Our Klee ancestor, Major Heinrich G von Klee was awarded the Cross of Honor for his role in defending Denmark

 Klee was awarded the Cross of Honor of the Order of Dannebrog for heroism while defending Copenhagen against a British attack in 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)

Cross (Badge)  of Honor of the Order of Dannebrog This is a photo of the original Cross that was awarded to Heinrich G Klee. It is in the possession of a Klee family member in Denmark.                                                      The photo isn't clear enough to read the inscription on the arms of the cross. 

                             It says GUD OG KONGEN- In English that means God and  King                                                                                                                                              

Modern Replica of the Cross of Honor, which has been slightly changed over the past two centuries. The current style has the Queen's Monogram since 1972

Dannebrog is rarely bestowed and only for special occasions. It is only awarded to Danish citizens who have earlier been awarded the Order of the Dannebrog

*The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)

England ( Britain ) and France under Napoleon, engaged in a war of worldwide dimensions, known as the Napoleonic Wars. Many other countries, including Denmark and the United States were dragged into the conflict. England had the world’s most powerful navy and Napoleon commanded the most powerful land forces. Britain wanted to control global trade and one could say that Napoleon wanted to control most of the world to satisfy his inflated ego. As things eventually turned out, Napoleon lost everything and England developed the largest empire in the history of the world. The British Empire quickly dissolved after World War II. . “Sic transit gloria mundi”

Around 1000 years ago, under the rule of King Canute the Great, (994-1035) Denmark was an important European power. During his brief life, the Dane, Canute became King of England, Denmark , Norway and other areas.

Denmark was too small and the Danes too few in number to dominate northern Europe for long. By the time of the Napoleonic Wars Denmark was unable to defend itself successfully against larger powers like Britain and France .

Denmark was a seafaring country and its economy depended on commerce. It traded with countries associated with both sides in this conflict. The British objected to this and attacked Denmark with devastating effects in 1801 and again in 1807. Napoleon wanted the Danes to trade only with France . In 1807, Denmark was threatened by Napoleonic forces on its southern borders and by the British Navy, which attacked Copenhagen . There was much damage to Copenhagen and Denmark lost all its ships to the British. The famous Horatio Nelson led the British attack of 1801 and the equally famous Lord Wellington led the 1807 attack. Nelson later became an Admiral and Wellington led the forces that defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.

Heinrich v Klee was wounded while defending Copenhagen in the 1807 encounter with Britain and was later awarded the Cross of Honor for his heroism.

( America became another victim of this global conflict in the War of 1812 in which attacking British soldiers burned the White House and the Capitol and the British Navy bombarded Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor . The American patriot, Francis Scott Key, witnessed this attack on Fort McHenry and was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner, which became the American national anthem.) 

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For more information on Heinrich Gottlieb von Klee click on the following links-. http://www.letreb.com/historyandgenealogy/index.html

http://www.letreb.com/historyandgenealogy/founder_of_the_klee_line_in_denm.htm

(The photo of the medal shown was sent to me by H Klee)                               Gerald D. Klee, Webmaster