Prounciation: [khairbrahndee]

Dates: (1885–1961)

Sex: m

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.