Knud Kristensen
Encyclopedia
Knud Kristensen was Prime Minister of Denmark
7 November 1945 to 13 November 1947 in the first elected government after the German occupation of Denmark during World War II
. After the October 1945 election Knud Kristensen formed the Cabinet of Knud Kristensen
, a minority government consisting only of his Liberal
Venstre
party. Kristensen was a farmer
by profession.
Kristensen resigned as Prime Minister when the Folketing
passed a vote of no confidence because of his failed enthusiasm for incorporating Southern Schleswig
into Denmark. Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig
and Holstein
in the second war of Schleswig
in 1864, and had recovered somewhat more of Northern Schleswig than they should have in the aftermath of World War I
as a result of the Schleswig Plebiscite, but had failed to regain Southern Schleswig
. Denmark's new attempt of re-annexation in the vacuum of power after WW2 was unsuccessful due to the violent opposition of South Schleswig's inhabitants with the exception of a German pro-Danish fraction rewarded with food-parcels, referred to as "Bacon-Danes". German public opinion was supported by the British military governor Hugh Vivian Champion de Crespigny wo feared the chaos that would arise in view of the doubled German population within the area after ingesting expellees of former German territories handed to Poland. It is said that a German lady companion of this status helped him in his decisions. See also Danish minority of Southern Schleswig
.
The defeat in the Southern Schleswig case estranged Kristensen from his party and when the new constitution was issued 1953 he terminated his membership of Venstre and founded a new party, De Uafhængige ("The Independents"). This new party was unable to gain influence.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
7 November 1945 to 13 November 1947 in the first elected government after the German occupation of Denmark during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the October 1945 election Knud Kristensen formed the Cabinet of Knud Kristensen
Cabinet of Knud Kristensen
The Cabinet of Knud Kristensen was the government of Denmark from November 7, 1945, to November 13, 1947. The minority cabinet was, except for the foreign minister, fully composed of members of Venstre, led by Knud Kristensen. It was formed after the October 1945 elections, the first since the end...
, a minority government consisting only of his Liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Venstre
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
party. Kristensen was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
by profession.
Kristensen resigned as Prime Minister when the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
passed a vote of no confidence because of his failed enthusiasm for incorporating Southern Schleswig
Southern Schleswig
Southern Schleswig denotes the southern half of the former Duchy of Schleswig on the Jutland Peninsula. The geographical area today covers the thirty or forty northernmost kilometers of Germany up to the Flensburg Fjord, where it borders on Denmark...
into Denmark. Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
and Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
in the second war of Schleswig
Second War of Schleswig
The Second Schleswig War was the second military conflict as a result of the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It began on 1 February 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria...
in 1864, and had recovered somewhat more of Northern Schleswig than they should have in the aftermath of World War I
Aftermath of World War I
The fighting in World War I ended in western Europe when the Armistice took effect at 11:00 am GMT on November 11, 1918, and in eastern Europe by the early 1920s. During and in the aftermath of the war the political, cultural, and social order was drastically changed in Europe, Asia and Africa,...
as a result of the Schleswig Plebiscite, but had failed to regain Southern Schleswig
Southern Schleswig
Southern Schleswig denotes the southern half of the former Duchy of Schleswig on the Jutland Peninsula. The geographical area today covers the thirty or forty northernmost kilometers of Germany up to the Flensburg Fjord, where it borders on Denmark...
. Denmark's new attempt of re-annexation in the vacuum of power after WW2 was unsuccessful due to the violent opposition of South Schleswig's inhabitants with the exception of a German pro-Danish fraction rewarded with food-parcels, referred to as "Bacon-Danes". German public opinion was supported by the British military governor Hugh Vivian Champion de Crespigny wo feared the chaos that would arise in view of the doubled German population within the area after ingesting expellees of former German territories handed to Poland. It is said that a German lady companion of this status helped him in his decisions. See also Danish minority of Southern Schleswig
Danish minority of Southern Schleswig
The Danish ethnic minority in Southern Schleswig, Germany, has existed by this name since 1920, when the Schleswig Plebiscite split German-ruled Schleswig into two parts: Northern Schleswig, with a Danish majority and a German minority was united with Denmark, while Southern Schleswig remained a...
.
The defeat in the Southern Schleswig case estranged Kristensen from his party and when the new constitution was issued 1953 he terminated his membership of Venstre and founded a new party, De Uafhængige ("The Independents"). This new party was unable to gain influence.