 1940–1945 During the German Occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, Brouwer assists the resistance by letting them use storage space in the Mathematical Institute, of which he was the director. He offers hiding places to Jews and other persecuted persons in small houses on his premises (as testified by a neighbour’s daughter, herself involved in these operations, in van Dalen 2005, vol. 2, p. 772–773). In 1943, he advises the students to sign the declaration of loyalty demanded by the Germans; when some students refuse and go into hiding, Brouwer and Heyting visit them to continue their education. Part of Brouwer’s explanation, after the war, for the advice to sign is that signing would provide the students with the relative peace needed to build up and carry out resistance activities. He is met with skepticism (but is supported by Mannoury). Because of this and some similar perhaps unfortunate attempts at shrewdness during the occupation, after the liberation he is suspended for a few months. Deeply offended, Brouwer considers emigration to South Africa or the USA.