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Tunestillingen
The end of the 4 fortress decades.
Tune-position are so closely linked with Copenhagen 3rd fortress that it may
be considered as part
of this site.
The Tune-position surpasses all former defense installations in length and
constructions in Denmark. The Dannevirke Rampart was "only" 14 kilometres
and largely without fixed installations. The Western Enceinte was 14
kilometres, but with much larger fixed installations.
The Tune Position was 22 km. kilometres with approx. 5000 small bunkers,
caves and galleries, miles of trenches, barbed wire closures and other
obstacles.
All dug by pioneer- and infantry units by hand.
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Constructor of the
Tune position
Colonel AG Nyholm
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Unfortunately, very little is accessible and
visible today.
The Mosede Fort is well kept and well worth a visit.
The rooms of concrete and timber were small, and when the the position was
abandoned the owners of
land on which the position was placed, just took over the remaining rooms and
materiels (except for genuine military equipment) to reduce or avoid subsidies.
This means that virtually all dug sites were demolished, and the caves except a
few, were degraded, reconstructed as cellars in new buildings built or located
on private property.
None of the galleries are to be seen anymore.
Recognizing that modern artillery had outdated the fortification from 1886 in
the sense that if one did not have a forwarded defense to prevent hostile remote
observation and fire, then both the forts,
The Western Enceinte and Copenhagen could also fired upon with heavy artillery.
The Fortress Century had passed, and since the shelling of especially the
Belgian forts had shown
that they had no obstacle value against the German 28, 31.5 and 42 cm Moerse.
The 42 cm. Moerse
had a firing range of about 14 km., 1150 kg heavy projectiles which contained
265 kg. penetrating explosives, which no known forts or concrete construction to
withstand.
The emergence of th heavy artillery, the machine guns and use of poison gas
changed the nature of
war fundamentally, and World War I ended up as almost an experimental war.
Thick walls and fortified positions were replaced with movement and camouflage,
use of
natural blocks and dug plants supplemented with less permanent posts. Use of
artillery on the
lang distances, barbed wire in front of regular trenches flanked by machine guns
had shown
Its effiency on Europe's major battlefields. The nature of Warfare in centuries
had changed radically within 40 years, which contributed to a very large number
of victims, especially in the first year of the war.
The technique and modern equipment simply overtook the military doctrines.
Germany had already at the outbreak of war demanded that access to the Baltic
Sea was my blocked.
It was in Copenhagen interpreted as meaning that if
Denmark did not they would make it even Germany. At the same time they had the
attitude that if Denmark did not even proved able to maintain its neutrality,
would lead a German occupation.
In 1915 the construction of the Tune Position began
The idea of an advanced position was not new and had previously been promoted in
several plans.
Eg. It was planned in connection with the construction of the Western Enceinte,
that a advanced fort should be constructed at Vallensbaek. This was, however,
was never put into practice.
Actual forwarded defense lines had also been considered, but the location had
caused problems.
That was actual a very long distance if the line should cross Zealand.
The objective would be to block access to the shelling of Copenhagen with
artillery.
Roskilde Fjord formed a natural barrier, and was as the narrowest point on
Zealand a natural choice.
The distance from Mosede to Roskilde Fjord was aprox. 21-22 miles.
The Tune Position was constructed. An advanced line of barbed wire secured
trenches, flanking machine guns and an underlying line of artillery and small
casemates. (caves and galleries)
Everything built after the latest intelligence and experience available from the
ongoing World War.
The Defense Line began at Mosede Fort (coastal battery) and went north through
Karlslunde and Vindinge to Veddelev north of Roskilde
The Line was planned to continue to Frederiksværk and Lynæs, but this was never
put into practice.
The materials, however, were purchased and stored.
Concrete posts had now lost their glorious French fortress names, their pompous
appearance and was simply known as galleries, caves and associated trenches.
They had learned of
the trenches and the small machine gun positions great effect.
In 1913 the construction of the Mosede Fort began, and it was finished in1916.
The Mosede Fort var the biggest site of the Tune Position. A massive coastal
fort surrounded by a
dry moat and protected by two kaponierer. The fort was planned already in 1908,
and carried out following the original plan. A main fort at Mosede and a
supportive battery by Karlslunde moor.
The main armament of the Fort was 6 pcs. 12 cm. rapid firing haubits, originally
drawn up in two batteries north and south of the fort. The secondary guns were
7.5 cm rapid firing guns that were
also suitable on air targets.
The defence of the fort itself consisted of 4 pcs. 8 mm Madsen recoil guns and 2
pcs. 37 mm Gatling revolving canons.
For defense of the front of the fort was placed 6 concrete machine gun posts,
each armed with
2 pcs. 8 mm Madsen recoil guns with armor shield.
Finally the fort was equipped with 2 floodlights, a firing control post and an
observation post.
In connection with the fort 4 flanking positions were built:
The Beach flanks 1, 2, 3 and the Eastern Klint Flank.
The first 3 were in the dune area in front of the fort, while the last one was
situated at Strandgårds-
vej 20, Karlslunde Beach.
Real military use of the position after the original plan ceases in 1923.
The command and the crew of the Tune Position:
1 regimental staff
5 battalions infantry
4 recoil gun companies
1 horse squadron
4 field artillery batteries
3 engineer companies and telegraph detachements
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Pictures from the Mosede Fort
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