Feeling mildly patriotic

[oneiriad]

200 years ago today British soldiers landed at Vedbæk and thus began the unprovoked attack on Denmark, that would culminate in the long, terrifying nights between September 2nd and September 5th, when Great Britain committed one of the first terror bombings of a civilian population, namely the good people of Copenhagen.

At the end, Denmark lost the battle and lost its navy too - the British carried it away, taking everything that wasn't nailed down and destroying what they couldn't take, including the unfinished ships at Holmen's shipyard. Behind them they left a country that had been forced out of its neutrality and into a war, which would ruin its economy so thoroughly that Denmark went bankrupt in 1813 and which would leave the nation considerably smaller at the end. A war that Denmark wound up in not because Britain had any particular problem with Denmark - oh no, they just didn't want to risk Napoleon getting his hands on our navy, so they decide to get there first. Large-scale armed robbery, really...

That was 200 years ago. No hard feelings. Not really. Anyway, in memory of the bombardment Golden Days in Copenhagen has announced a big program of stuff on 2. September - guided tours of the city, historical reenactments, concerts, special exhibits, lectures. Guess what I think I'll be doing on that sunday?

Ah, and until then I can always entertain myself with Baltic Sail, which is in Elsinore this weekend - even if it is a bit sad too, because due to the large works they are starting at Kronborg soon, this might very well be the last time in a while, possible the last time ever, Baltic Sail will be in Elsinore. :-( Stupid prestige projects...