Friday, November 7, 1941. A day of speeches and demonstrations.

Four Freedoms and Arsenal of Democracy posters set for display in Defense Square, Washington for a month beginning November 7, 1941. 

On this date in 1941, a set of massive posters was set on display in Defense Square in Washington D. C.  The posters, after being on display, would then tour major US cities for a month.  The display emphasized the four freedoms theme of the Administration and American industrial might.

On the same day, the U.S. Senate voted to amend the Neutrality Act to allow merchantmen to be armed and to allow the U.S. Navy to enter combat zones.  The vote was 50 to 37.

While this was occurring in the United States, senior members of the Japanese armed forces were informed that war against the United States would commence on December 8, one month away. The date was Japanese local time.

Japan did continue to exchange diplomatic notes with the United States during this period, with there being some slight hope that the US and Japan might reach an accord.  On this date, the Japanese delivered a note regarding Japanese forces in China, which stated:

DISPOSITION OF JAPANESE FORCES

(A) stationing of Japanese forces in China and the withdrawal thereof:

With regard to the Japanese forces that have been despatched to China in connection with the China Affair, those forces in specified areas in North China and Mengchiang (Inner Mongolia) as well as in Hainan-tao (Hainan Island) will remain to be stationed for a certain required duration after the restoration of peaceful relations between Japan and China. All the rest of such forces will commence, withdrawal as soon as general peace is restored between Japan and China, and the withdrawal will proceed according to separate arrangements between Japan and China and will be completed within two years with the firm establishment of peace and order.

(B) Stationing of Japanese forces in French Indo-China and the withdrawal thereof:

The Japanese Government undertakes to guarantee the territorial sovereignty of French Indo-China. The Japanese forces at present stationed there will be withdrawn as soon as the China Affair is settled, or an equitable peace is established in East Asia.

PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Japanese Government recognizes the principle of non-discrimination in international commercial relations to be applied to all the Pacific areas, inclusive of China, on the understanding that the principle in question is to be applied uniformly to the rest of the entire world as well.

Churchill delivered his Resolution Of The People Speech.

The day is most remembered for a parade.

In spite of hundreds of thousands of German troops attempting to take the city, a giant military parade was held in Moscow on this day commemorating the anniversary of the October Revolution.  The daring of it was such that it became an event in the history of World War Two in and of itself.

Soviet sailors marching in parade.

The massive parade featured tanks, marching infantry and cavalry and truck and horse-drawn artillery.  Some troops deployed directly from the parade to frontline deployment.  Stalin observed as the troops passed in review and then delivered a speech.  

Making it more dramatic, a snowstorm broke out during the parade, with the snow going from light to heavy as the parade went on.

Stalin's speech predicted a German defeat, but suggested it would be coming in a matter of mere months.

In post Communist Russia, the parade still occurs, but it now honors the November 7, 1941 parade itself.  This year it was cancelled due to COVID 19 which is hitting Russia  hard at the present time.

This event and a dramatic stamp depicting it can be found here:

Today in World War II History—November 7, 1941

The Soviets sustained a terrible disaster on this day when the hospital ship Armenia was sunk by German He111s through a torpedo strike.  7,000 people lost their lives, making it one of the worst naval disasters in history.  The ship was marked with red crosses, but it was also armed with light anti aircraft guns.

The Armenia before the war when she was a Black Sea passenger ship.

While the US was heading rapidly towards war, life continued on, as it does.  

Bette Davis became the first woman to be elected president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

In Cleveland a six man high school football team was photographed, this being football season.