First Gerbrandy cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:First Gerbrandy cabinet
Second London cabinet
Jurisdiction:the Netherlands
Flag:Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Dissolved:
(Demissionary from)
Government Head:Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
Deputy Government Head:Hendrik van Boeijen (De Facto)
State Head:Queen Wilhelmina
Members Number:10
Former Members Number:2
Political Party:Roman Catholic
State Party

(RKSP)
Social Democratic
Workers' Party

(SDAP)
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(ARP)
Christian Historical Union
(CHU)
Free-thinking
Democratic League

(VDB)
Liberal State Party
(LSP)
Legislature Status:National unity government
War cabinet
Legislature Term:1937–1946
Previous:Second De Geer cabinet
Successor:Second Gerbrandy cabinet

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.[1]

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 on 12 June 1941 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.

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

MinistersTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Dr.
Pieter Sjoerds
Gerbrandy

(1885–1961)
Prime Minister3 September 1940 –
25 June 1945
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
MinisterJustice10 August 1939 –
21 February 1942
Hendrik
van Boeijen

(1889–1947)
MinisterGeneral Affairs3 September 1940 –
23 February 1945
Christian
Historical Union
MinisterInterior24 June 1937 –
31 May 1944
Eelco van Kleffens
(1894–1983)
MinisterForeign Affairs10 August 1939 –
1 March 1946
Independent
Classical Liberal
Charles Welter
(1880–1972)
MinisterFinance3 September 1940 –
27 July 1941
Roman Catholic
State Party
MinisterColonial Affairs10 August 1939 –
17 November 1941
Max Steenberghe
(1899–1972)
MinisterCommerce,
Industry and
Shipping
10 May 1940 –
17 November 1941
Roman Catholic
State Party
Major general
Adriaan Dijxhoorn
(1889–1953)
MinisterDefence10 August 1939 –
12 June 1941
Independent
Conservative Liberal
Hendrik
van Boeijen

(1889–1947)
12 June 1941 –
15 September 1942
Christian
Historical Union
Dr.
Jan van
den Tempel

(1877–1955)
MinisterSocial Affairs10 August 1939 –
23 February 1945
Social Democratic
Workers' Party
Gerrit Bolkestein
(1871–1956)
MinisterEducation, Arts
and Sciences
10 August 1939 –
25 June 1945
Free-thinking
Democratic League
Willem Albarda
(1877–1957)
MinisterWater Management10 August 1939 –
23 February 1945
Social Democratic
Workers' Party
Dr.
Aat van Rhijn
(1892–1986)
MinisterAgriculture and
Fisheries
10 May 1940 –
1 May 1941
Christian
Historical Union
Max Steenberghe
(1899–1972)
1 May 1941 –
17 November 1941
Roman Catholic
State Party
Source: Parlement & Politiek

External links

Official

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gerbrandy in Londen. Andere Tijden. 18 March 2003. 9 June 2018. nl.