THE Second World War not only shaped this decade, but structured the rest of the century. The fall-out from the war left Europe to be carved up by the victors while the rest of the world struggled to shape colonial shackles. Europe embarked on the process that became the Cold War and put the superpowers of the Soviet Union and the USA at loggerheads.
There was bloodshed in Africa and India, and turmoil in the Middle East. The reverberations from the UN vote on November 29, 1947, continue to this day. Resolution 181, which approved the partition of the western part of Palestine into a predominantly Jewish state and a predominantly Arab state.
The partition plan was approved by 33 to 13, with 10 abstentions. Jews, many of whom had endured unspeakable horror during the war, celebrated the advent of a nation. But the violence started almost immediately. It has continued almost without interruption.
The hamlet of Eaglesham was also, meanwhile, the site of one of the most unusual happenings of the war.
On May 10, 1941, Rudolph Hess took off from Augsburg airfield, 40 miles north of Munich in a Messerschmitt Bf110, bailing out over Eaglesham Moor and landing in a field near Floors farm.
He surrendered to a ploughman named David McLean, armed with a pitchfork and told him in English: "I have an important message for the Duke of Hamilton".
Hess was then offered tea at McLean's cottage before being taken into custody by the local Home Guard.
The motive for this bizarre event is still unexplained and has produced a variety of theories, including the supposition that Hess had wanted to offer a German surrender. During his years of British imprisonment 194145, Hess displayed increasingly unstable behaviour.
In 1945, he was returned to Germany to stand trial before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. In spite of his mental condition he was sentenced to life in prison. The Soviets blocked all attempts at early release.
He served his sentence in Spandau prison in Berlin, where from 1966 he was the sole inmate.
Hess died by suicide on July, 17, 1987 aged 93.
HEADLINES
Virginia Woolfe drowns herself in Sussex Ouse (1941)
Rudolph Hess arrives in Scotland (1941)
Malta is awarded the George Cross for heroism (1941)
Sir Alexander Fleming is awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine (1944)
The Bank of England passes to public ownership (1945)
Lord Mountbatten is appointed last viceroy of India (1947)
The government asks women to wear shorter skirts to save cloth (19xx)
The British government recognises Israel (1948)
Christopher Cockerell begins experiments on hovercrafting (1949)
The Archers is broadcast for the first time (1949)
LOCAL NEWS
MrMaxton (BridgetonILP) asked why police action had been taken in several towns in Scotland against Scottish Nationalists, and why their homes had been searched and documents taken.
Report in edition of May 14, 1941, on the same page detailing Rudolph Hess's flight to Scotland.
QUOTE OF THE DECADE
Iraq will without hesitation cancel its oil concessions in the event of the implementation of a decision against the Arabs in Palestine Iraqi government statement, September 19, 1947
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