Dirk Jan de Geer
Encyclopedia
Jonkheer
Dirk Jan de Geer
(14 December 1870 – 28 November 1960) was a Dutch
nobleman, lawyer, conservative
statesman and prime minister of the Netherlands
(1926–1929, 1939–1940). He was disgraced for advocating a peace settlement between the Kingdom
and Nazi Germany
in 1940.
Born in Groningen, he was a descendant of the de Geer family painted by Rembrandt. After receiving his doctorate in law in 1895, De Geer worked as a journalist and acted as town councillor of Rotterdam
(1901–1907). He served as a Christian Historical (CHU) member of Parliament.
De Geer was a stable and respected politician before the war. After the end of the fifth cabinet of Colijn he was asked to form a government. However, he was not suited for the role of prime minister of a nation at war as he knew himself. When the Germans attacked the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, the situation soon became very serious. Because of this the government decided to flee to London.
When in London, De Geer advocated negotiating a separate peace between the Netherlands
and the Third Reich. He damaged the Dutch
government and the Dutch morale by openly stating that the war could never be won. He was finally removed from office on the instigation of the iron-willed Queen Wilhelmina
, and replaced by Gerbrandy
.
Later on, he was sent with a diplomatic package to the Dutch East Indies
, present day Indonesia
. He never arrived there: on a stop-over in Portugal
he left, and returned to his family in the Netherlands with the permission of the Germans. This greatly angered Queen Wilhelmina, who called him a traitor and deserter to the Dutch cause. He later wrote a controversial leaflet with "instructions" for the people on how to cooperate with the Germans. Wilhelmina warned him that if he went on to publish this, he would be put on trial after the liberation.
Nonetheless, he went through with the publication; after the war he was duly accused and brought to trial. He was found guilty and stripped of all of his honorary titles. He died some 15 years later in Soest
, embittered and still believing in his innocence.
His grandson is ex-footballer Boudewijn de Geer
, and his great-grandson is current footballer Mike de Geer
.
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
Dirk Jan de Geer
De Geer
De Geer is a family of Walloon origin which became notable in Sweden and the Netherlands...
(14 December 1870 – 28 November 1960) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
nobleman, lawyer, conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
statesman and prime minister of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(1926–1929, 1939–1940). He was disgraced for advocating a peace settlement between the Kingdom
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1940.
Born in Groningen, he was a descendant of the de Geer family painted by Rembrandt. After receiving his doctorate in law in 1895, De Geer worked as a journalist and acted as town councillor of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
(1901–1907). He served as a Christian Historical (CHU) member of Parliament.
De Geer was a stable and respected politician before the war. After the end of the fifth cabinet of Colijn he was asked to form a government. However, he was not suited for the role of prime minister of a nation at war as he knew himself. When the Germans attacked the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, the situation soon became very serious. Because of this the government decided to flee to London.
When in London, De Geer advocated negotiating a separate peace between the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the Third Reich. He damaged the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
government and the Dutch morale by openly stating that the war could never be won. He was finally removed from office on the instigation of the iron-willed Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
, and replaced by Gerbrandy
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was a Dutch politician of the Anti Revolutionary Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from September 3, 1940 until June 24, 1945. He was the Prime Minister of the Dutch government in exile during World War II...
.
Later on, he was sent with a diplomatic package to the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, present day Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. He never arrived there: on a stop-over in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
he left, and returned to his family in the Netherlands with the permission of the Germans. This greatly angered Queen Wilhelmina, who called him a traitor and deserter to the Dutch cause. He later wrote a controversial leaflet with "instructions" for the people on how to cooperate with the Germans. Wilhelmina warned him that if he went on to publish this, he would be put on trial after the liberation.
Nonetheless, he went through with the publication; after the war he was duly accused and brought to trial. He was found guilty and stripped of all of his honorary titles. He died some 15 years later in Soest
Soest (Netherlands)
Soest is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It is located about 6 km west of Amersfoort.- The town of Soest :...
, embittered and still believing in his innocence.
His grandson is ex-footballer Boudewijn de Geer
Boudewijn de Geer
Boudewijn Ernst de Geer is a retired Dutch professional football player who played for ADO Den Haag, HFC Haarlem, Molde FK, Lillestrøm SK, Hércules CF, De Graafschap and Brisbane Lions....
, and his great-grandson is current footballer Mike de Geer
Mike de Geer
Mike de Geer is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for ADO Den Haag. His father is former football player Boudewijn de Geer.-External links:...
.