Hans Hedtoft

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Hans Hedtoft

In office
November 13, 1947 – October 30, 1950
Preceded by Knud Kristensen
Succeeded by Erik Eriksen
In office
September 30, 1953 – January 29, 1955
Preceded by Erik Eriksen
Succeeded by Hans Christian Hansen

Born April 21, 1903(1903-04-21)
Aarhus, Denmark
Died January 29, 1955 (aged 51)
Stockholm, Sweden
Political party Social Democrats

Hans Hedtoft Hansen (April 21, 1903January 29, 1955) was Prime Minister of Denmark from 13 November 1947 to 30 October 1950 as the leader of the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft I and again from 30 September 1953 to 29 January 1955 as the leader of the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II.

Hans Hedtoft was a Social Democrat, and had taken over the leadership of his party from Thorvald Stauning in 1939, but was forced by the Nazis to resign his posts in 1941 because he was too critical of the German occupation of Denmark.

In his first term progressive taxation was introduced. Also, after the failure to create a Scandinavian defense union, Denmark joined NATO in 1949. In October 1950 his government lost a vote on lifting the rationing of butter, and as this failure to get his policy through signalled his party had lost its parliamentary support new elections were called, and Erik Eriksen from the Liberal Party was able to form the Cabinet of Erik Eriksen together with the Conservative People's Party on 30 October 1950.

On 30 September 1953 Hans Hedtoft was able to return as Prime Minister, and formed the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II, consisting only of the Social Democrats. He did not have the support of the Danish Social Liberal Party as they were unsatisfied with the large amount of resources allocated to the military because of Denmark's obligations to NATO. On 29 January 1955 Hans Hedtoft died suddenly from a heart attack while in a meeting in the Nordic Council in Stockholm. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by his friend and Foreign Minister H. C. Hansen.

[edit] References

Political offices
Preceded by
Title created
Social and Work Minister of Denmark
5 May 19457 November 1945
Succeeded by
Søren P. Larsen
Preceded by
Knud Kristensen
Prime Minister of Denmark
November 13, 1947October 30, 1950
Succeeded by
Erik Eriksen
Preceded by
Erik Eriksen
Prime Minister of Denmark
September 30, 1953January 29, 1955
Succeeded by
Hans Christian Hansen
Party political offices
Preceded by
Thorvald Stauning
Leader of the Danish Social Democrats
19391955
Succeeded by
H. C. Hansen


Persondata
NAME Hedtoft Hansen, Hans
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Prime Minister of Denmark
DATE OF BIRTH April 21, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Aarhus, Denmark
DATE OF DEATH January 29, 1955
PLACE OF DEATH Stockholm, Sweden