Terp, Holger: Danish Peace History - Det danske Fredsakademi

Liberal political antimilitarism 1849-1914
The political debate over the defence and security policy of Denmark began before and
during the discussions over the new constitution in 1849.
This long and heated debate resulted in the creation of a radical political culture,
which succeeded in the nearly complete disarmament of Denmark after World War
One.
As early as in May 1836, counsellor of justice and land owner Malte Bruun Nyegaard
(1789-1877), in the Viborg Assembly of the Estates of the Realm 75 , argued against
general conscription and a rise in military expenditures, “Because of the coming rule
of reason, wars will become rare, and the best projection for the country is the
diplomacy”. Expensive Danish armament would “not benefit against the great
powers” 76 .
Later prime minister, bishop D. G. Monrad (1811-1887) concluded the debate as being
“about political dreaming”, when the Danish nationalists wanted a strong defence 77 .
Monrad immigrated to New Zealand.
75 Viborg Stænderforsamling.
76 Thomsen, Rudi: Den almindelige værnepligts gennembrud i Danmark, 1949. p. 48.
77 Regarding Monrad See: Oldenburg, F.: Biskop Monrad og den politiske Partikamp. – Lehmann &
Stage, 1882. – 94 pp.