In the year of 1863, after the crowning of IX Christian Danish King, the Parliament of Denmark has decided in its November Institution to annex the all territory of Schleswig-Holstein in spite of the London Convention of 1851. Prussia as the leader of Allied North German States sent an ultimatum to the Danish Government, but received a rejection. Therefore the German States on 7th December 1863 have arrived at a decision to make an armed intervention. Prussia, Saxony, Hanover and their ally Austria, have provided troops to the Allied Army to be sent into Denmark. Great Britain and Sweden, the signatories of the London Convention have remained neutrals because the Convention was violated by the Danes, though a lot of Scandinavian volunteers were participated in the fights on the side of Danes.
The Allied Army under command of German Feldmarschall Baron Gablenz had a German and an Austro-Hungarian Army Corps, altogether 72 000 soldiers. The Austro-Hungarian Army Corps consisted of 20 000 men, and there were three Hungarian infantry regiment in its formation, the 34th Regiment of Kassa, the 72nd Regiment of Pozsony and the 6th Regiment of Southern-Hungary.
The Danish Army, just about of 40,000 men, were defeated in several battles till the fall of the year, and the overpowering Allies have occupied the all Jylland-peninsula, and the truce was concluded on 30th October 1864. Beside the weakness of its land forces Denmark had a small advantage. This was its relative strong fleet, which was as follows: 4 armed steamships, 1 steam propelled ship-of-the-line, 4 screw steam frigates, 3 screw steam corvettes, a lot of smaller steamships and sailing ships. Denmark on 26th February has started the blockade of ports of Schleswig-Holstein, and later on this blockade was extended to the ports of Prussia to object the mercantile traffic of the Northern German States in the North- and Baltic-Seas, and to hinder the support of war supplies. The Prussian Navy had only several small gunboats, and majority of this meagre force was stationed in the Baltic-Sea, so the very important ports of Hamburg and Bremen were almost without any protection.
The Habsburg Monarchy at the request of its Ally has sent a squadron under command of Rear Admiral Wüllerstorf-Urbair to help the Prussians. This squadron consisted of the ship-of-the-line Kaiser, the ironclad Don Juan d’Austria, 1 corvette, 2 gunboats and a dispatch-ship. The preparation for the sailing went very slowly because of the heavy bureaucracy of the Austrian financial authorities. Fortunately the Schwarzenberg screw steam frigate and the Seehund gunboat were cruising in the waters of Levant under command of Wilhelm Tegetthoff, who has received an order on 2nd March 1864 to proceed with maximum haste to the North-Sea. The Radetzky screw frigate will join in meantime, and at port of Lissabon he must wait till arrival of squadron of Wüllerstorf-Urbair. The sailing of this squadron was delayed, and when the Radetzky on 4th April has joined them at port of Lissabon, the little force has sailed for Brest. From there they went to Dons on Deal to coal, but here the English authorities were very unfriendly, and they wanted to intimidate Tegetthoff with their threatening attitudes. By diplomatic means they have banned the Baltic-Sea for the little squadron, so Tegetthoff could sail only for the North-Sea.
The Danes who had great traditions in the sea battles were sure in their victory in an engagement with the Austrian squadron, because this latest fleet had not participated in any sea battle till this time. They were sure of it, however the majority of Danish Fleet has cruised in the Baltic-Sea to protect their islands, and only the blockading Niels Juel and Jylland screw steam frigates and Heimdal screw steam corvette were in the North-Sea. Meanwhile the Prussians have tried to break the blockade with their own means. A little Prussian squadron on 17th March 1864 has engaged Danish Fleet off Rügen, but this battle clearly had shown the Prussian Navy is not matched the Danish Navy, and after a short fight the Prussians have retreated into the northern German ports.
The Government of Denmark was not surprised by the news, that Austria is sending a squadron to help the Prussians, because they can follow exactly its trip with help of their delegations in Madrid, Paris, London, and from the neutral sources.
In the late April the SMS Seehund was damaged during an accident occurred in the English Channel, so she had to remain in a British port. The Austrian squadron has decreased to two ships, and has arrived at Texel, Holland, on 1st of May, where three smaller Prussian gunboats, the Basilisk, Blitz and the Preussischer Adler have joined them. The so increased squadron on 4th of May arrived at Cuxhaven, where prepared themselves for the battle.
The constitutions of two squadrons were as follows:
Danish squadron commanded by Eduard Suenson
Niels Juel, 42 guns, 422 men, steam, Gottlieb
Jylland, 44, 327, steam, Holm
Heimdal, 16, 260, steam, Lund
Total 102 guns, 1,023 men.
Austrian-Prussian squadron commanded by Wilhelm Tegethoff
Schwarzenberg, 51 guns, 498 men, steam, Tegethoff
Radetzky, 37 guns, 372 men, steam, Jeremiasch
Preussischer Adler, 4 guns, 110 men, paddlewheel, Klatt
Basilisk, 3 guns, 66 men, gunboat, McLean
Blitz, 3 guns, 66 men, gunboat, Schau
Total 98 guns, 1,002 men
The comparison clearly shows the superiority of Danes, after all the Heimdal screw steam corvette himself represented a great deal bigger fighting force than the three Prussians units altogether with their smaller guns and measurements. Though the main advantage of Danish Fleet was not this difference, but from fact, that they had 26 rifled guns, while the Austrian ships were provided with only 8 such kind of guns.
The battle
Tegetthoff on 9th of May has sailed with his squadron to engage the blockading Danish ships, and took a northern course, toward the Island of Helgoland. The Danish ships have proceeded to south, and shortly after 10.00 am. sighted smokes in south-western bearing. After not a long time, the two squadrons have sighted each-other and increasing their speed prepared themselves for the battle. Tegetthoff in spite of the clearly superior enemy force immediately has attacked them. The Danish flagship has made flag signals, and the Jylland and the Heimdal took their stations on Niels Juel’s sides. The commander of the Danish squadron, Suenson, showing towards smokes and masts of the enemy, cried loudly: “Men! There are the Austrians! I trust we will fight with just same heroism, as our brave comrades at Dybboel!”
After that the three Danish ships took up a column formation.
Nearly in the same time, adversary of Suenson, Tegetthoff, also made a speech to his men collected on deck. “Our armies were victorious, so we will be also victorious!” After this moment the Austrian squadron also formed a column. The forces quickly were drawing to each-other, while the much slower Prussian gunboats were falling astern. The Schwarzenberg at 13.45 has opened fire from a distance of 3,800 meters with her forward swivel gun. The fire was directed to the Niels Juel, who has answered in a short time, and after that the other ships also joined to the artillery duel. The Danes in very short time had hits on the frigate Schwarzenberg and caused severe damages. One of their shells hit the gun deck, and 14 men were killed or wounded. The Danish squadron has decreased the distance, and when Tegetthoff turned to west “to cross the T of enemy” (or to cross the enemy column with his squadron so he can fire whole broadsides to the Danish ships in disadvantage), Suenson turned to portside. So the two columns passed in distance of 2,000 meters and the Danish ships concentrated their fire on Schwarzenberg, while the Prussian gunboats were far astern from the battle.
The burning Schwarzenberg
After passing each-other, the Danish squadron turned to starboard trying to cut out the gunboats still being out of their guns’ range. Tegetthoff immediately has realised the danger, and made a turn of 180 degrees. The two forces in that time proceeded in parallel course, in a 900 meters distance to southward. The Danish squadron has turned slightly to starboard so decreased the distance to 400 meters. While the Jylland and Heimdal have concentrated their fire on Radetzky, the Niels Juel was in a desperate gunfight with Schwarzenberg. In this fight in a short period has been shown the superiority of Danish guns. The splinters have made much more casualties than the cannonballs and many men were killed or wounded by them. The flagship of Tegetthoff got fire two times. The first fire was extinguished very quickly, but to win the second in the sails’ room above the powder’s room, caused many difficulties. The Danish ships also have suffered severe damages, especially the Jylland. One shell hit the gun deck and exploded near the gun number 9, and killed or wounded the gun’s crew. The officers have sent gunners from the other side to the gun, so it has fired once again in short time. The battle has continued already almost two hours, and the Danes had got upper hand because of their rifled guns’ more precise fire. The fire of Schwarzenberg and Radetzky has weakened. The squadrons have approached to the Island of Helgoland an about 15.30 hours a Danish shell hit the foretopmast of Schwarzenberg and it has started burn with a great force. This event has decided the battle. The flagship’s situation was very dangerous and the fire threatened to extend to the entire frigate.
Tegetthoff had only one possibility to save his ship and squadron, to break off the battle and seek refugee in the neutral waters around of Helgoland (the island was British possession in that time). He sent a signal to the other units of his squadron to turn northward. The Radetzky to protect the burning Schwarzenberg has continued the battle, but it was already a very unequal fight. Tegetthoff repeated his signal to break off the battle, and Radetzky also has finished the engagement. The Austrian squadron proceeded with full speed toward Helgoland and the Danes have tried to pursuit them, but the damage of Jylland’s rudder was a great hindrance for them. They have changed yet several gun shots, but Suenson at 16.30 gave an order to cease fire, because he did not want to hurt the British territorial waters. 15 minutes later Tegetthoff’ squadron dropped the anchors before Helgoland.
What happened after that, both participants are translating according to their own aspects. The Austrian sources (see Sokol) are writing: “After distinguishing the fire Tegetthoff immediately has returned to the site of battle, but Suenson already has left it. The Danish frigates were so much damaged that they had to sail for Norway to repair. As the enemy has left the site of battle, Tegetthoff put in his squadron Cuxhaven.”
The Danish sources in turn are writing so: “The Danish squadron has remained on the site of battle and stayed in stand by to continue the battle if the Austrian had wanted to escape. The fire on board Schwarzenberg was so great, that they could extinguish only with great difficulties by 1 am. Tegetthoff decided to take his chance and try to escape to the German Cuxhaven. He has sailed with all lights doused and after a few hours he arrived at Cuxhaven.”
It is clearly seen that the historians of both parties were influenced by their nationalist senses, and they did not feared to change the facts. The truth would be known if somebody could go through the logbooks and the combat logs of the ships (if there are any). Anyway the result of the battle in opinion of the Danes is a clean-cut victory for them, so from that time this day is the Day of the Danish Royal Navy.
The burning Schwarzenberg
The casualties of both sides are as follows:
The Austrian ships had 37 dead and 92 wounded. The Prussian gunboats have not suffered any damages and casualties.
The Danish squadron had 14 dead and 54 wounded. They have fired a total 1746 shells to the enemy vessels.
The supporting Austrian squadron arrived at Cuxhaven very late (after 9 weeks of the battle).
To make summarize we can say that the Danish squadron had the tactical victory, because they had caused much more damages to their enemy, which was persuaded to retreat from the site of battle. Nevertheless in long terms the strategic victory was their enemies’ feather, as after the battle the blockade of the North German ports was ceased, and after the complete defeat of Danish armies the disputed Schleswig-Holstein came to the possession of Prussia and Austria.
It is already the grimace of fate that two years later the Prussian Leadership which was working to create a Great Germany has occupied the part of Austria, and in the subsequent Prussian-Austrian War they have inflicted a great military defeat to their former Ally. In the same time the Italians allied to the Prussians have gained back Venice and Veneto from the Austrians. In this catastrophic year of 1866 only the Battle of Lissa has got glory to the arms of Austria, and the main hero of this sea battle was the same Admiral Tegetthoff, whose name and distinguished leadership became known by the World in the Battle of Helgoland. After the Battle of Helgoland he was promoted immediately to Rear Admiral, and he has played a great role in reorganisation of the Austrian Fleet.
We must note that the battle near the Island of Helgoland was the last sea battle which was fought entirely between wooden warships. The wooden battleships also have participated in other see battles, but always in company of their ironclad companions. From the participants of the Battle of Helgoland only one ship exists in our days, the Danish Jylland, which was condemned to break up more than on time, but she survived, and was beautifully restored. Today she is staying in port of Ebeltoft as a principal tourist spectacle.
The Danish frigate Jylland in port of Ebeltoft
Sources
Gert Laursen: The Battle of Helgoland.
A. E. Sokol: SEEMACHT ÖSTERREICH, Die Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine 11382-1918. Verlag Fritz Molden . Wien-München-Zürich (1972.).
A MAGYAR GYALOGSÁG, A MAGYAR GYALOGOS KATONA TÖRTÉNETE, Reé László Könyvkiadó- és Terjesztővállalat, Budapest, IX. Mester ucca 4. (dátum nélkül).
