Hans Hedtoft

Hans Hansen Hedtoft (* April 21, 1903 in Aarhus, † January 29, 1955 in Stockholm) was a Danish politician and from November 13, 1947 Danish until October 30, 1950 and September 30, 1953 to January 29, 1955 Minister of State.

Life

Hans Hedtoft was born as the youngest of ten siblings. His father was a tailor 's workshop in the basement and earned a modest living. The early death of his father could never get over Hans Hedtoft.

Hedtoft was a good student and began in his native city, an apprenticeship as a lithographer. Early on, his political interest was aroused, and he became a member of the newly formed Danish Social Democratic Youth (DSU ). There he also met his future wife, Ella know. In 1920 he became the first secretary of the youth organization and 1929 Assistant to the Social Democratic Party in Copenhagen. In 1935, Hans Hedtoft Member of the Folketing and the successor Thorvald Stauning 1939 party chairman.

When the German Wehrmacht invaded Denmark, had to give Hans Hedtoft his office in 1941. With the end of World War II Hedtoft returned back to this position in 1945 and remained chairman of his party until his death.

Following Knud Kristensen's Venstre government was Hans Hedtoft 1947 Minister of State of the Social Democratic minority government. He worked closely with Hans Christian Hansen together and argued for a close cooperation between the Nordic countries, but a Nordic defense alliance he could not reach. Instead, Denmark oriented to the west and joined in 1949 the Atlantic Pact to NATO. In 1953 he became the first President of the Nordic Council.

In 1950 he had to give up his office, but returned from 1953 to 1955 as head of government back.