Mindehøjtidelighed
Mindehøjtideligheden 2026!
Hvert år markere vi dagen for Jyllandsslaget med en Mindehøjtidelighed for de omkomne.
scroll ned for at se mere fra og om dagen i 2026
The speech given by
German Embassy Mr. Markus Bollmohr, Deputy Head of Mission.
Honourable Speaker, dear Søren Gade , (Chairman of the Memorial Park + Speaker of the Danish Parliament)
Dear Mayor Jens Lønberg Pedersen,
Dear Colonel Matt Smith (Defence Attaché GB)Dear Gert Andersen,
Dear family members of Admiral Jellicoe and Admiral Scheer,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear guests,
It is a great honor to speak here today on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the battle of Jutland.
First of all, I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved – especially Søren Gade– for making this important remembrance ceremony possible.
Preserving historical memory requires dedication, responsibility, and the willingness to confront even the darkest chapters of our shared past. Your engagement over many years to establish and maintain this impressive memorial park has helped to ensure that the sacrifices and suffering connected to this battle are never forgotten.
Over the course of two days in 1916, the waters near Denmark became the site of one of the largest naval battles in modern history. More than 6000 British and over 2500 German sailors lost their lives. Numerous ships were destroyed, families were torn apart, and entire generations carried the scars of war long after the battle ended. Today, we remember all those who suffered — regardless of their nationality, uniform, or flag.
For Germany and the United Kingdom, the first half of the twentieth century was marked by unimaginable destruction. Denmark, too, was deeply affected by the male population of South Jutland being forced to enter the first great war on the side of Germany and, of course, later by the “fem mørke år” of German occupation. After the horror of two world wars, reconciliation between our nations may have seemed impossible. At the time, it would have been difficult to imagine that former enemies could one day stand together as the close partners that we are today.
This remarkable reconciliation, where former enemies chose cooperation over division and partnership over confrontation was made possible because there was courage, political will, and a shared commitment to preserve peace. Reconciliation has today turned into profound friendship, and I’m happy to say that this goes for both the United Kingdom and Denmark. Germany is incredibly grateful for that.
This friendship that we enjoy today spans a vibrant web of relationships among people, in the arts and culture, science, research, and also defence and security.
And because we, as friends, have built up so much that is worth preserving, and because we are facing unprecedented challenges today, this remembrance ceremony is certainly not only about looking back. It is also about looking forward.
Indeed, the memory of the Battle of Jutland must serve as a warning to all of us.
A warning about where nationalism, imperialism, and political failure can lead.
A warning about the catastrophic consequences of war.
And a reminder of our shared responsibility: never again.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shattered the illusion that peace in Europe can be taken for granted. It has reminded us that freedom, security and democracy must be protected with determination and unity.
That is why our countries work so closely together in the area of defence, not only in the framework of NATO, which remains the cornerstone for transatlantic security, but, complimentarily, also beyond.
The purpose of all this is of course not to prepare for war, but the exact opposite: to preserve peace and prevent conflict by projecting strength and unity, thereby ensuring that the tragedies of the past are never repeated.
There can be no better way to honour the memory of all those who lost their lives in the Battle of Jutland than to strengthen Europe’s determination to stand together for peace, freedom, and security.
Thank you very much.
German Embassy Mr. Markus Bollmohr, Deputy Head of Mission.
The speech given by
British Embassy Copenhagen
Defence Attache – Colonel Matt Smith
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege to stand here today, representing the United Kingdom, with friends from Denmark and Germany, to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Jutland—fought close to these shores 110 years ago, in what remains the largest naval battle of the First World War.
Over those hours, fleets of unprecedented scale met in the North Sea. Sailors from Britain and Germany faced extraordinary danger, and thousands lost their lives in this single, violent encounter. We are not here to debate victory or defeat. History reminds us that the outcome was complex, but the human cost was clear and profound.
Today, we come to remember. To honour those who fought, their courage and sacrifice. We remember the sailors—British and German alike—who lie beneath the North Sea. And to remember the families who lost loved ones.
We do so not as former adversaries, but as partners and allies—united in remembrance, and in our shared values and commitment to peace and stability.
We also reflect on Denmark’s unique place then as a neutral nation, yet one so closely connected to these events by geography and memory.
For Denmark, these waters are home. For all of us, they are a reminder that events of global consequence can unfold close to shore, shaping history far beyond the horizon.
I am particularly mindful that the legacy of Jutland is not only historical—it is enduring. The battle demonstrated the importance of maritime security, of controlling vital sea lines of communication, and of cooperation among allies—principles that remain just as relevant today.
In our own time, we face new challenges at sea: the protection of critical infrastructure, the safeguarding of trade routes, and the need to uphold international law in an increasingly contested maritime domain. These challenges demand the same professionalism, resolve, and cooperation that we honour here today.
So, as we remember those who served and those who never returned, let us also reaffirm our responsibility—to work together, across nations, to ensure that these waters remain a space of security, cooperation, and peace.
Thank you.
ved 110-året for Jyllandsslaget og 10-års jubilæet for Mindeparken
Kære alle sammen
Tak fordi jeg må være med i dag.
Vi markerer 110-året for Jyllandsslaget
og 10 år med Mindeparken.
Det er en dag, der giver anledning til at stoppe op et øjeblik.
Vi står her ved vores kyst.
Et sted, som mange af os kender godt.
Og alligevel er det voldsomt at tænke på,
hvad der fandt sted lige herude for 110 år siden.
Næsten 10.000 liv gik tabt og tæt på 200.000 tons stål endte på havets bund.
Lige herude.
Det er ikke noget, man går og tænker på til hverdag, når vi ser ud over det store hav.
Men det sætter alligevel tingene lidt i perspektiv.
I dag handler det ikke om at gennemgå historien.
Den kender mange af jer allerede.
Det handler om at mindes dem, der var en del af det.
De mange søfolk, som ikke kom hjem, det har været et ubærlige savn i de små engelske og tyske hjem.
Mindeparken giver os et sted at gøre det.
Et sted, hvor man kan være stille et øjeblik
og tænke over det, der skete.
Historien må vi ikke glemme, den har betydning – også i dag.
Som borgmester i Lemvig Kommune er jeg taknemmelig for,
at vi har sådan et sted her i vores område.
Det giver os mulighed for at holde fast i historien.
Og for at give den videre.
Sea War Museum spiller også en vigtig rolle i den sammenhæng.
Det er med til at fortælle historien på en måde,
som gør den nærværende – både for os, der bor her,
og for dem, der kommer udefra.
Det er med til at sætte vores område på landkortet
på en måde, der giver mening også selvom det er dystre minder.
Ikke kun som et sted med flot natur,
men også som et sted med en historie,
der rækker langt ud over vores egen kommune.
Derfor betyder det også noget,
at vi kan samles her i dag.
Og jeg vil gerne byde velkommen til jer, der er kommet fra Tyskland og England.
Det er godt, at vi kan være her sammen og markere dagen.
Til sidst vil jeg sige tak til dem, der har stået for arrangementet.
Og tak fordi jeg måtte være med.
Family British admiral sir John Jellicoe: George og Eliot Latham - Emma og Colin Heber-Percy - Richard og Virginia Latham - Edward Wingfield - Henry Nurton
Family German admiral Reinhard Scheer: Reinhard Scheer-Hennings
Gert Nordmann Andersen og Søren Gade og Jens Lønberg Pedersen
program 2026
110-ÅRSDAGEN FOR JYLLANDSSLAGET
Søndag den 31. maj kl. 14.00 i Mindepark for Jyllandsslaget,
Kystcentervej 11, 7680 Thyborøn
Fra 31. maj til 1. juni 1916 fandt verdenshistoriens største søslag sted ud for Jyllands vestkyst. Mere end 240 krigsskibe og 100.000 mand var involveret i denne styrkeprøve mellem den britiske og tyske flåde.
På 110 årsdagen samles vi på neutral grund i Mindeparken for Jyllandsslaget for at ære mindet om de 8.645 tyske og britiske søfolk der omkom i søslaget.
Dagens program:
Indmarch ved Marineforeningens fanebærere
Lemvig Amatørorkester
Velkomst: Museumsinspektør/daglig leder Christian Toftgaard
Kanonsalut
Talere:
- Formand for Mindeparken for Jyllandsslaget: Søren Gade
- Den tyske Ambassade: Gesandt Markus Bollmohr, ambassadørens faste repræsentant
- Den britiske Ambassade: Forsvarsattache oberst Matt Smith
- Lemvig Kommune: Borgmester Jens Lønberg Pedersen
- Admiral Reinhard Scheers familie: Reinhard Scheer-Hennings
- Admiral sir John R. Jellicoes familie: Richard Latham
Henry Nurton læser “My Boy Jack”
Eliot Latham læser “In Waters Deep”
Kransenedlæggelse:
- Den tyske Ambassade: Gesandt Markus Bollmohr
- Den britiske Ambassade: Oberst Matt Smith
- Lemvig Kommune: Borgmester Jens Lønberg Pedersen
- Admiral Reinhard Scheers familie: Reinhard Scheer-Hennings
- Admiral sir John R. Jellicoes familie: The Lady Emma Heber-Percy
- Frihedskampens Veteraners Mindefond: Ole Rønnest
- Formand for Mindeparken for Jyllandsslaget: Søren Gade
Æresbevisning:
- ”The Last Post”
- ”Der gute Kamerad”
Afslutning: Museumsinspektør/daglig leder Christian Toftgaard
Kanonsalut
Lemvig Amatørorkester
Fanerne føres ud
Reception på Sea War museum
Arrangør: Mindeparken for Jyllandsslaget og Sea War Museum Jutland
Sponsor: Lemvig Kommune
