Erik Scavenius Prime minister

Erik Julius Christian Scavenius (13 July 1877 – 29 November 1962) was the Danish foreign minister from 1909–1910, 1913–1920 and 1940–1943, and prime minister from 1942 to 1943 during the occupation of Denmark until the Danish elected government ceased to function. He was 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. Scavenius was a member of the Landsting (a chamber of the Danish parliament) during 1918–1920 and 1925–1927 representing the Social Liberal Party. He was chairman of its party organization from 1922–1924.Scavenius belonged to a tradition of elitist governance that distrusted democratically elected politicians at a time when they were gaining power and influence and he was frequently in conflict with more populist figures. He thought that many of these elected politicians were influenced by ignorant strains of populism, and were ill equipped to face the tough compromises and realities of governance. For example, during the negotiations over the return of territory to Denmark following the First World War he advocated a more cautious approach than many more nationalistic figures. His policy of accommodation and compromise toward the Nazi occupation authorities in Denmark during the Second World War is one of the enduring controversies of Danish history; some see it as a necessary compromise to protect the Danish state and people, while others see it as unnecessarily accommodating of totalitarian Nazi Germany.