Vilhelm Buhl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Denmark | |
| In office 5 May 1945 – 7 November 1945 | |
| Monarch | Christian X |
| Preceded by | Nazi military rule Erik Scavenius (last prime minister) |
| Succeeded by | Knud Kristensen |
| In office 4 May 1942 – 9 November 1942 | |
| Monarch | Christian X |
| Preceded by | Thorvald Stauning |
| Succeeded by | Erik Scavenius |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 20 July 1937 – 16 July 1942 | |
| Prime Minister | Thorvald Stauning Himself |
| Preceded by | Hans Peter Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Alsing Andersen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1881-10-16)16 October 1881 Fredericia,Denmark |
| Died | 18 December 1954(1954-12-18) (aged 73) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Resting place | Vestre Cemetery in Copenhagen |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen (M.L.) |
Vilhelm Buhl (16 October 1881 – 18 December 1954) was a Danish politician, who served as two-timePrime Minister of Denmark, from May to November 1942 following the death ofThorvald Stauning during theNazi occupation ofDenmark, and again after Danish Liberation Day from May to November 1945.
After graduation and served as collector of taxes forCopenhagen in 1920s, Buhl joined an active member of theSocial Democratic Party, entered parliament in 1937. In the same year, he became as the Minister of Finance under the cabinet ofThorvald Stauning in Denmark’s first Social Democratic government.
In the beginning ofWorld War II and with theNazi occupation ofDenmark, a determined opponent of Denmark’s forced adherence to the renewedAnti-Comintern Pact in 1941. Following Stauning’s death on 3 May 1942, Buhl served as the one-time prime minister, which he assumed office about six months until he resigned from office on 9 November of the same year. On 5 May 1945 afterAdolf Hitler's suicide and Danish Liberation Day, Buhl served as the two-time prime minister of the first post-war government, also popularly known asLiberation Cabinet (Danish:Befrielsesregeringen), which he assumed office about six months until he resigned from office on 7 November of the same year. In a minority Social Democratic government ofHans Hedtoft, Buhl served as the Minister of Economic Coordination from 1947 to 1950, and concurrently as Minister of Justice from March to September 1950.
Buhl retired from the politics amid his health reasons after 1953 elections. However, he died from its complications on 18 December 1954, at the age of 73.
Buhl was born on 16 October 1881 inFredericia,Denmark to the son of Magdalene Augusta (née Johanne) (1860–1981) and farm owner Hans Peter Buhl (1853–1894). Buhl was one of five siblings. As a student, Buhl co-founded theLegal Discussion Club in 1903. About five years later, in 1908, he graduated from theUniversity of Copenhagen, which he earned hisMaster of Laws degree.
On 20 November 1908, Buhl married Thyra Thygesen Schmidt (b. 29 January 1880 – d. 11 March 1959), and they had four children: Søren Peder Thygesen (1910–1975), Knud (1911–1991), Gerda Martha Magdalene (1914–1993), and Jens (1915–1986).
Buhl joined a member of theSocial Democrats, while a law student at theUniversity of Copenhagen.[1][2] Buhl served as theMinister of Finance under the cabinet ofThorvald Stauning from 20 July 1937 until 3 May 1942.
In the beginning ofWorld War II and theNazi occupation ofDenmark, the government and people of Denmark did not established the government-in-exile in theUnited Kingdom until Danish Liberation Day, but only Scandinavian neighboring countryNorway and many several European countries were established their governments-in-exile. However,Thorvald Stauning created as aUnity government. During the war, King Christian and his government remained in Denmark and operated with relative independence until August 1943.
When Thorvald Stauning died from the war on 3 May 1942, Buhl succeeded him to assumed as one-time prime minister. However, Buhl's government is only lasted six months, due to the diplomatic incident,Telegram Crisis, in whichKing Christian X sent a short and formal reply to a long birthday telegram fromAdolf Hitler, which was outraged by this insult. Also,Werner Best sent to Denmark as a new tough Nazi commander. As of result, Buhl was not friendly to Germany. Buhl resigned on 7 November of the same year. He was replaced byErik Scavenius.
On 5 May 1945 just three days beforeVE-Day, many Danish politicians andresistance fighters are formed as aLiberation Government, which marked the beginning of post-war government after thedeath ofAdolf Hitler. During theDanish Liberation Day, manyDanish people were dissatisfied with politicians because of their policy of cooperation with Germans that had dominated at the start of war, hence the inclusion of resistance fighters. Notable members of Buhl's liberation cabinet were includedAksel Larsen,Hans Hedtoft,H. C. Hansen,Knud Kristensen, andJohn Christmas Møller. In social policy, Danish government presided over the passage of Housing Obligation Act of August 1945, which introduced the obligatory allocation of vacant housing to ensure that vacant flats were let in the first instance to those with low incomes, while also establishing tight rent controls. Danish government also presided over the trials of Danish people, who had cooperated with Germans, as a result of which 45 persons were executed. AfterOctober 1945 elections, Buhl resigned from office on 7 November, and he was replaced byKnud Kristensen, who became as a new prime minister.
Under the Social Democratic government ofHans Hedtoft, Buhl served as the Minister of Economic Coordination from 1947 to 1950, and also concurrently served as the Minister of Justice from March to September 1950.
Prior to the 1953 elections, Buhl retired from the politics, citing his health issues.
Buhl died ofheart attack at his home inCopenhagen on 18 December 1954, at the age of 73. He was interred at theVestre Cemetery.
Media related toVilhelm Buhl at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Finance Minister of Denmark 1937-07-20 – 1942-07-16 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Denmark 1942-05-04 – 1942-11-09 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Denmark 1945-05-05 – 1945-11-07 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Foreign Minister of Denmark 1945-05-05 – 1945-05-07 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Justice Minister of Denmark 1950-02-25 – 1950-03-04 | Succeeded by |
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