Paths of Escape: Desertion in the Danish-Norwegian Army in the Late 18th Century
Author
Kristensen, Mads Meldgaard Skibsted
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-08-04
Pages
58
Abstract
Why did soldiers desert from the Dano-Norwegian army in the late 18th century—and just as importantly, how did they manage to escape? This study shifts attention from punishments and life in the ranks to the deserters themselves. Drawing on military court records from Norway, Zealand, and Funen, it traces where they made decisions, which routes they chose, and which people, institutions, and landscapes helped or hindered them. Using Actor-Network Theory—a perspective that understands actions as shaped by networks of people, places, and things—the study reconstructs concrete stories of escape. The analysis shows that desertion was not only driven by fear or defiance, but often was a response to a system that left soldiers with very few real options. Through detailed case studies, it describes the harsh conditions that pushed many to leave and the practical steps they took to survive and regain control over their lives. By following their tracks in the sources and listening to their voices, we gain a more nuanced understanding of why and how they fled.
Hvorfor deserterede soldater fra den dansk-norske hær i slutningen af 1700-tallet – og hvordan gjorde de det i praksis? Denne undersøgelse flytter fokus fra straffe og livet i hæren til desertørerne selv. Med udgangspunkt i militære retsprotokoller fra Norge, Sjælland og Fyn spores, hvor soldaterne traf deres valg, hvilke ruter de valgte, og hvilke mennesker, institutioner og landskaber der hjalp eller hindrede dem. Ved hjælp af Actor-Network Theory – en tilgang, der ser handlinger som formet af netværk af både personer, steder og ting – sammensættes konkrete fortællinger om flugtene. Analysen viser, at desertion ikke kun udsprang af frygt eller trods, men ofte var en reaktion på et system, der gav soldaterne meget få reelle muligheder. Gennem detaljerede casestudier beskrives de hårde vilkår, der drev mange til at forlade hæren, og de praktiske skridt, de tog for at overleve og genvinde kontrol over deres liv. Ved at følge deres spor i kilderne og lytte til deres stemmer får vi en mere nuanceret forståelse af, hvorfor og hvordan de flygtede.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords