Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 November 27

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Today's featured article
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the onset of the Second World War. Initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, a halt in recruitment in the early months of the war caused a delay in the formation of brigade and divisional headquarters. With questions concerning overseas deployment resolved, the division's respective commands were formed in May and June 1940, and the division was deployed to the United Kingdom between 1 August and 25 December 1940. Elements of the 2nd Division were selected as the main force for Operation Jubilee, a large-scale amphibious raid on the port of Dieppe in German-occupied France (casualties pictured). Following a period of reconstruction and retraining from 1942 to 1944, the division joined II Canadian Corps as part of the Second British Army for the Allied Invasion of Normandy. Joining the newly activated headquarters of the First Canadian Army in the assault on northwestern Europe, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division played a significant role in the retaking of the Channel ports, the Battle of the Scheldt, and the liberation of the Netherlands. (more...) Recently featured: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – RNA interference – Hod Stuart Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Tamar–Tavy Estuary (pictured), on the Cornwall–Devon border in the UK, attracts over 20% of the British wintering population of the uncommon Pied Avocet? ... that both of American singer Romeo Santos' first two singles, "You" and "Promise", reached the top of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart? ... that both the Justice Party and the Indian National Congress lent their support to the 1921 Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Strike? ... that Arab-Israeli Olympic hopeful Jowan Qupty and Jewish-Israeli Olympian Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or were high school roommates and best friends? ... that nobleman and diplomat Michał Radziwiłł Rudy was described as a psychopath by his own cousin, politician Krzysztof Radziwiłł? ... that after members of the cast of Ghost of Jeruk Purut were diagnosed as being possessed, the crew was told to prepare an offering of cigars, eggs, and palm sugar? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Mars Science Laboratory rover NASA launches the Mars Science Laboratory (rover concept artwork pictured) on a multi-year mission to assess the habitability of Mars. The incumbent National Party, led by John Key, wins a plurality in the New Zealand general election. A NATO helicopter fires upon a Pakistani checkpoint, killing 28 soldiers. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan apologizes on behalf of the state for the 1937–38 Dersim Massacre. The interim government of Egypt resigns amid violent protests in which at least 30 people have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded. Tony Stewart wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto racing championship. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
November 27 1815 – As specified by the Congress of Vienna, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland was signed for the newly recreated Polish state that was under Russian control. 1868 – American Indian Wars: George Armstrong Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked the encampment Chief Black Kettle and the Cheyenne on the Washita River near present-day Cheyenne, Oklahoma. 1978 – The Kurdistan Workers' Party, which has been in conflict with Turkey over the formation of an autonomous Kurdish state, was founded. 1999 – The Labour Party defeated the governing National Party in the New Zealand general election, making the Labour Party's Helen Clark the first female to win the office of Prime Minister at an election. 2001 – The Hubble Space Telescope detected sodium in the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet HD 209458b (artist's impression pictured), the first planetary atmosphere outside our solar system to be measured. More anniversaries: November 26 – November 27 – November 28 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now November 27, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A fissure vent in the Fimmvörðuháls region of southern Iceland, caused by the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. The eruption opened the 0.5 km (0.31 mi) long fissure on March 20, 2010, and a second eruption a week later opened a second fissure, as well as two craters, which were named Móði and Magni, after the sons of Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

Photo: Henrik Thorburn

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