# Second Gerbrandy cabinet

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 (War cabinet) 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" (foute) 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 (foute Nederlanders) and Dutch civilians who made a mistake (Nederlanders die een fout hebben gemaakt). 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

| 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 |
| | | Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947) | Minister | General Affairs | | 3 September 1940 – 23 February 1945 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947) | Minister | Interior | | 24 June 1937 – 31 May 1944 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Jaap Burger (1904–1986) | Minister | Interior | | 31 May 1944 – 27 January 1945 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947) | Minister | Interior | | 27 January 1945 – 23 February 1945 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Eelco van Kleffens (1894–1983) | Minister | Foreign Affairs | | 10 August 1939 – 1 March 1946 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Max Steenberghe (1899–1972) | Minister | Finance | | 27 July 1941 – 17 November 1941 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Willem Albarda (1877–1957) | Minister | Finance | | 17 November 1941 – 9 December 1942 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Johannes van den Broek (1882–1946) | Minister | Finance | | 9 December 1942 – 23 February 1945 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Dr. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) | Minister | Justice | | 10 August 1939 – 21 February 1942 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Jan van Angeren (1894–1959) | Minister | Justice | | 21 February 1942 – 12 July 1944 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart (1901–1956) | Minister | Justice | | 12 July 1944 – 23 February 1945 | Independent Social Democrat |
| | | Max Steenberghe (1899–1972) | Minister | Commerce, Industry and Shipping | | 10 May 1940 – 17 November 1941 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) | Minister | Commerce, Industry and Shipping | | 17 November 1941 – 8 January 1942 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Piet Kerstens (1896–1958) | Minister | Commerce, Industry and Shipping | | 8 January 1942 – 31 May 1944 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Johannes van den Broek (1882–1946) | Minister | Commerce, Industry and Agriculture | | 31 May 1944 – 23 February 1945 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947) | Minister | War | | 12 June 1941 – 15 September 1942 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Jonkheer Otto van Lidth de Jeude (1881–1952) | Minister | War | | 15 September 1942 – 23 February 1945 | Liberal State Party |
| | | Lieutenant admiral Johan Furstner (1887–1970) | Minister | Navy | | 27 July 1941 – 23 February 1945 | Independent Liberal Conservative |
| | | Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) | Minister | Social Affairs | | 10 August 1939 – 23 February 1945 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956) | Minister | Education, Arts and Sciences | | 10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945 | Free-thinking Democratic League |
| | | Willem Albarda (1877–1957) | Minister | Water Management | | 10 August 1939 – 23 February 1945 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Max Steenberghe (1899–1972) | Minister | Agriculture and Fisheries | | 1 May 1941 – 17 November 1941 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) | Minister | Agriculture and Fisheries | | 17 November 1941 – 8 January 1942 | Social Democratic Workers' Party |
| | | Piet Kerstens (1896–1958) | Minister | Agriculture and Fisheries | | 8 January 1942 – 31 May 1944 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Jim de Booy (1885–1969) | Minister | Shipping and Fisheries | | 31 May 1944 – 3 July 1946 | Independent Classical Liberal |
| | | Charles Welter (1880–1972) | Minister | Colonial Affairs | | 10 August 1939 – 17 November 1941 | Roman Catholic State Party |
| | | Dr. Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) | Minister | Colonial Affairs | | 17 November 1941 – 21 May 1942 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Huib van Mook (1894–1965) | Minister | Colonial Affairs | | 21 May 1942 – 23 February 1945 | Independent Social Liberal |
| Ministers without portfolio | Ministers without portfolio | Ministers without portfolio | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | 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 |
| Source: (in Dutch) Parlement & Politiek ||||||||
    $^{Resigned}$
    $^{Dismissedfromoffice}$
    $^{Retainedfromthepreviouscabinet}$
    $^{Continuedinthenextcabinet}$
    $^{Acting}$
    $^{AdInterim}$
    $^{DiedinOffice}$
    $^{AppointedasMinisteroftheInterior}$
| Rang/Title/Position | Rang/Title/Position | Rang/Title/Position | Military Command | Military Command | Term of office |
| | | General Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1911–2004) | Commander-in-chief | Armed Forces | 3 September 1944 – 13 September 1945 |
* The age difference between the oldest and youngest cabinet member Gerrit Bolkestein (born 1871) and Jaap Burger (born 1904) was 32 years, 346 days.