21 Facts About Erik Scavenius

Erik Scavenius was the foreign minister during some of the most important periods of Denmark's modern history, including the First World War, the plebiscites over the return of northern Schleswig to Denmark, and the German occupation.

Erik Scavenius was chairman of its party organization from 1922 to 1924.

Erik Scavenius belonged to a tradition of elite governance that distrusted democratically elected politicians at a time when they were gaining power and influence.

Erik Scavenius believed that many of them were influenced by ignorant strains of populism and ill-equipped to face tough compromises and realities.

Erik Scavenius believed that areas that were mostly German should stay in Germany.

Erik Scavenius graduated in economics from the University of Copenhagen in 1901.

Erik Scavenius was a secretary at the Danish Embassy in Berlin from 1906 to 1908, a time forming his emphasis upon the primacy of Danish-German relations.

Erik Scavenius was an envoy to Vienna and Rome from 1912 to 1913 and to Stockholm from 1924 to 1932.

Erik Scavenius was the owner of a large estate from 1915 to 1946.

Erik Scavenius was reappointed when the party formed another cabinet in 1913.

Erik Scavenius was an important figure as foreign minister during the negotiations surrounding the return of parts of Schleswig to Denmark following the war.

Erik Scavenius was one of the chief advocates of the Danish government's official position, advocating a return of only territories with clear Danish majorities.

Erik Scavenius became foreign minister again during most of the German occupation of Denmark.

Erik Scavenius was more of a professional diplomat than an elected politician and held an elitist approach to government.

Erik Scavenius was concerned that emotional public opinion would destabilise his attempts to build a compromise between Danish sovereignty and the realities of occupation.

Erik Scavenius felt strongly that he was Denmark's most ardent defender.

Erik Scavenius felt that these people were vain and seeking to build their own reputations or political careers through emotionalism.

Erik Scavenius was politically isolated after 1945, but the parliamentary commission on misconduct during the Occupation did not find reason to impeach him for the High Court of the Realm for maladministration of office in its report in 1955.

Bertel Haarder, then a minister in the Rasmussen government, rebutted Lidegaard's theory in 2005, calling it revisionist and arguing that Erik Scavenius carried out an unnecessarily pro-German policy, which was unpopular, dishonourable, and unjustifiable long-term, as he thought that Germany was likely to win the war.

Papers found in the Danish Royal Library revealed that in 1961, Erik Scavenius had been informed that he would be awarded the Israeli "Medallion of Valor".

The medallion was due to be presented to him by Eleanor Roosevelt at a ceremony in the United States later that year, but his poor health made Erik Scavenius cancel his appearance.