[1] The commander of Schleswig-Holstein's army, General Karl Wilhelm von Willisen, tried to draw Denmark into sending its troops to Holstein, as he hoped that this deployment into a German province would result in the German states re-entering the war against Denmark, and he hoped that a Danish invasion would allow him to defeat it in detail.

Unhappy with the lack of success this strategy was producing, the leadership of Schleswig Holstein pressured Willisen to go onto the offensive, which began by August 1850.

During the offensive, in the area north of Rendsburg and to the east around Eckernforde, skirmishes took place in many villages, including Lottorf.

The darkness did not prevent Danish sentries from quickly detecting the enemy movement, which allowed a defence to be organised.

Due to the brief duration of the battle, and darkness followed by fires leading to limited visibility which resulted in a confused fight, the casualties sustained by both sides was light.