Eighty years ago this week collaborationist prime minister of France sentenced to death

 

 

 

France's Vichy prime minister Pierre Laval was tried for collaboration and passing intelligence to the enemy. Unlike the trial of Marshal Petain which had been conducted decorously in light of defendant's reputation and standing the entire court, notably the jurors who hurled abuse at him, showed open hostility. Laval was given little opportunity to speak and made vigorous use of what freedom he was given. In protest at the conduct of the trial he refused to remain in court. He was sentenced to death on all counts.

Britain's ports were almost shut down by a series of unofficial strikes. The strikers chiefly aimed at an increase in or simple introduction of a fixed wage; they were mostly employed on a casual basis and paid piecework. The return to their usual ports of men deployed elsewhere during the war also provoked discontent. The general secretary of the TGWU Arthur Deakin which represented dockers was close to Ernie Bevin who had been a key Labour minister in the wartime coaltion and a leading figuren in Attlee's government. The TGWU leader in Liverpool negotiated with the employers but a mass meeting of strikers voted overwhelmingly against his efforts.

The Duke of Windsor visited England (unaccompanied by the Duchess) for the first time since 1940. He saw his mother Queen Mary and toured the bombed areas of London's East End. This produced little enthusiasm in contrast to the the welcome which had been given to his brother George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they had toured there during the Blitz in 1940.