Petrus Franciscus Brandsen

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Willem Brandsen
Moeder: Petronella Boerssen
Geboren: 29 Dec 1903 Amersfoort
Religie: Rooms Katholiek
Beroep: timmerman
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Brandsen
First Name: Petrus Franciscus
Alias: PIET
Date of Birth: 29/12/1903
Date of death: 16/03/1978
Rescuer's fate: survived tried/interrogated imprisoned
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Gender: Male
Organization/ Religious order: Het Parool
Place during the war: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Amersfoort, Camp, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding Arranging shelter Supplying basic goods Providing forged documents
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1906)
Curt Gutsmuth and his mother, Bertha, were German Jewish refugees who had been on the run since they left Germany. Initially, they settled in Rotterdam. In October 1941, they were forced to move and chose to relocate in Blaricum, North Holland. Upon their arrival there, Mies Gomperts-van Outersterp* kindly offered them lodgings in her large country home. They remained there until they were forced to relocate to one of the Jewish neighborhoods in Amsterdam. In July 1942, Curt and his mother met Petrus (Piet) Brandsen of Amersfoort. At the request of Curt's fiancée, Nelli Levi, Piet had journeyed to Amsterdam to seek them out. Piet, an underground activist, swapped their identity cards for fake ones and arranged a hiding place with the van der Hoevens* in Amersfoort. On September 3,1942, Curt married his fiancée. Chief Rabbi Tal, who was being sheltered by a priest, was willing to sanction the marriage. Cantor van Dam performed the ceremony in Amersfoort. It was the last marriage ceremony at which he ever officiated. The following day the couple moved into their hiding place at the van der Hoevens. Dozens of other Jews also owe their lives to Piet. Piet and Alberdina (Dina) themselves hid Nelly Levi's brother-in-law and sister Felix and Flora van Beek (Levi). Also, over the course of his work with the underground, Piet roamed far and wide in his mission to supply those in hiding with food coupons and false papers. Over and above this, Piet was a member of the Dutch armed Resistance, the LKP. In this capacity, he delivered arms for raids on distribution offices and supplied the Allied forces with secret documents concerning strategic German targets. Piet was also involved in publishing the illegal newspaper Het Parool, which brought world news to the besieged Dutch. On Friday January 21, 1944, Piet was arrested at his home. The Gestapo surrounded the street where he lived and interrogated his wife and their four daughters, aged five to 12. They all denied any knowledge of Piet's involvement in "illegal" activities. Consequently, Piet was subjected to nine months' imprisonment, the first six weeks of which he spent at the notorious Amersfoort camp. Despite torture at the hands of the Gestapo, food and sleep deprivation, and solitary confinement for part of the time, Piet never disclosed any information. He was ultimately released due to lack of evidence and immediately resumed his illegal activities until the end of the war. Felix and Flory recalled that Piet's first words to them after his release, were, "When are you coming back?" After the war, Piet was awarded six bronze medals from the Dutch government for his wartime activities.
On October 22, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Petrus Franciscus Brandsen and his wife, Alberdina Johanna Geertruida Brandsen-Truyers, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Alberdina Johanna Geertruida Truijjers geb. 1 Sept 1902
Huwelijk: 22 Nov 1927 Amersfoort
Kinderen:
  Petronella Hendrika Maria Brandsen Male geb. 13 OKT 1928
  Hendrika Maria Petronella Brandsen Male geb. 22 Apr 1931
  Wilhelmina Alberdina Brandsen Male geb. 19 Feb 1934
  Alberta Francisca Brandsen Male geb. 31 Aug 1936