Liveblogging World War II: December 13, 1940
Robert Paxton: Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order:
On the afternoon of Friday, December 13, 1940, Pierre Laval, home from the second round of military talks on Africa with General Warlimont, presided over a routine cabinet meeting. A few hours later, a surprise meeting of the whole Council of Ministers was called by Marshal Petain. The Marshal asked each member of the government to write out a letter of resignation. Then he accepted those of Pierre Laval and Georges Ripert, minister of education. In the meantime, Laval's floors of the Hotel du Parc were occupied by special security forces.... Laval was... placed under house arrest. Communications with Paris were cut off. This was the most Byzantine of all the many Vichy changes of cabinet, the only one accomplished by the threat of force....
