Germany – Imperial – Prussia: Alsen Cross 1864. On non-combatants ribbon.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
The Cross was instituted by King Wilhelm on 7 December 1864 for combatants and non-combatants in the taking of the island of Alsen (Danish = Als), the last conflict in the war with Denmark. It was extended on 18 April 1865, first anniversary of the crucial battle of Düppel in the same war, to those troops held in reserve for the battle. Alsen is an island near the German border to which Danish forces had retreated.
On the night of 29 June 1864, 2,500 Prussian troops crossed the Alssund in small boats and took the Danish lines, enabling a pontoon bridge to be built to bring up reinforcements. On 1 August, the Danish king renounced his right to Schleswig-Holstein in favour of Prussia and Austria.
