Sleswig-Danmarks perla : En fallstudie om en svensk soldats minnen från dansk-tyska kriget 1864

Sammanfattning: Abstract: Schleswig the pearl of Denmark This essay analyzes the thoughts and  explores the experiences of a Swedish soldier during the Second Schleswig war and explores the views of Axel Edvard Wester a Swedish officer that was voluntarily recruited in the Danish army to fight against the Prussians and defend what he recognized as a part of Denmark, the region of Schleswig. His thoughts about the war and how he describes it will be a question to be answered as well as his motivation to participate in the war on Denmark’s side. Scandinavism as an ideology during the time was strong and how can we see how its visible in his memoir.       Axel Edvard described himself as a very emotional man with strong bonds to Denmark and the Danish people which he saw as brothers to him. As a soldier he described himself as loyal and with a big feeling of responsibility in taking care of his men in the role as an officer. He also presented ideals in which he described his longing for battle while his comrades were suffering.   The results have shown that Axel Edvard motivation to go in as volunteer in the war depends a lot on the sense of feeling important and being a part of a community. The impression is that Axel Edvard had a mindset of how it was being a soldier and wanted to experience it in real life. He also recognized Schleswig as a part of Denmark and saw that as a reason to volunteer for Denmark during the second Schleswig war. Scandinavism isn’t showed as much as expected but it lights through in a few places in the memoir beside nationalism. The Scandinavism was often showed via his way to talk about his Danish comrades and Denmark. During his time in prison he changed his way of writing to a much more nationalistic way.