Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 December 11

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From today's featured article
The Battle of Radzymin, a key part of what later became known as the Battle of Warsaw, took place during the Polish–Soviet War (1919–21). The battle occurred near the town of Radzymin, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of Warsaw, between August 13 and 16, 1920. The first phase began with a frontal assault by the Red Army on the Praga bridgehead. The Soviet forces captured Radzymin on August 14 and breached the lines of the 1st Polish Army, which was defending Warsaw from the east. Radzymin changed hands several times in heavy fighting. The Russians wanted to break through the Polish defences to Warsaw, while the Polish aim was to defend the area long enough for a two-pronged counteroffensive to outflank the attacking forces. After three days of intense fighting, the corps-sized 1st Polish Army under General Franciszek Latinik managed to repel a direct assault by six Red Army rifle divisions at Radzymin and Ossów. The struggle for control of Radzymin forced General Józef Haller, commander of the Polish Northern Front, to start the 5th Army's counterattack earlier than planned. Radzymin was recaptured on August 15, and this victory proved to be one of the turning points of the Battle of Warsaw. (Full article...) Recently featured: Drosera regia – Anna of East Anglia – "Imagine" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Upper Rock Nature Reserve (pictured) in Gibraltar is famous for its population of Barbary Macaques, the only wild monkeys in Europe? ... that like all ekadashis, the god Vishnu is worshipped but in particular his fifth avatar of Vamana is worshipped, on Varuthini Ekadashi? ... that Aikaintaite, the début album by the Finnish ambient, neofolk and metal band Syven, prominently features kanteles? ... that due to the effects of climate change on wine production, the northern boundary of European viticulture is shifting northward? ... that English baron Charles August Selby built the manor house of Orupgaard on the Danish island of Falster? ... that the rotifer Adineta ricciae gave up sex about 80 million years ago? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
John Dramani Mahama is re-elected President of Ghana. In Qatar, the UN Climate Change Conference agrees to extend the Kyoto Protocol until 2020. Seven people are killed and hundreds others injured during protests against Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo. The extinct reptile Nyasasaurus is described as the possible oldest known dinosaur from 243-million-year old fossils discovered in Tanzania. At least 600 people are killed after Typhoon Bopha, known as "Pablo" in the Philippines, makes landfall on the island of Mindanao. Recent deaths: Iajuddin Ahmed – Jenni Rivera – Patrick Moore Syrian civil war – Wikinews – More current events...
On this day...
December 11 1905 – In support of the December Uprising in Moscow, the Council of Workers' Deputies of Kiev stage a mass uprising, establishing the Shuliavka Republic in the city. 1920 – Irish War of Independence: Following an Irish Republican Army ambush of a British Auxiliary patrol in Cork, British forces burned and looted numerous buildings in the city. 1972 – Apollo 17 (insignia pictured), the last Apollo moon mission, landed on the Moon. 1981 – Salvadoran Civil War: About 900 civilians were killed by the Salvadoran armed forces in an anti-guerrilla campaign. 2006 – The International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust opened in Tehran "to provide an appropriate scientific atmosphere for scholars to offer their opinions in freedom about a historical issue", but was criticised worldwide as a "meeting of Holocaust deniers". More anniversaries: December 10 – December 11 – December 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now December 11, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The harvesting of sea salt—salt obtained by the evaporation of seawater—in Phetchaburi, Thailand. Like mineral salt, production of sea salt dates to prehistoric times. Generally more expensive than table salt, it is commonly used in gourmet cooking because it is believed to taste better.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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