Point of Interest 3: The Story of Hans Winkler (Panorama Route)

Imagine standing here, where the bridge crosses the fjord, and listening to a voice from 1944.

His name is Hans Winkler. He is young, German – and Danish at the same time. His family is of Danish origin, and the language lives within him as part of his heritage, but his uniform tells a different story. He has been sent here, to “a little paradise” by the Limfjord, to guard the Oddesund Bridge alongside 40 other soldiers. His leg is stiff from a wound sustained on the Eastern Front – a physical reminder he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

In his pocket, he carries a letter opener. It was made from a piece of shrapnel that had been removed from his grandfather’s leg during the First World War – patiently shaped during long months confined to bed. A weapon transformed into a tool. Pain transformed into an heirloom.

Two generations, two wars, one family divided between two countries and two languages. Hans’ maternal grandfather lost an eye at Verdun and never slept peacefully again. His paternal grandfather was forced to wear a German uniform, despite trying to hide from conscription. And now Hans himself stands here, by the bridge, hoping only to make it home alive – with his leg, the letter opener and all his memories bearing witness to what his family has sacrificed.

Stand still for a moment. The bridge beneath your feet once carried fear and unfamiliar voices. Today, it simply carries you across the fjord – but the history is still here, just beneath the surface.

About the Panorama Route at Oddesund – a journey through 1,000 years of history by the Limfjord

Oddesund lies where Thyholm and South Thy are connected across the Limfjord – a place where fjord, heathland and forest meet in a landscape shaped by wind and water over thousands of years. Sweeping views across the calm waters of the fjord, the distinctive light of West Jutland and the wide-open landscape give this place an atmosphere that changes throughout the day.

Nature here is rich and diverse. Along the coast, gulls, cormorants and grey herons breed and forage, and if you’re lucky, you may even spot a white-tailed eagle gliding silently above the open water.

Oddesund is more than just a strait. It is a passage – between regions, between eras, between the familiar and the forgotten. Vikings rowed these waters. Ferrymen worked here. German soldiers stood guard here. Today, trains and cars cross the bridge, while few of those passing by have any idea of the stories hidden along the shoreline.

The Panorama Route takes you through them all. From the hidden lagoon at Høllet to the old rowing ferry harbour with roots stretching back to the Viking Age. From the DSB railway houses, with their quiet stories of the social order of the railway era, to the bunker where a young man from Flensburg once stood guard with a stiff leg and an inherited letter opener.

The route can be enjoyed as a walk or a run. It’s ideal for an afternoon, an early morning or a full day with plenty of time for breaks and exploration. Along the way, you’ll find trail markers with QR codes – scan them and immerse yourself in the stories and atmosphere of each place.

The Panorama Route was created in collaboration with Struer Municipality, Destination Limfjorden and local landowners.