The First Gerbrandy cabinet, also called the Second London cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch government-in-exile from 3 September 1940 until 27 July 1941. The War cabinet was formed by the Christian-democratic Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and Christian Historical Union (CHU), the social-democratic Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP), the social-liberal Free-thinking Democratic League (VBD) and the conservative-liberal Liberal State Party (LSP) after the resignation of the previous Cabinet De Geer II. The national unity government (War cabinet) was the second of four war cabinets of the government-in-exile in London during World War II.
Formation
On 26 August 1940 Queen Wilhelmina dismissed the Second De Geer cabinet after she lost confidence in the ability of Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer to govern after the German Invasion on 10 May 1940. Subsequently on 28 August 1940 Queen Wilhelmina appointed Minister of Justice Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (ARP) as formateur to form a new cabinet. On 3 September 1940 the formation of the war cabinet was completed and Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was installed as Prime Minister. All ministers of the previous Second De Geer cabinet (excluding Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer) where retained, with Minister of Colonial Affairs Charles Welter (RKSP) taking over as Minister of Finance from Dirk Jan de Geer.
Term The cabinet fell after a conflict between Queen Wilhelmina and Minister of Defence Adriaan Dijxhoorn, leading to the dismissal of the minister. On 1 July 1941, 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.
Changes On 1 May 1941 Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Aat van Rhijn (CHU) was appointed as a Member of the Court of Audits. Because there was little work in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries while the government-in-exile was in London the portfolio was combined with the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Shipping Max Steenberghe (RKSP).
Cabinet members + Source: Parlement & Politiek Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Begin End Party Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy Prime Minister 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Anti-Revolutionary Party Minister Justice 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Hendrik van Boeijen Minister General Affairs 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Christian Historical Union Minister Interior 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Eelco van Kleffens Minister Foreign Affairs 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Independent Classical Liberal Charles Welter Minister Finance 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Roman Catholic State Party Minister Colonial Affairs 3 September 1940 17 November 1941 Max Steenberghe Minister Commerce, Industry and Shipping 3 September 1940 17 November 1941 Roman Catholic State Party Adriaan Dijxhoorn Minister Defence 3 September 1940 12 June 1941 Independent Conservative Liberal Hendrik van Boeijen 12 June 1941 27 July 1941 Christian Historical Union Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) Minister Social Affairs 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Social Democratic Workers' Party Gerrit Bolkestein Minister Education, Arts and Sciences 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Free-thinking Democratic League Willem Albarda Minister Water Management 3 September 1940 27 July 1941 Social Democratic Workers' Party Aat van Rhijn Minister Agriculture and Fisheries 3 September 1940 1 May 1941 Christian Historical Union Max Steenberghe 1 May 1941 27 July 1941 Roman Catholic State Party
References