The Second Gerbrandy cabinet, also called the Third London cabinet was the Dutch government-in-exile from 27 July 1941 until 23 February 1945. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP), Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), Christian Historical Union (CHU), Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and the Liberal State Party (LSP) following the resignation of First Gerbrandy cabinet on 12 June 1941. The national unity government was the third of four war cabinets of the government-in-exile in London during World War II.
Formation On 12 June 1941 the First Gerbrandy cabinet fell after a conflict between Queen Wilhelmina and Minister of Defence Adriaan Dijxhoorn, leading to the dismissal of the minister. Immediately also the other ministers resigned and the cabinet continued for five weeks as a demissionary cabinet until the ministries were redistributed and the Second Gerbrandy cabinet was installed on 27 July 1941.
Term The cabinet became the main inspiration for many of the resistance fighters in the Netherlands through radio addresses by Queen Wilhelmina. Important actions of the cabinet include the recognition of the Soviet Union in July 1942, the declaration of war against Japan on 7 December 1942, the announcement that after the war the relations between the Netherlands and the Dutch Indies will change and the re-establishment in July 1943 of the representation at the Vatican. During the first and second cabinet of Gerbrandy plans are made for post-war prosecution of "wrongful" () Dutch civilians (collaborators with the Germans).
On 27 January 1945 Minister of the Interior Jaap Burger (SDAP) was asked to resign by Prime Minister Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (ARP) after holding a radio speech, differentiating between "wrongful" Dutch civilians () and Dutch civilians who made a mistake (). But because Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy did not discuss this with rest of the cabinet all Social Democratic Workers' Party ministers resigned in response. The demissionary cabinet continued until the installation of the Third Gerbrandy cabinet on 23 February 1945.
Changes On 17 November 1941 Minister of Finance, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Shipping and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Max Steenberghe (RKSP) and Minister of Colonial Affairs Charles Welter (RKSP) both resigned after disagreements with the cabinet policy. Minister of Water Management Willem Albarda (SDAP) took over as Minister of Finance and Minister of Social Affairs Jan van den Tempel (SDAP) took over as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Shipping and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
On 31 May 1944 Minister of Commerce, Industry and Shipping and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Piet Kerstens (RKSP) was dismissed over a disagreement about the post-war food distribution policy. Both the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Shipping and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries where subsequently reorganized. Minister of Finance Johannes van den Broek took over as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture adding the portfolio of Agriculture to the Commerce ministry. Government adviser Jim de Booy was appointed as Minister of Shipping and Fisheries combining the portfolios of Shipping and Fisheries.
Cabinet Members + CompositionSource: Parlement & Politiek Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Begin End Party Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy Prime Minister 3 September 1940 25 June 1945 ARP Minister General Warfare 21 May 1942 25 June 1945 Hendrik van Boeijen Minister General Affairs 3 September 1940 23 February 1945 CHU Minister Interior 24 June 1937 31 May 1944 Jaap Burger 31 May 1944 27 January 1945 SDAP Hendrik van Boeijen 27 January 1945 23 February 1945 CHU Eelco van Kleffens Minister Foreign Affairs 10 August 1939 1 March 1946 Independent Classical Liberal Max Steenberghe Minister Finance 27 July 1941 17 November 1941 RKSP Willem Albarda 17 November 1941 9 December 1942 SDAP Johannes van den Broek 9 December 1942 23 February 1945 Independent Classical Liberal Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy Minister Justice 10 August 1939 21 February 1942 ARP Jan van Angeren 21 February 1942 12 July 1944 Roman Catholic State Party Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart 12 July 1944 23 February 1945 Independent Social Democrat Max Steenberghe Minister Commerce, Industry and Shipping 10 May 1940 17 November 1941 RKSP Jan van den Tempel 17 November 1941 8 January 1942 SDAP Piet Kerstens 8 January 1942 31 May 1944 RKSP Johannes van den Broek Commerce, Industry and Agriculture 31 May 1944 23 February 1945 Independent Classical Liberal Hendrik van Boeijen Minister War 12 June 1941 15 September 1942 CHU Otto van Lidth de Jeude 15 September 1942 23 February 1945 LSP Johan Furstner Navy 27 July 1941 23 February 1945 Independent Liberal Conservative Jan van den Tempel Minister Social Affairs 10 August 1939 23 February 1945 SDAP Gerrit Bolkestein Minister Education, Arts and Sciences 10 August 1939 25 June 1945 VDB Willem Albarda Minister Water Management 10 August 1939 23 February 1945 SDAP Max Steenberghe Minister Agriculture and Fisheries 1 May 1941 17 November 1941 RKSP Jan van den Tempel 17 November 1941 8 January 1942 SDAP Piet Kerstens 8 January 1942 31 May 1944 RKSP Jim de Booy Shipping and Fisheries 31 May 1944 3 July 1946 Independent Classical Liberal Charles Welter Minister Colonial Affairs 10 August 1939 17 November 1941 RKSP Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy 17 November 1941 21 May 1942 ARP Huib van Mook 21 May 1942 23 February 1945 Independent Social Liberal + CompositionSource: Parlement & Politiek Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party Jaap Burger (1904–1986) Minister Interior • Provisional Governmental Affairs 11 August 1943 – 31 May 1944 Social Democratic Workers' Party Jonkheer Edgar Michiels van Verduynen (1885–1952) Minister Foreign Affairs • Foreign Policy 1 January 1942 – 25 June 1945 Independent Classical Liberal Pangeran Adipati Soejono (1886–1943) Minister Colonial Affairs • Dutch East Indies 9 June 1942 – 5 January 1943 Independent Liberal Conservative
Rang/Title/Position Military Command Begin End Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld Commander-in-chief Armed Forces 3 September 1944 13 September 1945
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