Denmark deployed armed soldiers to its border with Germany on Friday.

The soldiers are meant to reinforce the police checks that are still in place on the border with the German state of Schleswig Holstein near the city of Flensburg. Border controls were introduced in January 2016 in the wake of the refugee influx into Europe.

Danish officials said the new soldiers would only work in the background and would not directly check cars. Their main role was to help transport suspects and perform guard duty, Brian Fussing of the southern Jutland special border police unit told reporters. The soldiers would initially be deployed for three months.

They will not be deployed at ferry terminals in Rodby and Gedser.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Beach and party holidaying on Sylt It is hip and beautiful - and in the summer pretty much booked-out. The island of Sylt in the North Sea is one of Germans' most favored island destinations. During the day, visitors, including some celebrities, flock to the popular Westerland beach, and in the evenings they enjoy the island's many clubs and bars.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Walking on water Sylt is surrounded by the Wadden Sea, a landscape rich in plant and animal species, which in 2009 was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Only the islands stick out above the water line when the tide is in, but when it flows out there is a mud plain reaching all the way to the horizon. Wading through the Wadden Sea visitors can enjoy watching the many crabs, mussels, snails and worms.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Wicker beach chairs and white sands Schleswig-Holstein also enjoys a numerous beaches on the Baltic Sea. On Fehmarn island there are an impressive 20 beaches waiting for visitors to relax or find adventure along the steep coastlines. With some 2,200 hours of sun annually, the island is one of Germany's sunniest regions.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Cultural capital of the north Maritime flair also defines Schleswig-Holstein's Hanseatic city of Lübeck with its old town center surrounded by water. With some 1,800 listed buildings and historic alleys it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's landmark, the Holsten Gate is a must see. The late Gothic building dates back to the 15th century and is part of Lübeck's remaining city fortifications.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Ship ahoy! During the annual "Kieler Woche" sailing event the state capital, Kiel, climbs to the top of the tourist attraction list. Some 3 million guests watch the spectacle, which involves competitions and concerts. A highlight of the festival is the tall ship's parade, in which some 100 traditional sailing vessels participate.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Fisher's delight Even away from the coast, there's no way to escape the water. The so-called "Holstein Switzerland" region includes over 200 lakes, most of which are surrounded by hills and forests. Glaciers once shaped this diverse landscape, which today is a habitat for rare animal species like the white-tailed eagle. The oxygen-rich water in the lakes is full of fish, making it a paradise for anglers.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Rest and recuperation What looks like a river is actually a narrow inlet of the Baltic Sea, winding its way inland over some 43 kilometers (27 miles). The Baltic Sea fjord, known to the locals as Schlei, offers relaxation for those seeking quiet and peace, and ideal conditions for walking, cycling and sailing. The Schlei was formed during the last Ice Age, some 115, 000 years ago.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Viking world Goods have been exchanged and traded on the banks of the Schlei for centuries. Particularly in Haithabu, a flourishing Viking commercial center from the 9th to the 11th century and one of the first cities in northern Europe. It was home to some 2,000 people from a variety of cultures including Saxons and Friesans. The Viking museum Haithabu helps visitors travel back to those days.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Wild, Wild West (of the North) In Bad Segeberg the journey back in time takes you to America's Wild West. Since 1952, the annual Karl May Festival brings his adventure novels about the Wild West to life on an open-air stage at the scenic Kalkberg. The German author, famous for his novels of cowboys and Indians, never actually ever traveled to the United States.

10 reasons to love Schleswig-Holstein Frisian brew Even by German standards, the people of Flensburg are said to be taciturn and reserved. Not surprising given the rough climate they have to deal with, which dries your throat and leaves you aching for a drink. Little surprise that the region is home to a brewery ready to quench beer-drinkers' thirst. The "plop" made when a bottle is opened has become inseparable from the brewer's identity. Author: Elisabeth Yorck von Wartenburg / sc



A total of 160 Danish soldiers were trained for the deployment, with about half of them being sent to patrol Jewish institutions and the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen. Jews observe the Yom Kippur holiday on Friday evening and on Saturday, with other major holidays occurring over the following two weeks.

Plans to free up police manpower were announced last month after a series of gang-related shootings in major cities. North German public broadcaster NDR reported that 128 policemen would be freed up by the deployment of the soldiers.

Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther traveled to Copenhagen to complain to Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen about the controls. "We do not want this to be a permanent state of affairs," he said.

Fellow politicians in the Schleswig-Holstein capital of Kiel echoed Günther's criticisms.

"Border controls do not benefit the united Europe and do not prevent anyone from crossing the unmanned border sections," Birte Pauls, a member of the SPD, was quoted as saying by Hamburg daily Hamburger Abendblatt.

Border controls to be extended

Earlier in the week, the European Commission proposed extending the temporary border controls inside the European Union's zone for security purposes. Freedom of movement is a key tenet of the EU project.

Border controls in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Norway are due to expire in November under a two-year limit for Schengen countries. If the Commission's new plan is accepted by EU governments, the four countries can maintain the frontier checks for another year if they can justify them under security purposes.

EU home affairs commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the threat of migrants coming through Greece and the Western Balkans was no longer a valid excuse for border controls.

aw/kl (dpa, Reuters)