Knud Kristensen

Knud Kristensen (26 October 1880 – 28 September 1962) was Prime Minister of Denmark from 7 November 1945 to 13 November 1947 in the first elected government after the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. After the October 1945 election, Knud Kristensen formed the Cabinet of Knud Kristensen, a minority government consisting only of his liberal party. Biography Knud Kristensen was educated in agriculture and was a farmer by profession. He was from 1901 to 1902 a student at Frederiksborg University College, 1903–04 at Dalum Agricultural School and 1906–07 at Askov Folk High School. In 1907–20, he owned a farm at Ødsted in Vejle, then Biviumgård in Humlebæk. He was first elected to the parliament in 1920. He was re-elected from 1932 until he resigned on 15 January 1949. In social policy, Kristensen's time as Prime minister saw the passage of the National Social Insurance act of June 1946, which raised benefits and, although it increased the age limit for old age pensions for men from 60 to 65, it granted old-age pensions to people from the age of 60 in cases of ill-health or special circumstances. Under the Building Subsidy Act of April 1946 low interest rates were made available to central government to support housing construction for the needy, while rent supplements were introduced for families with smaller children.