Second Gerbrandy cabinet

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Paul-Henri Spaak , Minister of Foreign Affairs Eelco van Kleffens and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Joseph Bech sign a monetary agreement that later became the foundation of the Benelux Union on 21 October 1943 in London .