on 10 may 1940 nazi germany invaded the netherlands and the government fled to london to escape the german occupation. the cabinet de geer ii fell on 26 august 1940 after a conflict between queen wilhelmina and prime minister dirk jan de geer and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of 1940 when it was replaced by the cabinet gerbrandy i with welter continuing as minister of colonial affairs and was appointed as minister of finance dual serving in both positions, taking office on 3 september 1940. the cabinet gerbrandy i fell on 12 june 1941 after a conflict between queen wilhelmina and minister of defence adriaan dijxhoorn and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of 1941 when it was replaced by the cabinet gerbrandy ii with welter continuing as of minister of colonial affairs, taking office on 27 july 1941. on 17 november 1941 welter and minister of finance and minister of commerce, industry and shipping max steenberghe resigned after disagreeing with the cabinets war policies.