Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy

His Excellency
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy in 1941
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office
3 September 1940  25 June 1945
Monarch Wilhelmina
Preceded by Dirk Jan de Geer
Succeeded by Willem Schermerhorn
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
23 October 1956  20 March 1959
In office
27 July 1948  3 July 1956
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
23 February 1945  25 June 1945
Prime Minister Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
Preceded by Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart
Succeeded by Hans Kolfschoten
In office
10 August 1939  21 February 1942
Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer (1939–1940)
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1940–1942)
Preceded by Johan de Visser
Succeeded by Jan van Angeren
Personal details
Born Pieter Gerbrandij
(1885-04-13)13 April 1885
Goënga, Netherlands
Died 7 September 1961(1961-09-07) (aged 76)
The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Political party Anti-Revolutionary Party
Spouse(s) Hendrina Elisabeth Sikkel (m. 1911; his death 1961)
Children 2 sons and 1 daughter
Alma mater Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation Politician
Jurist
Lawyer
Prosecutor
Judge
Nonprofit director
Author
Professor
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Military service
Allegiance The Netherlands
Service/branch Royal Netherlands Army
(Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service)
Years of service 1905–1906
1913–1915
(Reserve from 1915–1921)
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Interbellum

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (born Pieter Gerbrandij; 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 25 June 1945.On 5 April 1955, he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State.[1]

Early life

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was born on 13 April 1885 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.[2]

Politics

From 1920 to 1930, he was a member of the States of Friesland for the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), and became a professor at the Vrije Universiteit 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 Wilhelmina 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 1950 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.

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

Decorations

National honours
Ribbon bar Honour Date Comment
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion 6 May 1946 Elevated from Knight

References

  1. (in Dutch) GERBRANDIJ, Pieter (1885–1961)
  2. see www.tresoar.nl, under Familinamen 1811
Official
Political offices
Preceded by
Johan de Visser
Minister of Justice
1939–1942
Succeeded by
Jan van Angeren
Preceded by
Dirk Jan de Geer
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
1940–1945
Succeeded by
Willem Schermerhorn
Preceded by
Charles Welter
Minister of Colonial Affairs
1941–1942
Succeeded by
Hubertus van Mook
Preceded by
Hendrik van Boeijen
Minister of General Affairs
1945
Succeeded by
Willem Schermerhorn
Preceded by
Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart
Minister of Justice
1945
Succeeded by
Hans Kolfschoten
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