Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Denmark
DENMARK, a kingdom in northern Europe, consisting of a peninsular portion called Jutland, and an extensive archipelago lying E. of it and comprising the islands of Seeland (or Sjalland), Funen (or Fyen), Laaland (or Lolland), Falster, Langeland, Moen, Samso, Laso, Arro, Bornholm, and many smaller ones. Besides these there are the outlying possessions of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Denmark is bounded on the S. by Germany and the Baltic; on the W. by the North Sea; on the N. it is separated from Norway by the Skagerrack; and on the E. it is separated from Sweden by the Kattegat and the Sound. Area, 15,289 square miles; pop. (1901) 2,464,770; capital, Copenhagen.
Topography.—The surface of Denmark is very much alike in every part of the kingdom, uniformly low, reaching its highest point in Eirs-Bavnehoj, in S. E. Jutland, which is only 564 feet above sea-level. The country presents little variety, except in its low isolated hills, but does not leave an impression of monotony; in the islands and in the S. E. of Jutland the landscape is broken by forests, meadows, and fields; and even in the W. and N. of the mainland the stretches of moorland are clothed with heather, and have a solemn beauty. The coast seldom rises even to low cliffs; generally it is flat, skirted by sand-ridges and shallow lagoons, especially along the W. side, where the dunes cover an area of nearly 225 square miles. The E. coast is much indented by bays, useful for navigation and valuable for their fisheries; here and in the islands are many good harbors. Both the continental portion and the islands are penetrated deeply by numerous fjords, the largest being Limfjord, which intersects Jutland and has insulated the N. extremity of the peninsula since 1825, when it broke through the narrow isthmus which had separated it from the North Sea. From its formation, the kingdom can have no rivers, properly so called; its streams, called Aa, are mostly large brooks. There are several important canals, however, including in Jutland works for the canalization of the Guden-Aa, its largest stream, and of the Limfjord. Lakes abound in all parts of the kingdom, the most considerable being found in Seeland.
Climate, Commerce, and Productions.—Owing to the lowness of the land and its proximity to the sea on all sides, the climate is remarkably temperate for so northerly a region, though the thermometer in winter may sink to 22° below zero, and in summer rise to 89°. Violent winds are frequent, and rains and fogs prevalent, but the climate is favorable to vegetation. The soils of Jutland are generally light, but those in the S. E. part and in the islands are stronger; about 80 per cent. of the area of Denmark is productive, and of the remainder about one-sixth is in peat-bogs. Nearly half of the population is engaged in agriculture; the land for the most part is parceled out into small holdings, and this is encouraged by the laws, which since 1849 have prohibited the throwing of small farms into large estates. The center and W. of Jutland is nearly bare of wood, but in the other parts of the peninsula the forests cover about 215,000 acres, and in the islands over 291,000 acres. The beech, which flourishes more luxuriantly in Denmark than in any other land, is almost universally predominant, though three centuries ago the oak, now comparatively rare, was the characteristic Danish tree. Peat, which is obtained in abundance from the bogs, brown coal or lignite, and seaweed, generally take the place of wood as fuel. Porcelain clay and some coal are found in Bornholm; fuller's earth, potter's clay, saltpeter, chalk, and a poor marble occur in several parts of the kingdom, while some amber is collected on the W. coast of Jutland.
In 1919 there were produced of the principal crops the following amounts in tons: wheat, 161,200; rye, 378,700; barley, 533,900; oats, 690,700; mixed grain, 397,000; and potatoes, 1,440,800. There were in 1919 558,471 horses; 2,188,142 head of cattle; 509,466 sheep; 715,909 swine; and 12,134,521 poultry.
In 1914 there were 82,442 industrial establishments, employing 346,000 persons. Among the most important productions are distilled liquors and beet sugar. There were, in 1919, 21 distilleries, which produced 2,390,000 liters of brandy. In the same year the production of beet sugar was 141,300 tons.
Fisheries are important, and the value of the catch in 1918 was £2,318,866. Over 20,000 persons are engaged in the fisheries and over 15,000 boats are employed.
The imports in 1919 were valued at £139,390,000, and the exports at £51,042,000. These figures may be compared with those of 1914, in which year the imports amounted to £44,182,666, and the exports to £48,191,444. The exports of home produce in 1919 amounted to £41,299,000. The principal imports are food substances, fuel, raw products, and industrial products. The chief exports are butter, eggs, bacon, and other agricultural and dairy products.
Denmark is one of the most important countries engaged in mercantile marine. There were in 1919 3,366 vessels, with 470,989 tons, engaged in foreign commerce. In the same year 18,965 vessels entered Danish ports from foreign countries and 19,224 vessels cleared from Danish ports.
Finances.—The total revenue for 1919 and 1920 was £23,957,514 from current revenue, and £8,662,203 from the state capital. The expenditures amounted to £26,205,779 for current expenditure, and £4,358,072 for the increase of state capital. A reserve fund of a comparatively large amount is maintained. This in 1919 amounted to £623,189. The public debt in 1919 amounted to £43,361,483. The total foreign debt amounted to £14,296,273.
Railways.—There were in 1919 about 2,700 miles of railway, of which about 1,275 belonged to the state.
Government.—Denmark was originally an elective monarchy. In 1661 it became a hereditary and absolute monarchy, and in 1849 a hereditary constitutional monarchy, the legislative power being in the king and Diet jointly. The present government is founded on the charter of 1915. The Diet or Rigsdag consists of two chambers, the Landsthing or Upper House, the Folkething or Lower House. The former is a Senate of 72 members. The members of the Folkething are 140 in number, directly elected by universal suffrage, and hold their seats for four years. The Rigsdag meets every October, and all money bills must be submitted to the Lower House.
Education.—At the head of the educational institutions stand the University of Copenhagen and the Holberg Academy at Soröe. The provinces are well supplied with gymnasia and middle schools, and primary instruction is given at the public expense in the parochial schools. The public schools, with a few exceptions, are free. There were in 1919 3,466 public elementary schools, with 406,000 pupils. In addition to the elementary schools there are 13 government grammar schools. These, together with 140 private schools, had an attendance of about 60,000 pupils. Between the ages of 7 and 14 elementary education is free and compulsory. The schools are maintained by communal taxes. For higher instruction there are, besides the institutions mentioned, a veterinary and agricultural college at Copenhagen, agricultural schools, technical and commercial schools, and high and Latin schools.
Army and Navy.—The army of Denmark is a national militia, resembling in some points the Swiss system. Every able-bodied man is liable to service in the army and navy, except the inhabitants of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The total peace strength of the army is 78,000 men, with an additional force available on mobilization of 105,000. About 13,000 recruits are trained annually. The military budget for 1919-1920 was 16,969,613 kroner, with 50,000 kroner additional for the Flying Corps. The navy of Denmark is maintained only for the purpose of coast defense. It consists of monitors, 2 small cruisers, 2 mine layers, 23 first-class torpedo boats, and 12 submarines.
Religion.—The established religion is the Lutheran which was introduced in 1536. The affairs of the national Church are under the superintendence of seven bishops. Complete religious toleration is extended to every sect, and no civil disabilities attach to dissenters.
History.—The oldest inhabitants of Denmark were the Cimbri, who dwelt in the peninsula of Jutland, the Chersonesus Cimbrica of the Romans. They first struck terror into the Romans by their incursion, with the Teutons, into the rich provinces of Gaul (113-101 B.C.). After this, led by the mysterious Odin, the Goths broke into Scandinavia, and appointed chiefs from their own nation over Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. For a considerable time Denmark was divided into a number of small states, whose inhabitants lived mostly by piracy along the neighboring coasts. In 787 they began to make their descents on the E. coast of England, and along with other inhabitants of Scandinavia they conquered Normandy in 876-877. Under Gorm the Old all the small Danish states were united in 920, and his grandson Sweyn, now the head of a powerful kingdom, began the conquest of Norway and of England, which was ultimately completed by his son Canute. Canute died in 1035, leaving a powerful kingdom to his successors, who, in 1042, lost England, and in 1047 Norway. In 1047 Sweyn Magnus Estridsen ascended the throne, but with the exception of the great Waldemar the new dynasty furnished no worthy ruler, and the power of the kingdom decayed considerably till the accession of the politic Queen Margaret in 1387, who established the union of Calmar in 1397, uniting under her rule Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In 1448 Christian I., Count of Oldenburg, was elected to the throne, thus founding the royal family of Oldenburg, which kept possession of the throne till 1863. Under the rule of Christian, Noiway, Sweden, Schleswig, and Holstein were connected with the crown of Denmark, but under his successor, Christian II., Sweden established its independence. Under Frederick I. (1523-1533) the Reformation was introduced. Christian IV. of Denmark ascended the throne in 1588, took part in the Thirty Years' War, and engaged twice in a war with Sweden, with most unfortunate results. Frederick III., again engaging in war with Sweden in 1657, was equally unsuccessful. Christian V. and Frederick IV. were conquered in the war with Charles XII. Denmark, however, after the fall of Charles XII., gained, by the peace of 1720, the toll on the Sound, and maintained possession of Schleswig. After this Denmark enjoyed a long repose. In 1800, having joined the Northern Confederacy, the kingdom was involved in a war with Great Britain, in which the Danish fleet was defeated at Copenhagen, April 2, 1801. In 1807, there being reason to think that Denmark would join the alliance with France, a British fleet was sent up the Sound to demand a defensive alliance or the surrender of the Danish fleet as a pledge of neutrality. Both were denied, till the Danish capital was bombarded and forced to capitulate, the whole fleet being delivered up to the British. The war, however, was continued, Denmark forming new alliances with Napoleon till 1814, when a peace was concluded by which she ceded Heligoland to England in exchange for the Danish West India Islands, and Norway to Sweden in exchange for Swedish Pomerania and Rügen, which, however, she shortly after surrendered to Prussia, receiving in return Lauenburg and a pecuniary compensation. In June, 1815, the king entered into the German Confederacy as representing Holstein and Lauenburg. In 1848 Schleswig and Holstein revolted and were not finally subdued till 1852. In 1857 the Sound dues were abolished. Frederick VII. died in 1863 and with him the Oldenburg line became extinct. He was succeeded by Christian IX. (Prince of Sonderburg-Glücksburg). At the beginning of 1864 the Danish territory was politically distributed into four parts, viz., Denmark proper (consisting of the Danish islands and North Jutland), the duchy of Schleswig or South Jutland, with a population more than one-half Danish, the remainder Frisian and German; the duchy of Holstein, purely German; the duchy of Lauenburg, also German. The measures of the Danish government compelling the use of the Danish language in state schools having given great umbrage to the German population of the duchies, the disputes resulted in the intervention of the German Confederation, and ultimately Holstein was occupied by the troops of Austria and Prussia (1864). After a short campaign the Prussians captured Alsen, overran the greater part of Jutland, and forced the Danes to accept peace (Aug. 1), by which they renounced their right to the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg. A difference now arose between Austria and Prussia as to what should be done with the duchies, and Prussia showing an evident intention of annexing them, the result was a war between the two powers, which ended in the total defeat of Austria at Sadowa, or Königgrätz, July 3, 1866. By the treaty which followed Austria relinquished all claim to the duchies, which thus fell to Prussia.
Christian IX. died January 29, 1906. He was succeeded by his son Frederick VIII. The latter proved to be a popular sovereign, but his reign was short-lived, as he died suddenly on May 14, 1912, while on a visit to Hamburg. He was succeeded by his son. Christian X. Important amendments were made to the constitution in 1914 and 1915. Among these provisions was the abolition of the property classification which hitherto prevented the poorer classes from voting for the Landsthing. Another amendment was passed for universal suffrage, including suffrage for women.
The outbreak of the World War raised vital problems in Denmark. On account of the bitter feeling toward Prussia as the result of the seizure of Schleswig-Holstein, there was an overwhelming pro-Ally sentiment in the kingdom. The government, however, remained neutral throughout the war. Denmark suffered severely from the blockade established against Germany and in the loss of ships in the submarine warfare. This was to a large extent, however, offset by the prosperity of the agricultural classes as a result of the demand for their products both in Germany and in the Allied countries. Germany secured enormous quantities of foodstuffs both by the regular method of trade and through smuggling across the border. By 1917, however, economic conditions in Denmark had become exceedingly difficult and it was found necessary to ration both bread and coal. The import of coal had stopped with the outbreak of the war to such an extent that it became necessary to curtail its consumption. Trade in wheat, butter, sugar, and other foodstuffs was strictly regulated. With the end of the war, conditions quickly improved. At the meeting of the Peace Conference in Paris, Denmark made known her desire to have restored to her the strictly Danish parts of Schleswig-Holstein, and demanded that those parts in which the population was partially Danish and partially German should be allowed to decide for themselves their future political status. These articles were acceded to and provision was made by the Treaty that within 10 days after it had been put into operation the people in the zones of Schleswig would be allowed to decide for Danish or German nationality by a popular vote. The country was divided into three zones, in the first of which, the farthest removed from Germany, the people would vote for or against reunion of Denmark en bloc; in the second zone the voting was to be done by municipalities, not later than 5 weeks after the vote in the first zone; in the third zone no vote was to be taken. The plebiscite was held in February, 1920. The northern zone, or North Schleswig, voted by a large majority to join with Denmark; the southern zone, or southern Schleswig, voted to adhere to Prussia. North Schleswig, therefore, was incorporated into the kingdom of Denmark, on July 9, 1920. The occasion was celebrated all over the country. The king and queen made a progress into North Schleswig and were received with jubilation by the people. On Sept. 8, 1920, an amendment to the Danish constitution, incorporating North Schleswig into Denmark was ratified in a general referendum, 613,471 voting “yes,” against 19,490 voting “no.” The constitution required that an amendment must be ratified by at least 45% of the total number of persons entitled to vote.
The islands comprising the Danish West Indies were sold to the United States for $25,000,000. A treaty providing for the transfer was ratified by Denmark on Dec, 22, 1916, and by the United States on Jan. 16, 1917. See Virgin Island.
