“A rampart against invasion,” they called it. Vestvolden Voldpunkt 12 stands as a silent testament to a time of unease. This sector formed part of Copenhagen’s last line of defense. It stretched 14 kilometers. Vestvolden was built from 1888 to 1892. Almost two thousand workers toiled here. It became Denmark’s largest construction project. Vestvolden was divided into two sections. These were Vestenceinten in the south. Husumenceinten was in the north. Vestvolden became the name for both.
Imagine this area bustling with activity. Laborers moved earth using shovels. They used wheelbarrows and small rail cars. Each of Vestvolden’s 14361 meters required immense effort. Workers shifted roughly 225 cubic meters of soil per meter. This totaled about 3.15 million cubic meters. They transported materials along temporary rail lines. These lines became more permanent than planned.
Most workers were young men under 30. Many were newly married. A third came from Sweden. Conditions were harsh. Summer workdays lasted 13 hours with a two-hour break. Winter days were 11 hours. Pay varied. It ranged from 73 øre per day in winter to three kroner in summer. A strike in July 1891 secured the higher wage. Foremen earned six kroner. Workers paid 25 øre weekly for mandatory health insurance. It provided one krone per day in sick pay. Living costs hovered around 1.80 kroner daily. Workers formed buying clubs to lower costs.
Consider the ingenious design of Vestvolden. A wet moat protected the front. It was fed by Utterslev Mose. Batardeaux maintained a steady water level. The canal measured 16 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep. A cunette in the middle deepened it further to 3.5 meters. Excess water flowed into Køge Bugt.
Every 600 meters a caponier stood in the moat. These flanking structures protected against enemy advances. They targeted soldiers struggling through water. Ten permanent batteries stood along the rampart. The southern part held 12 cm cannons. Glostrup to Husum had 15 cm cannons. Numerous reinforcing batteries existed. These earthworks contained concrete magazines. Guns would be moved to these batteries during attacks.
Behind Vestvolden lay Voldgaden. This road allowed unseen transport. Next to it ran Voldbanen. It was a standard-gauge railway. Originally for construction it was later integrated into the defense. Six railway wagons with 15 cm cannons were purchased from France.
By 1920 Vestvolden ceased as a defensive work. This followed the 1909 defense agreement. Military usage continued. It opened to the public in 1963. Vestvolden became a protected area in 1993.
Today Vestvolden Voldpunkt 12 provides recreation. It offers a glimpse into military history. It reminds us of the constant innovation in warfare. Advances in artillery quickly outpaced its defenses. Vestvolden stands as a testament to human ingenuity. It is a reminder of past conflicts.