Hermann Jónasson
| Hermann Jónasson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 7th Prime Minister of Iceland | |
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In office 24 July 1956 – 23 December 1958 |
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| President | Ásgeir Ásgeirsson |
| Preceded by | Ólafur Thors |
| Succeeded by | Emil Jónsson |
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In office 28 July 1934 – 16 May 1942 |
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| Monarch | Christian X |
| Preceded by | Ásgeir Ásgeirsson |
| Succeeded by | Ólafur Thors |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
25 December 1896 Skagafjörður, Iceland |
| Died | 22 January 1976 (aged 79) Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Progressive Party |
| Spouse(s) | Vigdis Steingrímsdóttir |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Iceland |
Hermann Jónasson (25 December 1896 – 22 January 1976) was an Icelandic politician of the Progressive Party, who was Prime Minister of Iceland on two occasions.
He served his first term from 28 July 1934 to 16 May 1942. This term included one of the most difficult times in Icelandic history. In the pre-war years he had to deal with constant pressures from Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom regarding Iceland's diplomatic stance. After World War II started, the German occupation of Denmark severed the ties between the two countries, forcing Iceland to assume full control over its foreign interests which had previously been represented by Denmark. Subsequently, the British occupied Iceland on 10 May 1940.
His second term lasted from 24 July 1956 to 23 December 1958. In the elections of 1956 the Progressive Party and the Social Democratic Party joined forces and formed an electoral alliance that became known as the "Fear-Alliance" (Icelandic: Hræðslubandalagið, the fear in question being the fear of the Independence Party). After the elections the "Fear-Alliance" formed a coalition with The People's Alliance. This was Iceland's first leftist government, and was plagued with troubles from the outset, not the least of which was the relative hostility and distrust of the United States and other NATO allies. The coalition eventually fell apart, giving way to the long-lasting "Reconstruction Government" of the Independence Party and the Social Democrats.
Hermann had a reputation for being a very strong willed and often hot-tempered man (once slapping a Socialist member of the Althing). He however gained great respect of political co-workers and adversaries alike, and is fondly remembered as one of Iceland's greatest 20th Century politicians.
He was the father of Steingrímur Hermannsson, who would go on to become Prime Minister of Iceland in the 1980s. His grandson, Guðmundur Steingrímsson, was elected to the Althing in 2009.
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