# Third Gerbrandy cabinet

The Third Gerbrandy cabinet, also called the Fourth London cabinet, was the Dutch government-in-exile from 23 February 1945 until 25 June 1945. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) following the resignation of the Second Gerbrandy cabinet on 27 January 1945. The national unity government (War cabinet) was the last of four war cabinets of the government-in-exile in London during World War II.

## Formation

On 27 January 1945 the Second Gerbrandy cabinet fell after 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 (foute Nederlanders) and Dutch civilians who made a mistake (Nederlanders die een fout hebben gemaakt). However, because Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy did not discuss this with the 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.

## Term

Although the cabinet was officially seated in London, Minister of the Interior Louis Beel (RKSP) was already present in the earlier liberated southern part of the Netherlands in Oisterwijk, where he introduced a temporary arrangement for municipal and provincial governments after the war. Emergency municipal councils were to be appointed by a separate electoral colleges. An important part of the administrative tasks in the liberated part of the Netherlands is executed under the authority of the Military Command by the Commander-in-chief of the Armed forces General Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld and Major general Henk Kruls.

## Cabinet Members

| Ministers | Ministers | Ministers | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party |
| | | Dr. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) | Prime Minister | | | 3 September 1940 – 25 June 1945 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) | Minister | General Warfare | | 21 May 1942 – 25 June 1945 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) | Minister | Justice | | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) | Minister | Interior | | 23 February 1945 – 15 September 1947 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Eelco van Kleffens (1894–1983) | Minister | Foreign Affairs | | 10 August 1939 – 1 March 1946 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Dr. Gerardus Huysmans (1904–1948) | Minister | Finance | | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Hans Gispen (1905–1968) | Minister | Commerce, Industry and Agriculture | | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Jim de Booy (1885–1969) | Minister | Navy | | 23 February 1945 – 3 July 1946 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Jim de Booy (1885–1969) | Minister | Shipping | | 31 May 1944 – 3 July 1946 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Jim de Booy (1885–1969) | Minister | War | | 23 February 1945 – 4 April 1945 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Dr. Jan de Quay (1901–1985) | Minister | War | | 4 April 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Frans Wijffels (1899–1968) | Minister | Social Affairs | | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956) | Minister | Education, Arts and Sciences | | 10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945 | Free-thinking Democratic League |
| | | Frans Wijffels (1899–1968) | Minister | Water Management | | 23 February 1945 – 4 April 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Theo Tromp (1903–1984) | Minister | Water Management | | 4 April 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Dr. Josef Schmutzer (1882–1946) | Minister | Colonial Affairs | | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| Minister without portfolio | Minister without portfolio | Minister without portfolio | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party |
| | | Jonkheer Edgar Michiels van Verduynen (1885–1952) | Minister | Foreign Affairs | • Foreign Policy | 1 January 1942 – 25 June 1945 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| Source: (in Dutch) Parlement & Politiek ||||||||
    $^{Resigned}$
    $^{Dismissedfromoffice}$
    $^{Retainedfromthepreviouscabinet}$
    $^{Continuedinthenextcabinet}$
    $^{Acting}$
    $^{AdInterim}$
    $^{DiedinOffice}$
    $^{AppointedasMinisteroftheInterior}$
| Military Authority | Military Authority | Military Authority | Military Authority | Military Authority | Term of office | Branch of Service |
| | | General / Lieutenant-Admiral HRH B.L.F.E.J.C.K.G.P. prince (Bernhard) of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1911–2004) | Commander-in-chief | Netherlands Armed Forces | 3 September 1944 – 13 September 1945 | Army Navy |
| | | generaal–majoor mr. H.J. (Henk) Kruls (1885–1952) | Military Authority Chief of Staff | Netherlands Armed Forces | 3 September 1944 – 1 January 1946 | Army (Artillery) |