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The First World War 1914-1918
At the start of World War I the German border guards were given lodgings in Christiansfeld, and barracks were created in the "Brothers' House". From 1916 onwards, there was large scale billeting of troops leading to the destruction of the "choir rooms" in both the "Brothers'" and the "Widows'" houses. On 24 June, 1917, the large church bell rang for the last time before it was forcibly removed and sent to the war industry, together with the church's brass and copper items. It required several railway wagons to remove all these items, as the town's many kitchen implements were almost exclusively manufactured from brass and copper. The pipes from the church organ also had to be surrendered. On 26 November 1918 - at the end of the war - the garrison at Christiansfeld was terminated. Reunion with Denmark in 1920
After Germany's defeat in 1918, there were great expectations surrounding the imminent referendum in 1920. In the referendum on 10 February, 67% of the voters in Christiansfeld voted to be Danish. On the same day they received a telegram from King Christian X thanking them for their decision. On 10 July 1920, King Christian X received the regained land at the border at Frederikshøj, immediately to the north of Christiansfeld. At the boundary to the town the king was met by the town council and in front of the church by the Moravians. Where the old border used to be, a "Reunion and Border Museum" has now been established, situated across the road from "The Old Border Inn". This was opened on 10 July, 1995, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, Queen Ingrid, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Joachim and Count Ingolf of Rosenborg. The museum's displays depict the history surrounding the border and that of South Jutland from 1850 until the reunion in 1920. |
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