List of Defence Ministers of Denmark
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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...
Defence Ministers
Defence Minister of Denmark
The Defence Minister of Denmark is the Danish political minister as the head of the Danish Ministry of Defence, and is responsible for the Danish military, keeping Denmark defended against external threats, waging war on behalf of Denmark , and the surveillance of the Danish sea and airspace.The...
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The current office was established in 1905, merging the two previous positions of War Minister (for army matters) and Navy Minister.
List of War Ministers (1848-1905)
| From | To | War Minister | Years of living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 March 1848 | 16 November 1848 | Anton Frederik Tscherning | 1795-1874 |
| 16 November 1848 | 13 July 1851 | Christian Frederik von Hansen | 1788-1873 |
| 13 July 1851 | 18 October 1851 | Jacob Scavenius Fibiger | 1793-1861 |
| 18 October 1851 | 27 January 1852 | Carl Julius Flensborg | 1804-1852 |
| 27 January 1852 | 12 December 1854 | Christian Frederik von Hansen | 1788-1873 |
| 12 December 1854 | 25 May 1856 | Matthias Lüttichau | 1795-1870 |
| 25 May 1856 | 2 December 1859 | Carl Christian Lundbye | 1812-1873 |
| 2 December 1859 | 13 August 1863 | Hans Nicolai Thestrup | 1794-1879 |
| 13 August 1863 | 18 May 1864 | Carl Christian Lundbye | 1812-1873 |
| 18 May 1864 | 11 July 1864 | Christian Emilius Reich | 1822-1865 |
| 11 July 1864 | 6 November 1865 | Christian Frederik von Hansen | 1788-1873 |
| 6 November 1865 | 1 October 1866 | Johan Waldemar Neergaard | 1810-1879 |
| 1 October 1866 | 19 April 1870 | Valdemar Rudolph von Raasløff Valdemar Rudolph von Raasløff Valdemar Rudolph von Raasløff was a Danish politician, military officer and diplomat.Raasløff spent his school years in Sorø and in 1832 he was admitted to the Royal Military College Valdemar Rudolph von Raasløff (6 November 1815 in Altona – 14 February 1883 in Paris) was a Danish politician,... |
1815-1883 |
| 19 April 1870 | 28 May 1870 | None (Christian Emil greve Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs) | 1817-1896 |
| 28 May 1870 | 23 December 1872 | Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner was a Danish military officer and politician.He was born in Valby as a son of Johan Wolfgang Reinhold Haffner and a nephew of Adam Mogens Wenzel Haffner. In November 1832 he married Sophie Wilhelmine Caroline Krieger . He had a military career in his early life, being second... |
1810-1887 |
| 23 December 1872 | 14 July 1874 | Christian Albert Frederik Thomsen | 1827-1896 |
| 14 July 1874 | 26 July 1874 | Niels Frederik Ravn | 1826-1910 |
| 14 July 1874 | 11 June 1875 | Peter Frederik Steinmann | 1812-1894 |
| 11 June 1875 | 11 July 1875 | None | |
| 11 July 1875 | 28 July 1877 | Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner was a Danish military officer and politician.He was born in Valby as a son of Johan Wolfgang Reinhold Haffner and a nephew of Adam Mogens Wenzel Haffner. In November 1832 he married Sophie Wilhelmine Caroline Krieger . He had a military career in his early life, being second... |
1810-1887 |
| 28 July 1877 | 4 January 1879 | Johan Christopher Frederik Dreyer | 1814-1898 |
| 4 January 1879 | 1 April 1881 | Vilhelm Frederik Ludvig Kauffmann | 1821-1892 |
| 1 April 1881 | 12 September 1884 | Niels Frederik Ravn | 1826-1910 |
| 12 September 1884 | 7 August 1894 | Jesper Jespersen von Bahnson | 1827-1909 |
| 7 August 1894 | 25 April 1896 | Christian Albert Frederik Thomsen | 1827-1896 |
| 25 April 1896 | 23 May 1897 | Johan Gustav Frederik Schnack | 1839-1920 |
| 23 May 1897 | 28 August 1899 | Christian Frederik Frands Elias Tuxen | 1837-1903 |
| 28 August 1899 | 24 July 1901 | Johan Gustav Frederik Schnack | 1839-1920 |
| 24 July 1901 | 14 January 1905 | Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen , was a Danish politician, minister, army officer, businessman and inventor.He began his military career in 1859 and served in the Second War of Schleswig as a lieutenant. In 1896, at the rank of captain, Madsen was responsible for the adoption of the Madsen machine gun... |
1844-1917 |
List of Navy Ministers (1848-1905)
| From | To | Navy Minister | Years of living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 March 1848 | 6 April 1848 | Adam Wilhelm Moltke Adam Wilhelm Moltke Count Adam Wilhelm Moltke was Prime Minister of Denmark from 1848 to 1852. He was the first Danish Prime Minister in the Danish constitutional monarchy outlined in 1848 and signed as the Danish Constitution on 5 June 1849 by Frederik VII of Denmark.Adam Wilhelm Moltke was the grandson of Adam... |
1785-1864 |
| 6 April 1848 | 10 August 1850 | Christian Christopher Zahrtmann | 1793-1853 |
| 10 August 1850 | 25 November 1850 | Carl Ludvig Christian Irminger | 1802-1888 |
| 25 November 1850 | 27 January 1852 | Carl Edvard van Dockum | 1804-1893 |
| 27 January 1852 | 12 December 1854 | Steen Andersen Bille Steen Andersen Bille The name of Steen Andersen Bille is closely associated with one extended family of Danish Naval Officers over four generations. Their relationships are as follows*Steen Andersen Bille Colonel and Vice-Commandant of Copenhagen.... |
1797-1883 |
| 12 December 1854 | 2 December 1859 | Ole Wilhelm Michelsen | 1800-1880 |
| 2 December 1859 | 24 February 1860 | Hans Nicolai Thestrup | 1794-1879 |
| 24 February 1860 | 31 December 1863 | Steen Andersen Bille Steen Andersen Bille The name of Steen Andersen Bille is closely associated with one extended family of Danish Naval Officers over four generations. Their relationships are as follows*Steen Andersen Bille Colonel and Vice-Commandant of Copenhagen.... |
1797-1883 |
| 31 December 1863 | 6 November 1865 | Otto Hans Lütken | 1813-1883 |
| 6 November 1865 | 17 August 1866 | Hans Herman Grove | 1814-1866 |
| 17 September 1866 | 1 November 1867 | Carl Edvard van Dockum | 1804-1893 |
| 1 November 1867 | 22 September 1869 | Otto Fredrik Suenson | 1810-1888 |
| 22 September 1869 | 19 April 1870 | Waldemar Raasløff | 1815-1883 |
| 19 April 1870 | 28 May 1870 | None | |
| 28 May 1870 | 23 December 1873 | Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner was a Danish military officer and politician.He was born in Valby as a son of Johan Wolfgang Reinhold Haffner and a nephew of Adam Mogens Wenzel Haffner. In November 1832 he married Sophie Wilhelmine Caroline Krieger . He had a military career in his early life, being second... |
1810-1887 |
| 23 December 1870 | 21 May 1873 | Christian Albert Frederik Thomsen | 1827-1896 |
| 21 May 1873 | 11 June 1875 | Niels Frederik Ravn | 1826-1910 |
| 11 June 1875 | 11 July 1875 | None | |
| 11 July 1875 | 28 July 1877 | Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner Wolfgang von Haffner was a Danish military officer and politician.He was born in Valby as a son of Johan Wolfgang Reinhold Haffner and a nephew of Adam Mogens Wenzel Haffner. In November 1832 he married Sophie Wilhelmine Caroline Krieger . He had a military career in his early life, being second... |
1810-1887 |
| 28 July 1877 | 4 January 1879 | Johan Christopher Frederik Dreyer | 1814-1898 |
| 4 January 1879 | 27 April 1900 | Niels Frederik Ravn | 1826-1910 |
| 27 April 1900 | 24 July 1901 | Christian Giørtz Middelboe | 1852-1920 |
| 24 July 1901 | 14 January 1905 | Ferdinand Henrik Jøhnke | 1837-1908 |
List of Defence Ministers (1905-present)
| From | To | Defence Minister | Years of living |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 January 1905 | 12 October 1908 | Jens Christian Christensen | 1856-1930 |
| 12 October 1908 | 16 September 1909 | Niels Thomasius Neergaard Niels Neergaard Niels Thomasius Neergaard was a Danish historian and political figure, a member of the Liberal Moderate Venstre and since 1910 of Venstre... |
1854-1936 |
| 16 September 1909 | 18 October 1909 | Jens Christian Christensen | 1856-1930 |
| 18 October 1909 | 28 October 1909 | Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg Johan Ludvig Carl Christian Tido lensgreve Holstein til Ledreborg was a Danish politician, a descendant of Johan Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg, who was Minister of State of Denmark. He was Council President of Denmark for two months, from 16 August to 28 October 1909, as the leader of the Cabinet of... |
1839-1912 |
| 28 October 1909 | 5 July 1910 | Christopher Krabbe | 1833-1913 |
| 5 July 1910 | 21 June 1913 | Klaus Berntsen Klaus Berntsen Klaus Berntsen was a Danish politician, representing the Liberal party, Venstre. He was Council President of Denmark from 5 July 1910 to 21 June 1913 as the leader of the Cabinet of Klaus Berntsen... |
1844-1927 |
| 21 June 1913 | 30 March 1920 | Peter Rochegune Munch Peter Rochegune Munch Peter Rochegune Munch was a leading Danish historian and politician. He was a leading member of the Radikale Venstre, and represented Langeland in parliament.... |
1870-1948 |
| 30 March 1920 | 5 April 1920 | Henri Konow Henri Konow Henri Konow was an officer in the Danish navy, and the last governor of the Danish West Indies, overseeing the transfer of administration to the United States of America... |
1862-1939 |
| 5 April 1920 | 5 May 1920 | Michael Pedersen Friis Michael Pedersen Friis Michael Pedersen Friis was Prime Minister of Denmark April 5, 1920 to May 5, 1920. His cabinet was called the Cabinet of M.P. Friis.... |
1857-1944 |
| 5 May 1920 | 9 October 1922 | Klaus Berntsen Klaus Berntsen Klaus Berntsen was a Danish politician, representing the Liberal party, Venstre. He was Council President of Denmark from 5 July 1910 to 21 June 1913 as the leader of the Cabinet of Klaus Berntsen... |
1844-1927 |
| 9 October 1922 | 23 April 1924 | Søren Brorsen | 1875-1961 |
| 23 April 1924 | 14 December 1926 | Laust Rasmussen | 1862-1941 |
| 14 December 1926 | 30 April 1929 | Søren Brorsen | 1875-1961 |
| 30 April 1929 | 24 November 1932 | Laust Rasmussen | 1862-1941 |
| 24 November 1932 | 31 May 1933 | Hans Pieter Hansen | 1872-1953 |
| 31 May 1933 | 4 November 1935 | Thorvald August Marinus Stauning Thorvald Stauning Thorvald August Marinus Stauning was the first social democratic Prime Minister of Denmark. He served as Prime Minister from 1924 to 1926 and again from 1929 until his death in 1942.... |
1873-1942 |
| 4 November 1935 | 10 April 1940 | Alsing Emanuel Andersen | 1893-1962 |
| 10 April 1940 | 8 July 1940 | None (Alsing Emanuel Andersen) | 1893-1962 |
| 8 July 1940 | 4 May 1942 | None (Søren Brorsen) | 1875-1961 |
| 4 May 1942 | 29 August 1943 | Søren Brorsen | 1875-1961 |
| 29 August 1943 | 5 May 1945 | None (Søren Brorsen) | 1875-1961 |
| 5 May 1945 | 7 November 1945 | Ole Bjørn Kraft | 1893-1980 |
| 7 November 1945 | 13 November 1947 | Harald Petersen | 1893-1970 |
| 13 November 1947 | 30 October 1950 | Rasmus Hansen | 1896-1971 |
| 30 October 1950 | 30 September 1953 | Harald Petersen | 1893-1970 |
| 30 September 1953 | 25 May 1956 | Rasmus Hansen | 1896-1971 |
| 25 May 1956 | 15 November 1962 | Poul Hansen Poul Hansen Poul Henrik Peder Hansen was a Danish wrestler who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was born in Ubberud, Odense Municipality and died in Aarhus.... |
1913-1966 |
| 15 November 1962 | 2 February 1968 | Victor Gram | 1910-1969 |
| 2 February 1968 | 17 March 1971 | Erik Ninn-Hansen Erik Ninn-Hansen Erik Ninn-Hansen is a Danish politician. He served in the Cabinet of Hilmar Baunsgaard, first as Defence Minister, and later as Finance Minister... |
b. 1922 |
| 17 March 1971 | 11 October 1971 | Knud Østergaard | 1922-1993 |
| 11 October 1971 | 27 September 1973 | Kjeld Olesen Kjeld Olesen Kjeld Olesen is a Danish former Social Democratic politician.He was a Member of Parliament 1966 – 1987 and served as Deputy Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in the 1970s. He served in several cabinet positions, most notably as Foreign Minister and Defence Minister... |
b. 1932 |
| 27 September 1973 | 19 December 1973 | Orla Møller | 1916-1979 |
| 19 December 1973 | 13 February 1975 | Erling Brøndum | b. 1930 |
| 13 February 1975 | 1 October 1977 | Orla Møller | 1916-1979 |
| 1 October 1977 | 10 September 1982 | Poul Søgaard | b. 1923 |
| 10 September 1982 | 10 September 1987 | Hans Engell Hans Engell Hans Engell is a Danish former politician and journalist, who until 6 September 2007 was the editor-in-chief of the tabloid Ekstra Bladet, a position he had held for seven years... |
b. 1948 |
| 10 September 1987 | 3 June 1988 | Bernt Johan Collet Bernt Johan Collet Bernt Johan Holger Collet was born on 23 November 1941 as the eldest son of Chamberlain and Master of the Royal Hunt, M. Sc. , Harald Collet and landscape architect Else Collett.... |
b. 1941 |
| 3 June 1988 | 25 January 1993 | Knud Enggaard | b. 1929 |
| 25 January 1993 | 31 December 2000 | Hans Hækkerup | b. 1945 |
| 21 December 2000 | 27 November 2001 | Jan Trøjborg Jan Trøjborg Jan Trøjborg is a Danish politician representing the Social Democrats.He was member of parliament from 8 September 1987 to 31 December 2005... |
b. 1955 |
| 27 November 2001 | 24 April 2004 | Svend Aage Jensby Svend Aage Jensby Svend Aage Jensby is a Danish politician representing the Liberal Party. He was Defence Minister in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen I from 27 November 2001 to 24 April 2004, when he was forced to resign and was replaced by Søren Gade. He was a member of parliament from 12 December 1990 to... |
b. 1940 |
| 24 April 2004 | February 23 2010 | Søren Gade Søren Gade Søren Gade Jensen is a Danish politician who served as Defence Minister representing the Liberal party, Venstre from 2004 to 2010, when he replaced Svend Aage Jensby. He has been a Liberal member of the Danish Parliament since 2001. Before entering politics, he was a military officer and... |
b. 1963 |
| February 23 2010 | October 3 2011 | Gitte Lillelund Bech Gitte Lillelund Bech Gitte Lillelund Bech is a Danish politician who has been Defence Minister representing the Liberal party, Venstre. She entered office in January 2010, when she replaced Søren Gade after a cabinet reshuffle.-References:... |
b. 1969 |
| October 3 2011 | Incumbent | Nick Hækkerup | b. 1968 |