Minister of Defence (Denmark)

Minister of Defence
Forsvarsminister
Standard of the Minister of Defence
since 22 August 2023
Ministry of Defence
TypeMinister
Member of
Reports tothe Prime minister
SeatSlotsholmen
AppointerThe Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Constituting instrumentForsvarsloven
PrecursorMinister for the Navy
Minister of War
Formation5 September 1905 (1905-09-05)
First holderJ.C. Christensen
Successiondepending on the order in the State Council
DeputyPermanent Secretary of State for Defence
WebsiteOfficial Website

The Minister of Defence of Denmark (Danish: Forsvarsminister, pronounced [ˈfɒːsvɑsmiˌnistɐ]) is the politically appointed head of the Danish Ministry of Defence. The Minister of Defence is responsible for the Danish Armed Forces, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service and the Danish Emergency Management Agency.

The Minister of Defence follows the directions given by the Prime Minister of Denmark and the decisions of the Folketing. The Danish Defence Law (Danish: Forsvarsloven) designates in article 9 the Minister of Defence as the supreme authority in Defence (Danish: højeste ansvarlige myndighed for forsvaret). Under the Minister is the Chief of Defence, the senior-ranking professional military officer heading the Defence Command, who commands the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and other units not reporting directly to the Ministry of Defence.[1][2]

The main responsibilities of the Minister of Defence are to prevent armed conflicts and war, to safeguard the sovereignty of Denmark and integrity of Danish territory and to promote global peace and stability. Since 2002, these responsibilities have included the political leadership of the Danish contribution to the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The current Defence Minister is Troels Lund Poulsen.

History

In 1905, the offices of the Minister for the Navy and the Minister of War were merged to create the current office of Defence Minister.[3]

List of ministers of defence

Christian IX (1863–1906)

No. Portrait Name
(born–died) 		Term of office Political party Cabinet Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Jens Christian Christensen
(1856–1930) 		5 September 1905 12 October 1908 3 years, 37 days Venstre Reform Party Christensen I–II [4][5]

Frederick VIII (1906–1912)

No. Portrait Name
(born–died) 		Term of office Political party Cabinet Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
2 Niels Neergaard
(1854–1936) 		12 October 1908 16 September 1909 339 days Moderate Venstre Neergaard I [6]
(1) Jens Christian Christensen
(1856–1930) 		16 September 1909 18 October 1909 32 days Venstre Reform Party Holstein-Ledreborg [7]
3 Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg
(1839–1912) 		18 October 1909 28 October 1909 10 days Independent Holstein-Ledreborg [7]
4 Christopher Krabbe
(1833–1913) 		28 October 1909 5 July 1910 250 days Social Liberal Zahle I [8]
5 Klaus Berntsen
(1844–1927) 		5 July 1910 21 June 1913 2 years, 351 days Venstre Berntsen [9]

Christian X (1912–1947)

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Cabinet Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
6 Peter Rochegune Munch
(1870–1948) 		21 June 1913 30 March 1920 6 years, 283 days Social Liberal Zahle II [10]
7 Henri Konow
(1862–1939) 		30 March 1920 5 April 1920 6 days Independent Liebe [11]
8 Michael Pedersen Friis
(1857–1944) 		5 April 1920 5 May 1920 30 days Independent Friis [12]
9 Klaus Berntsen
(1844–1927) 		5 May 1920 9 October 1922 2 years, 157 days Venstre Neergaard II [13]
10 Søren Brorsen
(1875–1961) 		9 October 1922 23 April 1924 1 year, 197 days Venstre Neergaard III [14]
11 Laust Rasmussen
(1862–1941) 		23 April 1924 14 December 1926 2 years, 235 days Social Democrats Stauning I [15]
(10) Søren Brorsen
(1875–1961) 		14 December 1926 30 April 1929 2 years, 137 days Venstre Madsen-Mygdal [16]
(11) Laust Rasmussen
(1862–1941) 		30 April 1929 24 November 1932 3 years, 208 days Social Democrats Stauning II [17]
12 Hans Peter Hansen
(1872–1953) 		24 November 1932 31 May 1933 188 days Social Democrats Stauning II [17]
13 Thorvald Stauning
(1873–1942) 		31 May 1933 4 November 1935 2 years, 157 days Social Democrats Stauning II [17]
14 Alsing Andersen
(1893–1962) 		4 November 1935 8 July 1940 4 years, 247 days Social Democrats Stauning III–IV–V [18][19]
[20]
(10) Søren Brorsen
(1875–1961) 		8 July 1940 29 August 1943 3 years, 52 days Venstre Stauning VI
Buhl I
Scavenius 		[21][22]
[23]
No Danish government in between August 29, 1943 (1943-08-29) and May 5, 1945 (1945-05-05). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.[a]
15 Ole Bjørn Kraft
(1893–1980) 		5 May 1945 7 November 1945 186 days Conservative People's Party Buhl II [24]
16 Harald Petersen
(1893–1970) 		7 November 1945 13 November 1947 2 years, 6 days Venstre Kristensen [25]

Frederick IX (1947–1972)

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Cabinet Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
17 Hans Rasmus Hansen
(1896–1971) 		13 November 1947 30 October 1950 3 years, 17 days Social Democrats Hedtoft I–II [26][27]
(16) Harald Petersen
(1893–1970) 		30 October 1950 30 September 1953 2 years, 335 days Venstre Eriksen [28]
(17) Hans Rasmus Hansen
(1896–1971) 		30 September 1953 25 May 1956 2 years, 238 days Social Democrats Hedtoft III
Hansen I 		[29][30]
18 Poul Hansen
(1913–1966) 		8 October 1958 15 November 1962 4 years, 38 days Social Democrats Hansen I–II
Kampmann I–II
Krag I 		[30][31]
[32][33]
[34]
19 Victor Gram
(1910–1969) 		15 November 1962 2 February 1968 5 years, 79 days Social Democrats Krag I–II [34][35]
20 Erik Ninn-Hansen
(1922–2014) 		2 February 1968 17 March 1971 3 years, 43 days Conservative People's Party Baunsgaard [36]
21 Knud Østergaard
(1922–1993) 		17 March 1971 11 October 1971 208 days Conservative People's Party Baunsgaard [36]
37 Kjeld Olesen
(1932–2024) 		11 October 1971 27 September 1973 1 year, 351 days Social Democrats Krag III
Jørgensen I 		[37][38]

Margrethe II (1972–present)

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Cabinet Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
23 Orla Møller
(1916–1979) 		27 September 1973 19 December 1973 83 days Social Democrats Jørgensen I [38]
24 Erling Brøndum
(1930–2017) 		19 December 1973 13 February 1975 1 year, 56 days Venstre Hartling [39]
(23) Orla Møller
(1916–1979) 		13 February 1975 1 October 1977 2 years, 230 days Social Democrats Jørgensen II [40]
25 Poul Søgaard
(1923–2016) 		1 October 1977 10 September 1982 4 years, 344 days Social Democrats Jørgensen II–III–IV–V [40][41]
[42][43]
26 Hans Engell
(born 1948) 		10 September 1982 10 September 1987 5 years, 0 days Conservative People's Party Schlüter I [44]
27 Bernt Johan Collet
(born 1941) 		10 September 1987 3 June 1988 267 days Conservative People's Party Schlüter II [45]
28 Knud Enggaard
(1929–2024) 		3 June 1988 25 January 1993 4 years, 236 days Venstre Schlüter III–IV [46][47]
29 Hans Hækkerup
(1945–2013) 		25 January 1993 21 December 2000 7 years, 331 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen I–II–III–IV [48][49]
[50][51]
30 Jan Trøjborg
(1955–2012) 		21 December 2000 27 November 2001 341 days Social Democrats P. N. Rasmussen IV [51]
31 Svend Aage Jensby
(born 1940) 		27 November 2001 24 April 2004 2 years, 149 days Venstre A. F. Rasmussen I [52]
32 Søren Gade
(born 1963) 		24 April 2004 23 February 2010 5 years, 305 days Venstre A. F. Rasmussen I–II–III
L. L. Rasmussen I 		[52][53]
[54][55]
33 Gitte Lillelund Bech
(born 1969) 		23 February 2010 3 October 2011 1 year, 222 days Venstre L. L. Rasmussen I [55]
34 Nick Hækkerup
(born 1968) 		3 October 2011 9 August 2013 1 year, 310 days Social Democrats Thorning-Schmidt I [56]
35 Nicolai Wammen
(born 1971) 		9 August 2013 28 June 2015 1 year, 323 days Social Democrats Thorning-Schmidt I–II [56][57]
36 Carl Holst
(born 1970) 		28 June 2015 30 September 2015 94 days Venstre L. L. Rasmussen II [58]
37 Peter Christensen
(1975–2025) 		30 September 2015 28 November 2016 1 year, 59 days Venstre [58]
38 Claus Hjort Frederiksen
(born 1947) 		28 November 2016 27 June 2019 2 years, 211 days Venstre L.L. Rasmussen III [59]
39 Trine Bramsen
(born 1981) 		27 June 2019 4 February 2022 2 years, 222 days Social Democrats Frederiksen I [60]
40 Morten Bødskov
(born 1970) 		4 February 2022 15 December 2022 314 days Social Democrats [60]
41 Jakob Ellemann-Jensen
(born 1973) 		15 December 2022 6 February 2023 53 days Venstre Frederiksen II [61][62]
– Troels Lund Poulsen
(born 1976)
acting 		6 February 2023 1 August 2023 176 days Venstre [62]
(41) Jakob Ellemann-Jensen
(born 1973) 		1 August 2023 22 August 2023 21 days Venstre [61][63]
42 Troels Lund Poulsen
(born 1976) 		22 August 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 215 days Venstre [61][64]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.

References

  1. ^ "LOV nr 122 af 27/02/2001 om forsvarets formål, opgaver og organisation m.v." (in Danish). Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Facts and Figures" (PDF). Danish Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Ministre gennem tiderne" (in Danish).
  4. ^ "Regeringen Christensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Regeringen Christensen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Regeringen Neergaard I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Regeringen Holstein-Ledreborg". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Regeringen Zahle I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Regeringen Berntsen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Regeringen Zahle II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Regeringen Liebe". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Regeringen Friis". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Regeringen Neergaard II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Regeringen Neergaard III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Regeringen Stauning I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Regeringen Madsen-Mygdal". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Regeringen Stauning II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Regeringen Stauning III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Regeringen Stauning IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Regeringen Stauning V". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Regeringen Stauning VI". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  22. ^ "Regeringen Buhl I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Regeringen Scavenius". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Regeringen Buhl II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Regeringen Knud Kristensen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Regeringen Hedtoft I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Regeringen Hedtoft II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Regeringen Erik Eriksen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  29. ^ "Regeringen Hedtoft III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Regeringen H.C. Hansen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Regeringen H.C. Hansen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  32. ^ "Regeringen Viggo Kampmann I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  33. ^ "Regeringen Viggo Kampmann II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  34. ^ a b "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  35. ^ "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  36. ^ a b "Regeringen Hilmar Baunsgaard". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  37. ^ "Regeringen Jens Otto Krag III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  38. ^ a b "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  39. ^ "Regeringen Poul Hartling". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  40. ^ a b "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  41. ^ "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  42. ^ "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  43. ^ "Regeringen Anker Jørgensen V". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  44. ^ "Regeringen Poul Schlüter I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  45. ^ "Regeringen Poul Schlüter II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  46. ^ "Regeringen Poul Schlüter III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  47. ^ "Regeringen Poul Schlüter IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  48. ^ "Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  49. ^ "Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  50. ^ "Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  51. ^ a b "Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  52. ^ a b "Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  53. ^ "Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  54. ^ "Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  55. ^ a b "Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  56. ^ a b "Regeringen Helle Thorning-Schmidt I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  57. ^ "Regeringen Helle Thorning-Schmidt II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  58. ^ a b "Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  59. ^ "Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  60. ^ a b "Regeringen Mette Frederiksen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  61. ^ a b c "Regeringen Mette Frederiksen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  62. ^ a b Bohr, Jakob Kjøgx (6 February 2023). "Jakob Ellemann-Jensen sygemeldt på ubestemt tid". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). TV2. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  63. ^ Jensen, Marie (1 August 2023). "Nu vender Ellemann tilbage som forsvarsminister" [Ellemann returns as Minister of Defence]. TV2 Nyheder (in Danish). Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  64. ^ Haugaard, Mie (22 August 2023). "Jakob Ellemann og Troels Lund Poulsen bytter roller i regeringen". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 22 August 2023.
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