Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was a Dutch politician of the Anti Revolutionary Party.
Background
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.
Education
Vrije Universiteit; University of Edinburgh.
Career
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 World War World War II World 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.
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.
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.
Death
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy died on 7 September 1961 in The Hague at the age of 76.
Decorations.
Politics
Politics
Against his party"s advice he was Minister of Justice (1939).
Membership
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). In 1956, he was member of a commission, which investigated the affair around Greet Hofmans. In 1959, he resigned as a member of Parliament.