Stopping was impossible. Prussia's intentions were an open secret, known to every passerby. Bismarck was about to take the first step toward the greatest achievement of his life.
As long as they crushed the Danish main force on Als Island, the Danes would lose their last bargaining chip in the war.
June 29, Als Island Fjord.
Als Island lay east of the Jutland Peninsula, connected by the Als Fjord. The fjord was an extension of the Baltic Sea, and its waters were not particularly broad.
The fjord between Als Island and the Jutland Peninsula was calm, and the bright sunshine gave the sea an unobstructed view. Under favorable natural conditions, the Prussian Army began advancing on Als Island, attempting to cross the fjord.
Prussian engineers erected pontoon bridges across the water, while men and weapons began boarding the ferries in the bay.
Amid the roar of steam, the ferries pressed toward Als Island. A thousand sails raced, a hundred vessels vied for the current; the narrow Als Fjord was packed thick with ships.
Danish observers watched the sea through telescopes. The Prussians were speeding toward the shore, and at the sight, they immediately reported to their officers.
The Danish troops, who had hastily retreated to Als Island, had suffered one defeat after another and were low in morale. Their organization was woefully inadequate, and in the brief time available, they had been unable to build fortifications on the island.
The Danish troops on the island could only use artillery to harass the Prussian landing force, but scattered cannon fire could not stop the Prussians' determination.
Under the cover of gunboats, several thousand Prussian soldiers easily landed on the coast of Als Island. The two sides began a fierce struggle for the shoreline.
Denmark could now only rely on crude fortifications to hold back Prussia, but Prussian artillery was being brought over in an unending stream from the rear by ships and pontoon bridges.
Once artillery support was in place, the landed Prussians launched their attack. The Danes quickly fell into chaos, and their hastily erected defenses were destroyed by Prussian artillery in a single exchange.
As Prussian infantry stormed the Danish positions, the demoralized Danish army raised the white flag after only a brief resistance.
Als Island was the last large-scale battle between the allied forces and Denmark. With the surrender of the island's defenders, the Second Schleswig War entered its final stage.
A few days later, on July 3, the Battle of Lundby broke out. The allied forces won, and Denmark lost all ability to resist.
The Danish government had no choice but to sit down at the negotiating table with the German states. As the defeated side, Denmark declared that it would abandon resistance. Prussia and Austria also halted their advance, all hostile actions ceased, and the war came to an end.
On August 10, 1864, Danish King Christian IX signed a preliminary peace treaty, relinquishing his rights to the two duchies and instead recognizing the authority of the Austrian Empire and the King of Prussia.
Under the Treaty of Vienna on October 30, Denmark ceded all these lands to Austria and Prussia.
The Second Schleswig War.
Denmark's territory shrank by 250 kilometers. It lost 40 percent of its land and nearly 40 percent of its population, which fell from 2.6 million to 1.6 million. This included 200,000 Danes in Schleswig, and Denmark's strength on the Jutland Peninsula was greatly reduced.
Through this war, Prussia seized control of the Duchy of Schleswig. Its army began stationing troops in Schleswig, gaining the important port city of Kiel. The Kiel Canal was a vital route for the German territories to bypass the Danish straits, greatly enhancing Prussia's ability to reach the open sea.
The Austrian Empire also gained the Duchy of Holstein in this war. The conflict ended in victory for Prussia and Austria, and the Second Schleswig War drew to a close.