Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 February 2

From today's featured article

Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014) was an American actor, director, and producer of film and theater. Best known for his character roles – typically lowlifes, bullies, and misfits – Hoffman gained recognition for his supporting work in films like Boogie Nights (1997), Happiness (1998), and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). For his portrayal of the author Truman Capote in Capote (2005), he won multiple accolades including the Academy Award for Best Actor. Three more Oscar nominations came for his performances in Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Doubt (2008), and The Master (2012). While he mainly worked in independent films, including The Savages (2007) and Synecdoche, New York (2008), Hoffman also appeared in Hollywood blockbusters, such as Mission: Impossible III (2006) and The Hunger Games (2013–2015). He was also an accomplished theater actor and director: his performances in three Broadway plays all led to Tony Award nominations. Hoffman died in February 2014, of combined drug intoxication, at age 46. He is remembered for his fearlessness in playing reprehensible characters, and for bringing depth and humanity to such roles. (Full article...)

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

... that the convent of San Isidro Labrador Parish (pictured) in Lazi, Siquijor is one of the largest convents built during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines?
... that with two 1,600-gallon (6,056-liter) cisterns and a filtering system, Brock Environmental Center is the first project in the US to receive a commercial permit to use rainwater as drinking water?
... that Empire marks the television directorial debut for Academy Award–nominated director Lee Daniels?
... that despite a "perfect" performance in goal, William Merriman was on the losing side in the first FA Cup Final?
... that Web of the Romulans was the first original Star Trek novel to reach the US bestseller lists?
... that David Ogilvy's quotation "The customer is not a moron" has been reused by the BBC and the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi?
... that the Delta Psi fraternity at the University of Vermont was famous for its 100-keg Oktoberfest parties?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

Ongoing: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – War in Ukraine
Recent deaths: Rod McKuen – Colleen McCullough – Charles H. Townes

February 2: Groundhog Day in Canada and the United States

962 – Pope John XII crowned Otto the Great as Holy Roman Emperor, the first in nearly 40 years.
1536 – An expedition to the New World led by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza founded what is now Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1848 – The Mexican–American War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which gave 1.36 million square kilometres (530,000 sq mi) of Mexican territory known as the Mexican Cession to the United States in exchange for US$15 million.
1943 – World War II: The Soviet Red Army captured 91,000 tired and starving German soldiers, ending the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest battles in human history.
1990 – President F. W. de Klerk (pictured) declared the end of apartheid in South Africa.

More anniversaries: February 1 – February 2 – February 3

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now February 2, 2015 (UTC) – Reload this page

The Axis order of battle for the invasion of Yugoslavia was made up of the various operational formations of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, Italian Armed Forces and Hungarian Armed Forces that participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II, commencing on 6 April 1941. It involved the German 2nd Army, with elements of the 12th Army (armoured cars pictured) and a panzer group combined with overwhelming Luftwaffe support. The Italian 2nd Army and 9th Army committed a total of 22 divisions, and the Royal Italian Air Force had over 650 aircraft available to support the invasion. In total, over 1,500 Axis aircraft were available to support the invasion. Naval forces were limited to a few destroyers of the Royal Italian Navy operating in the Adriatic Sea. (Full list...)

Archive – More featured lists...

Groundhogs (Marmota monax) are rodents in the family Sciuridae. They belong to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. This lowland creature is widely distributed in North America and common in the northeastern and central United States and Canada. Although considered by farmers to be a nuisance, groundhogs have become part of popular culture through Groundhog Day and the film of the same name.

Photograph: Cephas

Archive – More featured pictures...

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.