Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 May 27

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Today's featured article
Ernst Lindemann (1894–1941) was a German naval captain and the only commander of the battleship Bismarck during its eight months of service in World War II. Born in 1894, he joined the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) in 1913, and after his basic military training, served on a number of warships during World War I as a wireless telegraphy officer. After World War I, he served in various staff as well as naval gunnery training positions. In May 1941, Lindemann commanded Bismarck during Operation Rheinübung. The German task force, under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens, consisted of the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. It was to break out of its base in German occupied Norway and attack British merchant shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean. The force's first major engagement was the Battle of the Denmark Strait which resulted in the sinking of HMS Hood. Less than a week later, on 27 May, Lindemann and most of his crew lost their lives during Bismarck's last battle. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes), which recognized extreme bravery on the battlefield or outstanding military leadership. (more...) Recently featured: Evelyn Waugh – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – Tiny Thompson Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that there was only one survivor of the explosion which obliterated HMS Princess Irene (pictured) and killed 352 people? ... that Bayside Church held its 2011 Easter services at the Power Balance Pavilion (formerly Arco Arena), attracting nearly 17,000 people? ... that the Fasci Italiani all'Estero, the fascist movement for Italian expatriates, which was led by Giuseppe Bastianini, claimed to have groups in over 40 countries in 1925? ... that the late 7th-century Kentish law code, the Law of Hlothhere and Eadric, has no provisions regarding the church? ... that Geograpsus severnsi is the first crab species known to have become extinct? ... that Indonesian biographer Alberthiene Endah has called writing biographies similar to dating the subject? ... that the Cambriae Typus map shows a sea monster in the Irish Sea? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Ratko Mladić (pictured), a former Bosnian Serb Army commander, is arrested in Serbia pursuant to 1995 war crimes charges. NASA's Spirit rover mission on Mars formally ends after six years of planetary exploration. The Oprah Winfrey Show, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, concludes its 25-year run. Iceland's Grímsvötn volcano erupts, causing flight cancellations in northern Europe. The Democratic Rally, led by Nicos Anastasiades, win a plurality after an election in Cyprus. PNS Mehran, a Pakistani naval base in Karachi, is attacked by militants. At least 124 people are killed by a tornado, among the deadliest in U.S. history, in Joplin, Missouri. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 27: Children's Day in Nigeria 1153 – Malcolm IV became King of Scotland at the age of twelve. 1799 – War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeated the French and captured the strategically important town of Winterthur, Switzerland. 1930 – Standing at 319 metres (1,047 ft), New York City's Chrysler Building (pictured) opened as the world's tallest building before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building 11 months later. 1967 – Australians overwhelmingly approved two amendments to the Constitution granting the government the power to make laws to benefit Indigenous Australians and to count them in the national census. 2006 – An earthquake measuring about 6.3 M_w struck near the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta on the southern side of the island of Java, killing at least 5,700 people, injuring at least 36,000, and leaving at least 1.5 million homeless. More anniversaries: May 26 – May 27 – May 28 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 27, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Berlin's Olympiastadion, during the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, in which 1,984 participants from 201 nations competed. All of the events were held inside the stadium, with the exceptions of marathon and racewalking. In the men's 100 metres race, Jamaican Usain Bolt shattered the world record, finishing in 9.58 seconds.

Photo: Tobi 87

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