Hans Hedtoft

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This article is about the politician. For the ship, see MS Hans Hedtoft.

Hans Hedtoft
14th Prime Minister of Denmark
In office
30 September 1953 – 29 January 1955
MonarchFrederik IX
Preceded byErik Eriksen
Succeeded byH. C. Hansen
In office
13 November 1947 – 30 October 1950
MonarchFrederik IX
Preceded byKnud Kristensen
Succeeded byErik Eriksen
President of the Nordic Council
In office
14 February 1953 – 31 December 1953
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byEinar Gerhardsen
Minister of Social Affairs
In office
5 May 1945 – 7 November 1945
Prime MinisterVilhelm Buhl
Preceded byLaurits Hansen
Succeeded bySøren Peter Larsen
Personal details
Born(1903-04-21)21 April 1903
Aarhus, Denmark
Died29 January 1955(1955-01-29) (aged 51)
Stockholm, Sweden
Political partySocial Democrats
SpouseElla Gudrun Ingeborg Holleufer

Hans Hedtoft Hansen (21 April 1903 – 29 January 1955) was a Danish politician of the Social Democrats who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1947 to 1950 and again from 1953 until his death in 1955. He also served as the first President of the Nordic Council in 1953.

Hedtoft was married to Ella Gudrun Ingeborg Holleufer. She died in 1954 from Addison's disease, aged 48.

Political career

Hedtoft was a

German occupation of Denmark. In September 1943, he was instrumental in starting the rescue of the Danish Jews
.

During his time as Prime Minister,

progressive taxation
was introduced, together with other reforms. The Public Assistance Act of April 1949 introduced special treatment and assistance (transferred from communal assistance or poor relief) for TB patients, while the law on measures for the deaf and dumb of January 1950 introduced special provisions for the deaf and partially deaf within the framework for the special care of handicapped persons. In addition, the Home Help Act of April 1949 obliged municipalities to operate home help services, while regulations relating to pottery factories were issued.

After the failure to create a

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 Hedtoft was able to return as Prime Minister,[1] 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 Hedtoft died suddenly from a heart attack while in a meeting in the

Foreign Minister H. C. Hansen. The liner MS Hans Hedtoft
was named after him. Unfortunately, on its maiden voyage in 1959, the ship struck an iceberg and sank off the coast of Greenland. It is the last ship known to have been sunk by an iceberg, with casualties. There were no survivors.

Hans Hedtoft in his office, Copenhagen, 1954
Vestre Cemetery
in Copenhagen

References

  1. ISBN 9781134264902
    .
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hans Hedtoft.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Affairs
5 May 1945 – 7 November 1945 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Prime Minister of Denmark

13 November 1947 – 30 October 1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Prime Minister of Denmark

30 September 1953 – 29 January 1955 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Danish Social Democrats
1939–1955 		Succeeded by
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