3-011-856 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty: the Burghers of Altona proclaiming Prince Frederick of Augustenburg Duke of Schleswig-Holstein from the balcony of the railway station, 1864. 'On the 24th December the Saxons entered...and relieved there the Danish guard, and were at once received with great demonstrations of welcome. All the members of the different societies which work in the Schleswig-Holstein cause...turned out in great glee. Duke Frederick was proclaimed at noon in the presence of the entire population, as well as half that of Hamburg. A great change was effected in the appearance of the town after the departure of the Danes in the morning, as many of the houses were adorned with German and Schleswig-Holstein flags, which also waved from the old Council House; and in the streets the people were moving about in a state of great excitement...The proclamation took place at the railway station, after an energetic speech from Dr. Callisen, a physician, it having been found that the space in front of the Council House was too small to contain the numbers who had assembled. The crowd then marched through the streets, singing "Schleswig-Holstein".' From "Illustrated London News", 1864.