In February 1920, Schlesvich residents were confronted with a choice that would change the future of their area. After decades of change of borders and national differences between Danish and Germanya referendum provided them the opportunity to decide on the limits of their own sovereignty. In a world that was still plagued by the consequences of the Great War, this peaceful vote was a promising evolution.
Schlesvich’s referendum emerged from the Treaty of Versailles, the “big settlement” after the end of World War I. As people left behind the horror of war, the architects of diplomacy envisioned a Europe that would no longer be involved in conflicts for territorial claims, but would decide on its fate through the free will of the peoples.
In 1864, Schleswig was annexed by Prussia.
Schleswig, a ducato with a deep and complex history, has been the subject of conflict between Denmark and Germany for centuries. In 1864, after Schleswig’s second war, the area was annexed by Prussia and became part of the German Empire with its consolidation in 1871. However, within Schleswig’s borders, it remained a significant part of a Danish population, which had a strong desire for Reunion with Denmark.
The referendum, which was held in two zones, would determine whether its region or parts would return to Danish rule. Zone I, the northern part of Schleswig, voted with overwhelming majority in favor of joining Denmarkwith about 75% choosing the interruption of ties with Germany. On the contrary, zone II, which is in the middle part of the duchy, remained steadily Germanwith almost 80% choosing stay within German territory. This division resulted in the peaceful transfer of North Schlesvich to Denmark on June 15, 1920, which was welcomed by Copenhagen.
It was a case study on how diplomacy and democratic processes could form the border without the need for war
The process itself was regarded as a smooth and fair expression of the right of peoples’ self -determination, as well as proof of the first successes of the society of nations in the implementation of its vision for a new world order. Unlike the violent military confrontations of the previous decades, Schleswig’s fate was decided in the polls, signaling one New Chapter in the History of International Relations. It was a case study on how diplomacy and democratic processes could shape the borders without the need for war; a lesson that many European states were hoping to internalize as they rebuilt their continental war.
However, the Schleswig referendum did not fully address nationalist tensions. The new borders, though defined by democratic media, left behind Danish minorities in German Schleswig and German -speaking communities in the territories attached to Denmark. While the latter was happy with the return of northern Schleswig, the German nationalists considered the loss as another humiliation imposed by the Versailles settlement. This sense of injustice would later be used by radical elements in Germany, contributing to the nationalist explosion that would peak with its rise Nazism.
Column: Myrto Katsiera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
