Military History
The fortress of the town was for two things. It protected the
town before enemies, but it also protected the town before the
floods, having almost as big a responsibility as the dyke. From
the port was a rampart with a trench around the entire town to
the southern side of the port. The first part of the rampart is
today the kings dyke and had a zig-zag form. At the end of the
Nuendeich street was the fortress gate. On the opposite side of
the side you can find the Burggeraben (a trench) with part of the
old water system. Above the Burggeraben you can see the town map
with parts of the typical round shape. The artificial hill, on
which the water tower stands is suspected to be one of the most
powerful bastions. From there the fortress construction went to
the town park. This part is best preserved, because it hasn't
changed in the last 200 years. The rising of the Bastions, which
once guarded the Kremper Tor (a gate) in the middle of the two
parks, and the logical parrallel course of the trenches, reminds
us of Glückstadt's golden years. At that point in time,
Glückstadt ruled the Elbe with it's strong fortress and all of
Holstein (the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein). Neutar street
on the southern side of the port called the Rethövel, reminds us
of the name of the gate once there.
Chronology:
1615 - Work building the fortress started.
1620 - Ten companies of soldiers used to build the fortress.
1625-1628 - Imperial war during the thirty year war.
1626 - Defeat of Christian IV near Lutter on the Barenberg.
1627 - Invasion, of the imperials in Denmark and Holstein, under Tilly and
Wallenstein, and the unsuccesful siege of the fortress. There were
4000 men in the fortress at that time under Colonel Durant.
1628 - In Glückstadt there are 19 companies of soldiers six ships and one
frigate.
1629 - The withdrawl of the imperials.
1630 - Successful armed conflict on the Elbe with Hamburg due to the tax
levied by King Christian IV on Elbe travel.
1644 - The creation of four strong companies for a strong civil army, during
the war with Sweden.
1657-1660 - A new war with Sweden. The occupying forces of the fortress
create a regimental support of eight calvary units.
1658 - The creation of two new regiments in Glückstadt, one of these another
new calvary unit.
1675-1679 - Another war against Sweden causing eleven companies to be in
Glückstadt.
The town then becomes host of the third fleet of ships after
Copenhagen and Christiansand.
1701-1721 - During the Great Northern war the occupying forces were the
Jutischen regiment and the two Holsteinischen artillary
companies. The fleet then consisted of tow frigates, one suav
and five yachts with nearly 1000 men.
1711 - In Glückstadt there is a new company created under the leadership of
Colonel Hansen.
1712 - There remains only Arnold's regiment and Hansen's battalion.
1714 - The reinforcement of the fleet equipage.
1720 - With peace came the reduction of the fleet.
1729 - The liqudation of the fleet all together.
1737 - A limited fleet reassembled during the Poland succession War, and the
building of a new port.
1739 - The creation of two country regiments for the royal part of Holstein.
1801 - The battles of Napolean.
1803 - The creation of coastal militias for the local defense and huntercorps
in Glückstadt.
1805-1806 - The fortress in under attack.
1807 - During the siege of Copenhage by the English, the declaration of war
comes from Glückstadt.
1809 - The reinforcement of the fleet equipage, by sending troups to Cux
harbor because of the English invasions.
1812 - During the Russian campaigns by Napolean, there was a reinforcement of
troups in the city-
1813 - The fortress was in a defensive state after the Dresden treaty between
Denmark and Napolean, but there were only 2000 men, instead of the a
rumored 5000.
1813 - December sixth, the city of Glückstadt was under a state of siege.
The personnel was only about 3000 men and 184 cannons. This siege was
against 10000 men from Prussia, Sweden, Russia, and England. On the
Elbe was an English flotilla with 1200 men, keeping out supplies from
other cities.
1814 - The fortess surrendered on January fifth.
1814-1816 - The demolition of the fortress.
1842 - The reformation of the Danish army. The Königin Leibregiment will be
the 17th Infantry batallion. The duty of the rural population was
reduced in the Schleswig-Holstein revolution. The 17th infantry
batallion supports the temporary government.
1857 - The 17th went to Copenhagen and replaced the Danish 2nd Jager corp
from Helsigor.
1857 - After the Cholera epidemic the 2nd Jager corp ws transfered to
Copenhagen once again. From then on there was a reduciton in the
size of the military, and all that remained in Glückstadt was enough
men to guard the jail.
1863 - On the 26th of December the last Danish troups left Glückstadt and
with that, ending the continuous 200 year Danish occupation of the
city. Once all the Danish soldiers left, the Germans immediately
entered the city.
1864 - More of the KuK company occupies Glückstadt.
1866 - The recall to the Prussians who occupied the city, to leave and again
there remained only enough men to guard the jail.
1935 - The building of the new barracks on Neuendeich street.
1937 - The construction workers are gired to build a marine hospital at
Grillchaussee.
1945 - On May fifth, the invasion of English soldiers.
1948 - The military hospital becomes the hospital for the whole Kreis (a
Kreis is like a district or a county).
1951 - At the barracks on Neuendeich street they become equipped with a
sport school for the army.
1956 - The founding of the army base next to the barracks.
1957 - The hospital is once again only for the army.
1975 - The army hospital is closed.
1978 - The assignment of 2 new regiments in Glückstadt and one calvary
regiment.
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