1918 (MONDAY)
FRANCE: At 0500 hours local, an Armistice is signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne to be effective at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. Thus, World War I ended. The day became known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day to reflect and remember the sacrifices men and women made during World War I in order to ensure peace. It is observed in the U.S., the British Commonwealth and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. In 1954, the U.S. Congress passed and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law changing the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, a day to honor all of the servicemen and women who served in the Armed Forces.
1921 (SATURDAY)
UNITED STATES: The International Conference on Naval Limitation, more commonly known as the Washington Naval Conference, opens in Washington, D.C. This disarmament effort is occasioned by the hugely expensive naval construction rivalry that exists among the U.K., Japan and the U.S.. U.S. Senator William E. Borah, Republican of Idaho, takes the lead on this matter and urges that the major Allied nations from World War I gather in an effort to slow the arms race. The proposal is not met with initial enthusiasm by the President Warren Harding administration, but it becomes a political imperative when it was portrayed as a Republican alternative to League of Nations' peace efforts. The major naval powers of France, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. are in attendance as well as other nations with concerns about territories in the Pacific, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China, who are not parties to the disarmament discussions. The Soviet Union is not invited, nor are the
defeated Central Powers. In the initial session, U.S. Secretary of State Charles Hughes shocks the delegates by going beyond platitudes and offering a detailed plan for arms reduction. Labeled by some as one of the most dramatic moments in American diplomatic history, Hughes calls for the scrapping of nearly 2 million tons (1.8 million metric tonnes) of warships and a lengthy "holiday" on the construction of new ships. He is widely hailed in the press as a savior, but leaders of the other Allied governments are quietly skeptical. The conference will continue until February 1922.
1931 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED STATES: Secretary. of State Henry Stimson asked General Charles G. Dawes, American Ambassador to the U.K., to go to Paris, France, during the League of Nations Council meeting "inasmuch as this meeting will consider the present situation in Manchuria and questions may arise which will affect the interests or treaty obligations of the United States . . . he will be in a position to confer with the representatives of the other nations present in Paris in case such conference should seem desirable."
1932 (FRIDAY)
UNITED STATES: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) opens Radio City in New York City with a gala show.
1937 (THURSDAY)
PALESTINE: In an effort to control terrorist attacks in Palestine, the British commissioner sets up special military courts to try suspected terrorists. Anyone caught carrying firearms or bombs could be sentenced to death by these courts.
November 11th, 1939 (SATURDAY)
EUROPE:
UNITED KINGDOM:
London: Queen Elizabeth broadcast an Armistice Day message to the women of the Empire from
Buckingham palace tonight, while the King listened on a wireless in another room.
"War has at all times called for the fortitude of women," she said, "but
now we, no less than men, have real and vital work to do." To us also is given the
proud privilege of serving our country in her hour of need."
"The tasks you have undertaken cover every field of national service." But these tasks are not for every woman. It is the worries and irritations of carrying on wartime life in ordinary homes which are so often hard to bear. Many of you have had to see your family life broken up, your husband going off to his allotted task, your children evacuated to places of greater safety.
The King and I know what it means to be parted from our children and we can sympathise with you." [The two princesses have remained at Balmoral since the outbreak of the war.] "All this has meant sacrifice and I would say to those who are feeling the strain: You are taking your part in keeping the Home Front, which will have dangers of its own, stable and strong."
So far 45,000 women have been recruited as volunteers for the women's services - the WRNS (3,400), the ATS (24,000), the WAAF (8,800) and the nursing services (8,000). Recruiting for the WRNS has been halted because the waiting lists are already so long. The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) takes women from the ages of 18 to 43. The age limit for the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) has been raised to 50 for those with experience. Women pilots are being accepted in the Air Transport Auxiliary which flies planes from the factories to their squadrons.
Recruiting has also been suspended for the Women's Land Army, for which 25,000 women have registered. Only a proportion of those who have completed training have yet found work. The Marchioness of Reading, who founded the Women's Voluntary Service for Civil Defence (the WVS) last year says that nearly 500,000 women have volunteered for it.
Dr. R.V. Jones submits The Hitler Waffe report, listing seven possible secret German weapons, with #5 being long-range guns and rockets.
FRANCE: Minesweeper FS La Curieuse launched.
Colonel Charles de Gaulle urges general headquarters that French tanks be formed into armored divisions rather than be dispersed as infantry supports. His ideas are rejected.
BELGIUM: The Belgian Army cancels military leaves.
Belgian police along the French border receive orders to clear roads to allow for French forces entering into Belgium.
GERMANY:
The Foreign Office repeats earlier assurances that the neutrality of Holland and Belgium
will be respected.
U-69 laid down.
U.S.S.R.: The Soviet Commissar of Defence Kliment Voroshilov gives orders to found a 'People's Army of Finland', the military arm of the future Soviet puppet 'People's Government of Finland.' and orders the Red Army to move into attacking positions along the Finnish border.
GIBRALTAR: U.S. freighter SS Nishmaha is detained by British authorities.