Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy

Dutch politician, born in Goengamieden, N Netherlands. A Christian Socialist, in 1920–30 he was a member of the States of Friesland for the Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP), and became a professor at the Free University of Amsterdam (1930). Against his party's advice he was minister of justice (1939). Evacuated to London in 1940, and after De Geer's resignation, because of his rejection of de Geer's defeatism, Gerbrandy became prime minister of the Dutch government in exile, serving in turn as minister of justice, the Colonies, and the general conduct of the War. In 1945, after the liberation of the south, he formed a new cabinet which was basically Catholic and without socialists, which was alleged to be strictly subordinated to the military government. 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.

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (13 April 1885 – 7 September 1961) Dutch politician, born near Sneek, in The Netherlands.

In 1920–30 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). 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 a station that supplied the Dutch population with information from the free world.

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 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.