Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy in 1941
34th Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 3 September 1940 – 24 June 1945
Preceded by	Dirk Jan de Geer
Succeeded by	Wim Schermerhorn
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 23 October 1956 – 20 March 1959
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 27 July 1948 – 3 July 1956
Monarch	Wilhelmina
Minister of Colonial Affairs
In office 17 November 1941 – 21 May 1942
Prime Minister	Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
Preceded by	Charles Welter
Succeeded by	Hubertus van Mook
Minister of Justice
In office 20 August 1939 – 21 February 1942
Prime Minister	Dirk Jan de Geer (1939–1940) Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1940–1942)
Preceded by	Johannes Anthonie de Visser
Succeeded by	Johannes van Angeren
Personal details
Born	Pieter Gerbrandij (1885-04-13)13 April 1885 Goënga, Netherlands
Died	The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Anti-Revolutionary
Spouse(s)	Hendrina Elisabeth Sikkel
Children	3
Alma mater	Vrije Universiteit (LL.M.) University of Edinburgh (Dr.h.c.)
Occupation	Politician Jurist Lawyer Professor
Religion	Reformed Churches in the Netherlands

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (13 April 1885 – 7 September 1961) was a Dutch politician of the Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 3 September 1940 until 24 June 1945. He was the Prime Minister of the Dutch government in exile during World War II.

Biography

Early life

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was born in the village of Goënga near Sneek, in the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands. He was an ethnic Frisian, and his name is styled in the traditional Frisian way: first name ("Pieter"), patronymic ("Sjoerds", meaning "son of Sjoerd"), family name (Gerbrandy). Incidentally, the name Gerbrandy is also a patronymic; his great-great-grandfather Jouke Gerbrens (1769-1840) took 'Gerbrandy' (with a posher-sounding -y suffix meaning 'son of') as a family name on 30 December 1811.

Politics

From 1920 to 1930, he was a member of the States of Friesland for the Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP), and became a professor at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam (1930). Against his party's advice he was Minister of Justice (1939).

World War II

The royal family and many leading politicians had fled to London in 1940. There, they formed a government in exile. After De Geer's resignation and because of Gerbrandy's rejection of De Geer's defeatism, Queen Wilhemina appointed him as prime minister of the Dutch government in exile, serving in turn as minister of justice, the Colonies, and the general conduct of the War. On his initiative, the Dutch government started to broadcast from Radio Oranje. This station supplied the Dutch population with information from the free world whilst under the occupation of Nazi Germany. Gerbrandy became an inspirational figure to Dutch citizens during the wartime period, as such he was awarded a medal of valour in 1930 and knighted by HRH Princess Wilhelmina.

Postwar

In 1945, after the liberation of the south, he formed a new cabinet without socialists, which was alleged to be strictly subordinated to the military rule. He resigned after the total liberation. He strongly opposed the government's ‘Indonesian policy’, and in 1946–50 chaired the National Committee for the Maintenance of the Kingdom's Unity, which was against the separation of Indonesia and supported the idea of a Republic of the South Moluccas.

In 1950 his book, "Indonesia," was published. This book explains most everything that happened from the 1600s to 1948, it includes "The Indies under Netherlands Rule, The Rule of Law, The Japanese Occupation," and "Chaos." Each section includes detailed observations that he has made.

In 1948, he returned in the Dutch Parliament. However, because of his hot temper, he alienated himself from his party members. In 1956, he was member of a commission, which investigated the affair around Greet Hofmans. In 1959, he resigned as a member of Parliament.

Death

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy died on 7 September 1961 in The Hague at the age of 76.

Decorations

• Knight – Order of the Netherlands Lion (1930)
• Grand Officer – Order of the Netherlands Lion (1946)

See also

• First Gerbrandy cabinet
• Second Gerbrandy cabinet
• Third Gerbrandy cabinet

External links

• (Dutch) Official Parliamentary Biography Parlement & Politiek

Political offices
Preceded by Dirk Jan de Geer	Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1940–1945	Succeeded by Wim Schermerhorn
Preceded by Charles Welter	Minister of Colonial Affairs 1941–1942	Succeeded by Hubertus van Mook

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