Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 30, 2006

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Defense of Sihang Warehouse took place from 26 October to 1 November 1937, and marked the beginning of the end of the three-month Battle of Shanghai in the opening phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The defenders of the warehouse, popularly known as both the "Eight Hundred Heroes" and the "Lone Battalion", held out against numerous waves of Japanese forces and covered the movements of the Chinese forces retreating west during the Battle of Shanghai. The successful defense of the warehouse provided a morale-lifting consolation to the Chinese army and people in the demoralizing aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Shanghai. The warehouse's location just across the Suzhou River from the foreign concessions in Shanghai meant the battle took place in full view of the western powers. This drew the attention, if only briefly, of the international community to Chiang Kai-shek's bid for worldwide support against Japanese aggression. (more...)

Recently featured: Hydrogen – Bricker Amendment – Compact Cassette