born Nov. 8, 1906, Århus, Den. died Feb. 19, 1960, Copenhagen
politician and statesman who, as foreign minister and prime minister, led Denmark to a prominent position in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and guided the stabilization of Denmark’s post-World War II economy.
Hansen became secretary of the Social Democratic Party’s youth organization in 1929 and its chairman four years later. Elected to Parliament in 1936, he gave up his seat in the early 1940s, during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II. Becoming secretary of the Social Democratic Party, he joined the Danish resistance movement, for which he published an underground newspaper.
Hansen served effectively as finance minister in the minority Social Democratic government of Hans Hedtoft (1947–50). When the next Hedtoft government took office in 1953, Hansen was minister of foreign affairs. Named prime minister after Hedtoft’s death in 1955, he served in both posts until his own death. With his predecessor he championed a strong defense policy and active membership in NATO. After the elections of 1957 he headed a coalition government that ended Denmark’s critical economic instability.
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