Erik Scavenius

Infobox Prime Minister
name=Erik Scavenius


caption=Erik Scavenius (left) with German plenipotentiary of Denmark, Dr. Werner Best.
order=Prime Minister of Denmark
term_start =November 9, 1942
term_end =September 29, 1943
predecessor =Vilhelm Buhl
successor =German military rule
(next Prime Minister: Vilhelm Buhl)
birth_date =birth date|1877|7|13|mf=y
birth_place =
death_date =death date and age|1962|11|29|1877|7|13|mf=y
death_place =
party=No party

Erik Julius Christian Scavenius (July 13, 1877–November 29, 1962) was the Danish foreign minister 1909–1910, 1913–1920 and 1940–1943, and prime minister from 1942 to 1943. His cabinet resigned in 1943 and suspended operations. The resignation was never formally accepted by the King so the cabinet existed "de jure" until a new one was formed following the Liberation of Denmark on May 5, 1945. Scavenius was a member of the Landsting 1918–1920 and 1925–1927 representing the Social Liberal Party. He was chairman of its party organization 1922–1924.

The Scavenius family belongs to the Danish nobility. It was family tradition to work as a diplomat. Erik Scavenius graduated in economics in 1901. Soon after, he became employed in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a secretary at the Danish Embassy in Berlin 1906–1908, a time forming his emphasis upon the primacy of Danish-German relations. Next, he became head of section in the ministry. He was an envoy to Vienna and Rome 1912–13 and to Stockholm 1924–32. From 1932 to 1940 he was chairman of the board of the major daily Politiken. Scavenius was the owner of a large estate 1915-1946. After 1945 he experienced personal and economic difficulties.

The appointment of the only 32 year old head of section Scavenius as minister of Foreign Affairs in the Social Liberal cabinet 1909–10 came as a surprise. He was reappointed when the party formed another cabinet 1913. During World War I he strongly put his efforts into the continuation of "the German course", a policy of keeping Denmark out of conflict with the neighbouring great power through adaptation of its demands. Among other things he supported giving in to mining of the Danish straits in August 1914.

Erik Scavenius became foreign minister again during most of the German occupation of Denmark. As such he was the most important liaison between the Danish government and the German authorities. In addition he was prime minister for some of the war as head of a coalition cabinet. He was more of a professional diplomat than an elected politician, and he held an elitist approach to government. At this time, the Social Liberal Party did not consider Scavenius to be a representative of it, even though the party accepted his line along with the other coalition parties.

Scavenius was very afraid that emotional public opinion would destabilize his attempts to build a compromise between Danish sovereignty and the realities of occupation. He felt strongly that he was Denmark's most ardent defender. After the war there was much recrimination of his stance, particularly from members of the active resistance who felt that he had hindered the cause of resistance and threatened Denmark's national honour. He felt that these people were vain, seeking to build their own reputations or political careers through emotionalism.

After August 29, 1943, Erik Scavenius lost all of his real powers when the German authorities dissolved the Danish government following the refusal of that government to crack down on unrest to the satisfaction of the German plenipotentiary.

Debate continues over Scavenius' legacy. For example, on the 60th anniversary of the August 29 dissolution of government, prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen chastised his predecessor for his stance, saying that it was naive and morally unacceptable. However, historians like Bo Lidegaard and Søren Mørch contend that it was only through Scavenius' policies that Denmark escaped the worst hardships of the war.

References

* [http://www.historie-nu.dk/statue%20til%20scavenius.pdf Review of historian Bo Lidegaard's description of Scavenius in "Dansk Udenrigspolitisk Historie"] dk icon

External links

* [http://www.statsbiblioteket.dk/dlh/politik/escaven.html Audio file with Erik Scavenius from 1938 on the 1914 decision to mine the Danish Straits] dk icon