Vestvolden

Can you hear the whispers of history along Vestvolden? This remarkable rampart, stretching nearly nine miles from Avedøre to Utterslev Mose, tells a compelling story of political strife and military might. Vestvolden was more than just a defense for Copenhagen. It was a symbol of the power struggle between Denmark’s political parties in the late 19th century. Construction on Vestvolden began in 1888, during a period known as “Provisorietiden,” or the Provisional Time. Prime Minister J.B.S. Estrup, lacking a parliamentary majority, refused to resign. He pushed through funding for the rampart, supported by King Christian IX and the Landstinget, against the wishes of the Folketing majority. This made Vestvolden a lightning rod in the heated political climate. Imagine up to 2,000 workers, the “voldbisser,” toiling with shovels and spades, shaping the earth into this immense defensive structure. Vestvolden was the largest construction project in Denmark at the time, a testament to the nation’s commitment to defending Copenhagen. One of Vestvolden’s most innovative features was its use of caponiers. These fortified structures, built into the moat, allowed soldiers to fire along the length of the rampart, effectively targeting enemies attempting to cross the moat. This design, developed by Lieutenant Colonel E.J. Sommerfeldt, made Vestvolden so renowned it was known as the “Danish front” in international military circles. Vestvolden also demonstrates a fascinating interplay of military strategy and existing infrastructure. The rampart had to accommodate Roskildevej and Vestbanen, a major road and railway line into Copenhagen. These unavoidable breaches in the defenses made the area especially vulnerable, requiring reinforced caponiers and extra protection. Ironically, the railway line became an asset to the project, facilitating transport of earth, batteries, and supplies. Vestvolden’s reign as a military fortification, however, was surprisingly brief. By 1909, just 15 years after its completion, advancements in warfare technology had rendered such fortifications obsolete. Though it was manned by 50,000 troops during World War I, it never saw combat. Decommissioned in 1920, Vestvolden became an ammunition storage site, much of it remaining off-limits to the public until the 1960s. Today, Vestvolden stands as a peaceful recreational area, its ramparts echoing with the whispers of a turbulent past, a reminder of a time when Copenhagen’s defenses were paramount.