Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 April 23

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) was a German mountain infantry division of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Raised in the Independent State of Croatia, it was given the title Handschar after a fighting knife carried by Turkish policemen when the region was part of the Ottoman Empire. From March to December 1944, it fought a counter-insurgency campaign against communist-led Yugoslav Partisan resistance forces. The first non-Germanic Waffen-SS division, it was composed of Bosnian Muslims with some Catholic Croat soldiers and mostly German and ethnic German officers and non-commissioned officers. It swore allegiance to Adolf Hitler and the Croatian leader Ante Pavelić. It established a designated "security zone" in north-eastern Bosnia but fought outside the zone on several occasions. It gained a reputation for brutality and savagery during combat operations and atrocities against Serb and Jewish civilians. After late 1944, non-German members began to desert in large numbers, particularly once they had retreated inside the Reich frontier. Others surrendered to British forces. Thirty-eight officers were extradited to Yugoslavia, and ten were executed. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Two-cent piece – Hurricane Kiko (1989) – Paramount Television Network

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the 1843 Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms (pictured) is regarded as the first significant Chinese book on the West and had an important impact in Japan?
... that the success of Larry Wagner's composition Whistler's Mother-in-Law led to a permanent rift between Paul Whiteman and himself?
... that the Masikryong Ski Resort in North Korea took only ten months to construct?
... that Louise Delamere decided to make her Holby City character Colette Sheward childless after reading a national statistic?
... that the Compromise of Nobles was drafted in the Sablon in Brussels, which would later be the site of the execution of 18 of its signatories?
... that baseball pitcher Seth Blair had a tumor in the joint of his middle finger on his throwing hand?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news

At the Boston Marathon, American Meb Keflezighi wins the men's race and Kenyan Rita Jeptoo (pictured) wins the women's race.
An avalanche on Mount Everest kills sixteen Nepalese guides.
NASA ends the LADEE mission by intentionally crashing the spacecraft into the Moon.
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is re-elected President of Algeria.
Fifty-eight people are killed in an attack on a United Nations base in Bor, South Sudan, during an ongoing conflict.

Recent deaths: Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

More current events...

On this day...

April 23: Saint George's Day in various countries; Children's Day in Turkey

1014 – Irish forces led by Brian Boru clashed with the Vikings in the Battle of Clontarf.
1661 – Charles II, King of England, Ireland, and Scotland was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
1954 – Batting against Vic Raschi of the St. Louis Cardinals, Hank Aaron (pictured) of the Milwaukee Braves hit the first of his record-setting 755 home runs in Major League Baseball.
1968 – Students protesting the Vietnam War at Columbia University in New York City took over administration buildings and shut down the university.
1979 – Activist Blair Peach suffered fatal head injuries when he was knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration in Southall, London, against a National Front election meeting in the town hall.

More anniversaries: April 22 – April 23 – April 24

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now April 23, 2014 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks is an oil on canvas painting completed by Ilya Repin from 1880 to 1891. It depicts Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host replying to an ultimatum from Turkish Sultan Mehmed IV with a stream of vulgarities and invectives. The 203 cm × 358 cm (80 in × 141 in) work is now held at the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Painting: Ilya Repin

Recently featured: Bangalore – Sir Galahad – Royal Albert Hall

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.