At the time, the Fortification of Copenhagen were one of the greatest in Europe.
The politicians had the old fortifications dating from the 17th century around Copenhagen demolished in the years from 1872. The ramparts and the moats made it impossible for the city to grow.
The new fortifications
The Prövesten naval Fort 1900
Since 1864 the defense of the country had been a hot subject in Denmark.
Large groups of both senior officers and politicians had discussed this subject, specially since 1872.
The debate became at times very fierce, and large parts of the population participated.
The constructions
The government modernized the old naval forts and coastal batteries In 1880. They also commenced
the constructions of a new fortifications line in 1886. These constructions caused a democratic crisis, because there were no parliamentary approval.
The government build the fortifications for the next eight years, and in 1894 the constructions stopped.
At this time 5 forts and a number of batteries and numerous other facilities ´had been built new defense line, The Western Enceinte, was constructed about 12 km south west of Copenhagen.
At the same time some new naval and coastal forts and batteries was constructed for the naval defense.
The Artillery developments.
Armored turret af the Garderhöj Fort
The fortifications of Copenhagen was a worthy opponent for any aggressor with its new and modern 12 and 15 cm artillery. Also the light artillery in the caponieres and the machine guns hidden behind heavy concrete walls were quite modern.
Unfortunately the military developments went very fast.
Just 20 years after the construction the artillery was technologically outdated. The the long range heavy artillery made it possible to shell the city in a safe distance. The fortifications were to big and needed too many men, and the concrete could not resist modern 42 cm. grenades weighing 900 kilos.
The fortifications of Copenhagen 1889
The new defence line
In 1909 a political agreement became the basis for a new defence line 30 km west of the city, the Tune stronghold. The army constructed the defense line in the area between the Köge Bugt and the Roskilde Fjord. This was the narrowest point on the island of Zealand.
The construction works started just after the outbreak of World War I. The army used the latest experiences from the first months of the war. The German long range heavy guns easily destroyed all the fortresses in Belgium and France. The forts surrendered simply because they were destroyed or because the sanitary conditions inside was to poor.
Trenches, foxholes and barbed wire replaced the imposing forts.
The army abandoned most of the fortifications in 1920. Today you can visit a vast majority of the buildings.