| In Occupied Austria... Pierre Laval, former premier of Vichy France, surrenders to the American
forces upon landing in Linz. He is handed over to the French authorities.
Laval was flown there from Spain, where he had been granted political
asylum, onboard the personal plane of General Franco. In part, his
surrender is motivated by a desire to defend his role in the Vichy
government. However, the British ambassador in Madrid, Sir Victor
Mallet, had spoken to Franco about Laval prior to his departure from
Spain.
In Occupied Germany... The Potsdam Conference continues. Atlee, Truman and Stalin confer on politics and strategy, in a town near Berlin.
In Washington... US Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, sends
President Truman a memorandum on how to persuade Japan to surrender. As
part of a package of measures which also includes conventional bombing,
invasion and diplomacy, he takes for granted that America will use the
atomic bombs now under production.
In Canada... British Field Marshal Alexander is appointed
Governor General.
In Singapore... British frogmen sink the Japanese cruiser Takao
with limpet mines.
In Japan... The Japanese are warned by the Americans that
eight cities will be leveled it the government refuses to surrender. |
