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A Danish Soldiers' Song In America, Finn V. Nerland

The Bridge

In the revolutionary year of 1848, governments throughout Europe were being overthrown by popular risings demanding liberty and representationD. enmarkf aced a doublec risis. In Copenhagen,m ass meetings calledfo r an end to absolutisma nd a written constitution coveringb oth Denmark and Schleswig, the half-Danish, half-German duchy on the southern border.I n Schleswigi tself and neighboringH olstein,b oth ruled by Denmark since the middle ages, the German element demanded self-government and closert ies to Germany. By April of 1848, these irreconcilabled emands led to war, and Prussian troops crossed the border to aid the SchleswigHolsteiners. The war pitched Denmark, with …