http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/aug41/f07aug41.htm
Soviets bombers strike Berlin
Thursday, August 7, 1941 www.onwar.com
On the Eastern Front... A small force of Soviet bombers raid Berlin. Berlin is bombed on six more occasions by the Soviets this month.
In Washington... The Senate passes an extension of the draft period from one year to thirty months (and a similar increase for service in the National Guard) after considerable debate.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/07.htm
August 7th, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM: Light cruiser HMS Uganda launched. (Dave Shirlaw)
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. (Dave Shirlaw)
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. (Mikko Härmeinen)
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. (Dave Shirlaw)
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. (Jack McKillop)
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 uncredited 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. (Jack McKillop)
Television station WNBT, Channel 4 in New York City, broadcasts the first audience-participation show. Studio guests play charades as part of the fun. (Jack McKillop)