August 7th, 1941 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Light cruiser HMS Uganda launched.
The 4th Escort Group, based at Greenock in Scotland, leaves port to join part of the convoy ONS.4 at sea, proceeding to Iceland. (Debbie Laws)
GERMANY: U-524, U-628 laid down.
U-582 commissioned.
FINLAND: Soviet 168th and parts of 115th divisions are encircled in a large motti around Sortavala (Serdobol) on the north-western shore of Lake Ladoga by the Finnish II Corps. At this point Mannerheim decides to form a new I Corps (2nd, 7th and 9th divisions) commanded by Colonel Einar Mäkinen whose assignment is to destroy the enemy troops in the motti. The only way out for the Russians is Lake Ladoga, and they soon start evacuating their troops out by the lake.
ESTONIA: Tallinn, the capitol, was surrounded today when German forces reached the sea near Kunda. (Rainer Korsen)
U.S.S.R.: Moscow: Stalin appoints himself
Commander-in-Chief of the army.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Off GIBRALTAR:
The British destroyer HMS Severn sinks the Italian submarine Michele Bianchi.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweepers HMAS Castlemaine, Kalgoorlie launched.
NEWFOUNDLAND: The USN heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) arrives in Placentia Bay, Argentia, Newfoundland, with US President Franklin D Roosevelt. The President spends the day fishing from the forecastle and inspecting the US Naval base while awaiting the arrival of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
U.S.A.: The motion
picture "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" opens at the Radio City Music Hall in New York
City. This romantic fantasy comedy based on Harry Segall's play "Heaven Can
Wait" is directed by Alexander Hall and stars Robert Montgomery, Evelyn
Keyes, Claude Rains, Rita Johnson, Edward
Everett Horton and James Gleason; Lloyd Bridges appears in an unaccredited role.
The plot has a boxer (Montgomery) dying in a plane crash and being cremated. The
problem is that he was not scheduled to die for another 50-years. Because of
this heavenly mistake, he is returned to earth in the body of a unworthy,
wealthy man who was just murdered by his wife. The film is nominated for seven
Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Montgomery)
and Best Supporting Actor (Gleason); it wins two writing awards.
Television station WNBT, Channel 4 in New York City, broadcasts the first audience-participation show. Studio guests play charades as part of the fun.