The Tune-position are so closely linked with Copenhagen 3rd fortress that it may be considered as a part of this site. It surpasses all former
defense installations in length and constructions in Denmark. The Dannevirke Rampart was “only” 14 kilometres and largely without fixed installations. The Western Enceinte was 14 kilometres, but with much larger fixed installations.
The position was 22 km. kilometres with approx. 5000 small bunkers, caves and galleries, miles of trenches, barbed wire closures and other obstacles. All was all dug by pioneer- and infantry units by hand.
The position was divided in three parts.
The Karlslunde Part
The Tune Part
The Roskilde Part
Unfortunately, very little is accessible and visible today.
The Mosede Fort is well kept and well worth a visit.
The rooms of concrete and timber were small, and when the the position was abandoned the owners of land on which the position was placed,
just took over the remaining rooms and materiels (except for genuine military equipment) to reduce or avoid subsidies.
This means that virtually all dug sites were demolished, and the caves except a few, were degraded, reconstructed as cellars in new buildings
built or located on private property. None of the galleries are to be seen anymore.
Recognizing that modern artillery had outdated the fortification from 1886 in the sense that if one did not have a forwarded defense to prevent
hostile remote observation and fire, then both the forts, the Western Enceinte and Copenhagen could also fired upon with heavy artillery.
The half century og fortresses had passed, and since the shelling of especially the Belgian forts had shown that they had no obstacle value
against the German 28, 31.5 and 42 cm Moerse. The 42 cm. Moerse had a firing range of about 14 km., 1150 kg heavy projectiles which
contained 265 kg. penetrating explosives, which no known forts or concrete construction to withstand.
The emergence of th heavy artillery, the machine guns and use of poison gas changed the nature of war fundamentally, and World War I ended
up as almost an experimental war.
Thick walls and fortified positions were replaced with movement and camouflage, use of natural blocks and dug plants supplemented with less
permanent posts. Use of artillery on the lang distances, barbed wire in front of regular trenches flanked by machine guns had shown its effiency
on Europe’s major battlefields. The nature of Warfare in centuries had changed radically within 40 years, which contributed to a very large
number of victims, especially in the first year of the war. The technique and modern equipment simply overtook the military doctrines.
Germany had already at the outbreak of war demanded that access to the Baltic Sea was my blocked.
It was in Copenhagen interpreted as meaning that if Denmark did not they would make it even Germany. At the same time they had the attitude
that if Denmark did not even proved able to maintain its neutrality, would lead a German occupation.
In 1915 the construction of the Tune Position began
The idea of an advanced position was not new and had previously been promoted in several plans. Eg. It was planned in connection with the
construction of the Western Enceinte, that a advanced fort should be constructed at Vallensbaek. This was, however, was never put into
practice. Actual forwarded defense lines had also been considered, but the location had caused problems. That was actual a very long
distance if the line should cross Zealand. The objective would be to block access to the shelling of Copenhagen with artillery.
The Roskilde Fjord formed a natural barrier, and was as the narrowest point on Zealand a natural choice. The distance from Mosede to
Roskilde Fjord was aprox. 21-22 miles. The Tune Position was constructed. An advanced line of barbed wire secured trenches, flanking
machine guns and an underlying line of artillery and small casemates. (caves and galleries) Everything built after the latest intelligence and
experience available from the ongoing World War.
The Defense Line began at Mosede Fort (coastal battery) and went north through Karlslunde and Vindinge to Veddelev north of Roskilde
The Line was planned to continue to Frederiksværk and Lynæs, but this was never put into practice. The materials, however, were purchased
and stored. Concrete posts had now lost their glorious French fortress names, their pompous appearance and was simply known as galleries,
foxholes and associated trenches. They had learned of the trenches and the small machine gun positions great effect.
In 1913 the construction of the Mosede Battery began, and it was finished in 1916. The Mosede Battery was the biggest site of the Tune
Position. A massive coastal fort surrounded by a dry moat and protected by two kaponierer. The fort was planned already in 1908, and
carried out following the original plan. A main fort at Mosede and a supportive battery by Karlslunde moor. The main armament of the Fort
was 6 pcs. 12 cm. rapid firing haubits, originally drawn up in two batteries north and south of the fort. The secondary guns were 7.5 cm quick
firing guns that were also suitable on air targets. The defence of the fort itself consisted of 4 pcs. 8 mm Madsen recoil guns and 2 pcs. 37 mm
Hotchkiss revolving canons. For defense of the front of the fort was placed 6 concrete machine gun posts, each armed with 2 pcs. 8 mm.
Madsen recoil guns with armor shield.
Finally the fort was equipped with 2 floodlights, a firing control post and an observation post.
In connection with the fort 4 flanking positions were built:
The Beach flanks 1, 2, 3 and the Eastern Klint Flank.
The first 3 were in the dune area in front of the fort, while the last one was situated at Strandgårdsvej 20, Karlslunde Beach.
Real military use of the position after the original plan ceases in 1923.
The command and the crew of the Tune Position:
1 regimental staff
5 battalions infantry
4 recoil gun companies
1 horse squadron
4 field artillery batteries
3 engineer companies and telegraph detachements
Pictures from the Mosede Fort
Modern artillery had outdated the old defence Line. Realizing that it was neccesary to move the defence line so far away from the capitol that
it could not be observed and shelled, construction of the Tune Position started in 1915. The Tune Position was a line of trenches, lines with
barbed wire, small bunkers and casemates.
The line started at Mosede (coastal battery) and went north. The line north of Roskilde was never build, but the materials and equipment were
present.