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Digital archive box and learning tool: STX, HF
The Battle of Fælleden
The Battle of Fælleden
The first and only open confrontation of the early Danish labor movement with the authorities is the Battle of Fælleden. It was supposed to be a meeting at Fælleden in Copenhagen, but turned into a violent clash between workers and law enforcement. The Battle of Fælleden is one of the most famous labor struggles in Denmark and is a symbol of the early labor movement’s fight for a better life.
On this page you will find sources, teaching materials, films and photos for history lessons about the Battle of Fælleden. The target group is STX and HF, but it can also be adapted for secondary schools.
Digital archive box
Below you will find key historical sources that can shed light on the event, the Battle of Fælleden. There are 17 different sources, from different senders and with different purposes. Each source is accompanied by a brief presentation of the source’s author, genre, date and historical context. In addition, there are focus points to help you read them with a critical eye.
It is collected in a digital archive box.
Through the sources, students can investigate, for example:
What actually happened on the Common on Sunday, May 5, 1872?
Which sources and types of sources for the Battle of Fælleden are most credible? And the least?
Why have the events been given the name “Battle of Fælleden”? And is it historically accurate?
Work with the Battle of the Commons in multiple ways
Each source is accompanied by a short presentation of the source’s author, genre, date and historical context. In addition, there are focus points to help you read them with a critical eye.
The sources are in a transcribed form, but with the original language preserved. Where possible, the original source has also been scanned in.
Source 1: The goal is full
Source 2: Commissioner Crone May 3, 1872 to the Minister ofJustice
Source 3: Commissioner Crone’s order of May 4, 1872
Source 4: Louis Pio’s memoirs, 1877
Source 5: Excerpts from A. F. Krieger’s diaries
Source 6: Two police reports from May 5, 1872
Source 7: Thorvald Niss’ letter of congratulations, May 5, 1872
Source 8: Excerpt from Police Inspector Clausen’s report of May 6
Source 9: Berlingske Tidende May 6, 1872
Source 10: The Socialist on May 9, 1872
Source 11: Louis Pio’s letter to Friedrich Engels from August 19, 1872
Source 12: Excerpt from the Ministry of Justice’s publication about the trial
Source 13: Illustration from The Raven
Source 14: W. Lund’s memoir written around 1925
Source 15: Henrik Cavling’s memoir written around 1927
Source 16: Excerpt from the book “To work! Life or death! (1979)
Source 17: Excerpt from Bent Egaa Kristensen’s book, Historical Method (2007)
Watch the movie about the flag that was seized by the police (2 min.)
