Wikipedia:Today's featured article/May 1, 2013

If Day was a simulated Nazi invasion of the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and surrounding areas on February 19, 1942, during the Second World War. It was an elaborate campaign to promote the purchase of Victory Bonds, loans to the government to allow for increased war spending, and over C$3 million was collected in Winnipeg on If Day. As money came in from those selling Victory Bonds, the sections were "reclaimed" from the Nazi invaders. The event was organized by the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan organization, led by prominent Winnipeg businessman J. D. Perrin. The organizers believed that bringing the war (or, rather, a simulation thereof) to people's homes would result in a change of attitude among those not directly affected by the war. The simulation included 3,500 Canadian Army members, representing all of Winnipeg's units, making it the largest military exercise in Winnipeg to that point. If Day included a staged firefight between Canadian troops and volunteers dressed as German soldiers, the internment of prominent politicians, the imposition of Nazi rule, and a parade. It was the subject of a 2006 documentary, and was included in Guy Maddin's film My Winnipeg. (Full article...)

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