Today in World War II History—May 10, 1941

Members of the London Fire Brigade on Queen Victoria Street on the night of 10-11 May 1941, the last major raid in London’s Blitz (Imperial War Museum: HU 1129)
80 Years Ago—May 10, 1941: Last major Luftwaffe attack on London—700 acres burnt; Tower of London, House of Commons, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey & British Museum are hit.
Germany’s Deputy Führer, Rudolf Hess, flies a Messerschmitt 110 fighter plane to Prestwick, Scotland, in a misguided attempt to broker peace with Britain.
“Strike of the 100,000” begins in Belgium at Cockerill Steel Works; ends without any arrests on May 18 when Germans raise wages 8%.

Wreckage of Rudolf Hess’s Messerschmitt 110, Bonnyton Moor, Scotland, 10 May 1941 (Imperial War Museum)