History/Denmark: About the island of Als, Denmark, where the author’s mother grew up. Situated close to the German border, it played a large role in Danish-German conflicts over the region. The author describes her experiences as a first-generation Dane. Als Island was part of the infamous duchies of Slesvig and Holstein that caused tremendous upheaval in mid-19th century European history. The island was the location of the two most important and decisive battles during the armed conflicts between Denmark and the German states (including Prussia) in 1848 and 1864. Following the events that led to the Slesvig-Holstein crises in the mid-1800s, the author explores how the political dynamic between Great Britain and the German Confederation/Prussia affected the outcome of the wars. Denmark suffered an enormous loss of territory and importance, while the influence of Great Britain in Europe was also seriously damaged as a result of her close involvement in the controversy. In the end, only Bismarck succeeded in realizing his goals in the region.