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Genforeningen

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News and Commentary

Overview

The subtitles describe the 1920 reunification of Northern and Southern Jutland, with Southern Jutland becoming part of Denmark, and how the new border was determined after World War I.

Background and purpose of the border change

  • On July 10, 1920, King Christian crossed the old border at Frederikshøj, located between Kolding and Christiansfeld.
  • This event is presented as the formal removal of the border and the reunification of Northern and Southern Jutland.
  • The process is framed as part of the post–World War I peace treaty.

Wilson’s principle vs. local referendums

  • The subtitles credit U.S. President Woodrow Wilson with the idea that European borders should reflect self-determination.
  • In practice, the SJH (as referenced in the subtitles) is described as wanting to shape the border largely themselves.
  • Nonetheless, referendums were held in five places, including Southern Jutland.

Two-round referendum outcome

The referendum was conducted in two rounds:

  1. Zone 1 (February 10)

    • Expected outcome: Danish majority, supported by H. P. Hansen and the Danish government.
    • Result: 75% voted Danish and 25% voted German.

  2. Zone 2 (March 14)

    • Result: about 20% Danish and 80% German.

Overall result:

  • Denmark received Zone 1
  • Germany kept Zone 2

The subtitles portray the new border as reflecting popular will.

Complication: mixed local majorities and “democratic” limits

Although the subtitles claim the border largely followed the vote, they argue it was not perfectly “democratic” everywhere:

  • In some local areas south of the border, Danish or German majorities are said to have differed from the surrounding results.
  • The subtitles suggest the only Danish majorities north of the border were in three small villages.
  • Towns mentioned such as A and Sønderborg are described as having German majorities, but surrounding areas had enough Danish majorities to outweigh them.
  • It is also described as debatable whether places like Tønder and Højer became Danish despite having significant German majorities, allegedly because they were near the border.

Final assessment

Despite these imperfections, the subtitles conclude that the 1920 border is one of the most democratically determined borders in the world.

Presenters or contributors

  • Woodrow Wilson (mentioned regarding self-determination)
  • King Christian (mentioned crossing the border)
  • H. P. Hansen (mentioned as a Danish Southern Jutland leader)
  • The Danish government (mentioned as participating in expectations for the vote)
  • SJH (referenced as seeking to draw borders themselves; exact identification not provided)

Original video