Vilhelm Buhl (16 October 1881 – 18 December 1954) was a Danish politician who served as two-time Prime Minister of Denmark from May to November 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, and again after Danish Liberation Day from May to November 1945.
After graduation and served as collector of taxes for Copenhagen in 1920s, Buhl joined an active member of the Social Democratic Party, entered parliament in 1937. In the same year, he became as the Minister of Finance under the cabinet of Thorvald Stauning in Denmark’s first Social Democratic government.
In the beginning of World War II and with the Nazi occupation of Denmark, a determined opponent of Denmark’s forced adherence to the renewed Anti-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 after Adolf Hitler's suicide and Danish Liberation Day, Buhl served as the two-time prime minister of the first post-war government, also popularly known as Liberation 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 of Hans 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.
Early life
Buhl was born on 16 October 1881 in Fredericia, 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 the Legal Discussion Club in 1903. About five years later, in 1908, he graduated from the University of Copenhagen, which he earned his Master 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).
In the beginning of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Denmark, Thorvald Stauning created as a Unity government. 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 which King Christian X sent a short and formal reply to a long birthday telegram from Adolf 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, and then resigned on 7 November of the same year under Nazi pressure. He was replaced by Erik Scavenius.
On 5 May 1945 after Adolf Hitler's suicide and the liberation of Denmark, Danish politicians and resistance fighters formed as a Liberation government, also popularly known as Liberation Cabinet. Many Danish 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 included Aksel Larsen, Hans Hedtoft, H. C. Hansen, Knud Kristensen, and John 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. After October 1945 elections, Buhl resigned from office on 7 November, and he was replaced by Knud Kristensen, who became as a new prime minister.
Under the Social Democratic government of Hans 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.
Death
Buhl died at his home in Copenhagen on 18 December 1954, at the age of 73. He was interred at the Vestre Cemetery.
References
^"Vilhelm Buhl" (in Danish). Aarhus University. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
