Laurits Hansen

Hansen was born in Kelstrup, Kirke Stillinge on 24 October 1894.^[1] During his youth he was the chairman of the social democratic youth association.^[1] He led the trade union movement during the period of the Nazi occupation of Denmark.^[2] He was chairman of the Trade Unions Cooperative between 1939 and 1942.^[2] He was close to the Germans and negotiated with them about the possibilities of coordinating the Danish trade union movement with the German Nazi Labor Front.^[3]

Hansen was made the minister of social affairs in 1942 following the demands of the Nazi figures.^[2] He served in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Erik Scavenius.^[2][4] After World War II, he was accused of not being loyalty to the Social Democrats and being a collaborator of the Nazi regime.^[5] As a result, he lost all of his party positions.^[1][2] Following this incident he worked as a cigar merchant and then as a real estate broker.^[1] He died in Copenhagen on 23 February 1965.^[1]