The Hals Skanse redoubt

Facts

Guardian of the Liim Fjord

The Hals Skanse redoubt was built in 1653-54 and is still standing. It is located at the approach to the Liim Fjord and controlled these waters. As far back as during Denmark's intervention in the Thirty Years' War, in 1625-29, a fortress was located here, which was taken by German soldiers. History repeated itself during the Dano-Swedish war in 1657, but from then on the redoubt held up against assault such as during the English Wars of 1807-14. The fortress is square with four small corner bastions. In 1848, the redoubt was dismantled as a fortification. Today, it is a beautiful, public park, owned by the local authority. The former powder magazine and arsenal house a museum.

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Cannons blasting the British

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Story written by Ole Louis Frantzen

Time / Periode 1625 1945

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In the early 19th century a coast battery was built in extension of the redoubt to bolster defence of the area against enemies who commanded the sea. The battery was powerfully armed with both heavy and light artillery. An important brief during the English Wars was to defend small Danish merchant vessels against British warships. In 1811, Hals Skanse averted a British attempt to capture a number of merchant vessels which had sought shelter under the cannons of the redoubt. A year later, the cannons at Hals Skanse were again firing at British vessels. But this time the British succeeded in taking a couple of Danish merchant vessels. After the war, the threat from the sea was gone and circa 1945 the coast battery was taken out of active service.