P. W. Scharroo

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P. W. Scharroo
Scharroo in 1940
Birth name	Pieter Wilhelmus Scharroo
Born	(1883-09-16)16 September 1883 The Hague, Netherlands
Died	19 August 1963(1963-08-19) (aged 79) The Hague, Netherlands
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch	Royal Netherlands Army
Service years	1904–1940
Rank	Colonel
Battles	Battle of Rotterdam

Pieter Wilhelmus Scharroo (16 September 1883 – 19 August 1963)^[1] was a Dutch military commander in charge during the Battle of Rotterdam. While he was trying to negotiate a ceasefire with his German counterparts, the Rotterdam Blitz took place. He was frustrated after the bombing, and refused to continue the negotiations with the German army.

Scharroo was born in The Hague. Prior to the Second World War, he had an impressive civil and military career in the Netherlands as well as the Dutch East Indies. Scharroo was also a long-time member of the International Olympic Committee.

After the war he retired from the army and started a career as a hydrological adviser. He died, aged 79, in his home city of The Hague. He was never decorated for his attempts to defend the city of Rotterdam.