Battle of Bov

The Battle of Bov (German : Bau) was a battle between troops fighting for Schleswig-Holstein, and those for Denmark, which happened on April 9, 1848 in the area of Flensborg in Denmark, during the First Schleswig War. Denmark won the engagement. It was the first battle of the First Schleswig War.

Background

In 1848, the First Schleswig War started, as Schleswig-Holstein was trying to separate from Denmark, and Denmark considered it a part of the country. The Kingdom of Prussia, the Austrian Empire and the German Confederation, sent troops to support Schleswig-Holstein in its attempt to secede from Denmark, and become a part of the German Confederation. Wishing to defeat Denmark before German, Austrian, and Prussian troops arrived, 7,000 Schleswig-Holsteinian soldiers under General Krohn occupied Flensborg on March 31, 1848.

Prelude

File:Skizze zum Gefecht bei Bau.png

Map of the battle

Danish troops landed on the Holdnaes peninsula east of Flensborg and, worried that he would be surrounded, Gen. Krohn asked for permission to withdraw his soldiers from the settlement. His request was approved, and he planned to fall back during April 9. Danish commanders had decided their attack would start before Krohn withdrew. They decided that the left flank of the Danish army would launch a diversionary attack, whilst the right wing and cavalry would encircle the enemy, and their attacks would be supported by a naval squadron in Flensborg Fjord. The Schleswig-Holsteins were arranged according to the plan that they were going to withdraw, and were not prepared to put up a co-ordinated resistance.

Battle

The Danish soldiers began their attack between 08:00 and 09:00 on April 9. Badly co-ordinated and without their superior commander, the Prince of Noer, who arrived two hours after the battle had started, the Schleswig-Holsteins were unable to win against the Danish forces.

File:Memorial Site to the Battle of Bau (in Flensburg).jpg

Memorial Site in Flensburg

Aftermath

Thirty-five Schleswig-Holsteins died as a result of the battle, whilst Denmark lost the lives of 16; 138 Schleswig-Holsteins were wounded, and so were 66 Danes; and 923 Schleswig-Holsteins were captured to no Danish prisoners.