Denmark’s former Minister of Defence, Knud Enggaard, has passed away at the age of 94 after a long period of illness. The death was confirmed through a death notice placed by the family, and he passed away on April 11. Knud Enggaard, who represented the (Venstre) Liberal Party, had a long and influential career in Danish politics, serving under both Anker Jørgensen’s and Poul Schlüter’s governments. During his time in the Danish Parliament, from 1964 to 1998, he held several important ministerial positions, including Minister of the Interior, Minister of Energy, Minister of Economics, Minister of Defence, and Minister for Nordic Cooperation.
As Minister of Defence, Enggaard was responsible during several significant international conflicts, including the First Gulf War and the Balkan War, where Danish troops were involved in Operation “Bøllebank” – a sharp confrontation with Serbian soldiers. Enggaard was known for his ability to handle complex issues and his approach to the ministerial role. “The task as a minister is to understand the problems and solve the tasks. Therefore, it is satisfying to also deal with difficult tasks that require some creativity,” he once said about his work.
Knud Enggaard’s passing marks the end of a long life in the service of Danish politics, where he was both a witness to and a participant in significant events in recent Danish history. His contributions to Danish politics and society will be remembered by many.