2. Regiment would keep pressure on the Austrians to force them south while 7. Regiment and Jutish Dragoons would drive east to isolate the 1. Prussian Corps east of Kosel south of Mysunde. Army Airtroops would provide Air Observation for the Artillery.
Jutish Dragoons would then skirt the Hüttener Berge to deny any enemy units retreat into the area.
General du Plats 3. Division on the western flank of 2. Regiment east of Haddeby Nor supported by 3. Light Artillery Battalion was to turn the flank of the Austrian Corps south of Haddeby Nor and drive the Corps east or south to separate it as much as possible from the Prussian Guards Corps in the west. The Austrians should if possible be driven south towards Rendsburg.
Following this force the 7. Motorized Heavy Artillery Battalion would move south around Haddeby Nor and continue to Flækkeby to be able to support both the move south but also a breakout of Mysunde next day by 1. Divisions 3. Brigade and 2. Anti-Tank Engineers Battalion to participate in the encirclement of 1. Prussian Corps.

West of Haddeby Nor General Steinmanns 2. Division would supported by 9. Light Artillery Battalion, 1. Anti-Tank Engineers Battalion and 4. Infantry Battalion 6. Regiment attack the Prussian Guards Corps and force it south.

The operations south of Schleswig would have the support of the Army Airtroops 1., 2., 3., and 5. Squadrons. The two Fighter Sqn's 2. and 5. had exchanged half their Gloster Gauntlets and Fokker D-XXI's for Fokker C-V's that would carry double the load in bombs as the fighter aircraft. General Essemann wanted as much out of his airarm as possible. The Airtroops would also act as Observers for the 1940 Artillery Battalions.

At Flækkeby sighting Aerial machines dropping bombs on them and strafing with Machineguns the Austrian Infantry of 3. Brigade broke and routed. This experience was topping op the day before of being routed by armoured and armed horseless vehicles.
Jutish Dragoons took advantage of the rout to move east and then south to seal off the Hüttener Berge. During this advance one of the Armoured Cars broke down but the other continued futher south along a troop of Motorcycle Machinegunners and a Horsed Squadron. A like force stayed with the broken down vehicle to guard it as the crew would repair it.
2. and 7. Regiment had run into 4. Austrian Brigade when pursuing the fleeing 3. Brigade; the heavy Artillery Barrage and automatic weapons along bombs from above made the 4. Brigade hold its position for almost an hour before it made an orderly withdrawal south – all according to Danish plan.
General du Plat's 3. Division with an additional 2 Artillery Batteries south of Haddeby Nor moved through Selk onto the Rendsburg road and down this before engageing 1. and 3. Austrian Brigades north of the Breckendorf villages. The 3. Light Artillery Battalion and aircraft letting loose on the Austrians supported 3. Divisions attack by initially taking out the Austrian Artillery Battery which paved the way for a determined attack by 3. Division. The battle raged for almost 1½ hours but the lack of artillery support made Austrian Brigades retreat south.

The Prussian Guards Corps being in the most westerly area was attacked by General Steinmanns 2. Division with an additional 2 Artillery Batteries, 9. Light Artillery Battalion, 1. Anti-Tank Engineers Battalion and 4. Infantry Battalion 6. Regiment.
The 2. Division 6. Brigade and 9. Light Artillery Battalion moving west from Jagel, 5. Brigade and 4. Infantry Battalion moving south from the Dannevirke rampart to Klein Reide and 4. Brigade and 1. Anti-Tank Engineers Battalion sortieing out of Frederiksstad at the Eider – Trene Rivers confluence to attack the Guards Corps in its west flank.
The Guards Corps being the smallest German unit of 12,000 troops with 2 Artillery Batteries gave a good account of itself but strung out in the mainly open terrain with little to limit visibility the 1940 units enjoyed open fields of fire for their long-range weapons. Supported by two air Squadron's that would also work as observers for the 1940 Artillery the Guards took heavy casualties. Before realizing it was out on its own in open terrain with no line of communication to the rest of the Army the Guards Corps also retreated south and east towards Rendsburg.