Witness History Podcast
History told by the people who were there. For nine minutes every weekday, Witness History takes you back to moments which have shaped our world.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron 鈥� Argentina鈥檚 Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous 鈥榯ear down this wall鈥� speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler鈥檚 List; and Jacques Derrida, France鈥檚 鈥榬ock star鈥� philosopher.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest, the disastrous D-Day rehearsal, and the death of one of the world鈥檚 oldest languages.
Episodes to download
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The American POW who chose China
Thu 27 Oct 2011
When the Korean War ended, a few US POWs chose to stay and live under communism.
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The Joy of Sex
Wed 26 Oct 2011
It is almost 40 years since the publication of a groundbreaking book about relationships.
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Nelson Mandela's Autobiography
Tue 25 Oct 2011
Written with the help of other ANC activists, how was the book smuggled out of prison?
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Mau Mau uprising
Mon 24 Oct 2011
It is 55 years since the Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi was arrested in Kenya.
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George Blake Escapes
Thu 20 Oct 2011
In October 1966 a Soviet double agent escaped from a British jail.
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Canada Kidnap - James Cross
Wed 19 Oct 2011
In October 1970 James Cross, a British diplomat, was kidnapped by Quebec separatists.
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Erich Honecker stands down
Tue 18 Oct 2011
On 18 October 1989, the East German communist leader, was forced from power.
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French Algerian Massacre
Mon 17 Oct 2011
On 17 October 1961, French police turned against Algerian demonstrators in Paris.
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First Birth Control Clinic Opened in the US
Thu 13 Oct 2011
Margaret Sanger's clinic was open for 10 days giving women advice about contraception
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USS Cole
Wed 12 Oct 2011
On 12 October 2000, an American destroyer was attacked by al-Qaeda suicide bombers.
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Burton and Taylor remarry
Tue 11 Oct 2011
In October 1975 the filmstars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor got married - again!
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The US Bombing of Afghanistan
Fri 7 Oct 2011
It's 10 years since the first airstrikes on Afghanistan.
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Assassination of Anwar Sadat
Thu 6 Oct 2011
In October 1981 the President of Egypt was shot at a military parade.
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The Manhattan Project
Wed 5 Oct 2011
The invention of the atomic bomb was known as The Manhattan Project.
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The Battle of Cable Street
Tue 4 Oct 2011
In October 1936, fascists clashed with Jews, socialists and anarchists in London.
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Mexico City Massacre
Mon 3 Oct 2011
Just before the 1968 Olympics, the Mexican government cracked down hard on demonstrators.
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Russian Rock concert
Fri 30 Sep 2011
In September 1991 the first heavy metal rock concert was held at a Moscow airfield.
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Kidnap of US Ambassador in Brazil
Wed 28 Sep 2011
In September 1969 left-wing activists kidnapped Charles Burke Elbrick in Rio de Janeiro.
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The Cod Wars
Mon 26 Sep 2011
Almost 40 years ago Britain and Iceland came to blows over fishing rights.
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The Death Of Samuel Doe
Fri 23 Sep 2011
He was the President of Liberia and in September 1990 he died a very violent death.
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The Cultural Revolution in China
Thu 22 Sep 2011
In the mid 1960s young people in China were encouraged to criticise their elders.
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Assassination of Orlando Letelier
Wed 21 Sep 2011
The Chilean politician was killed by a bomb in Washington DC, 35 years ago.
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Arafat at the United Nations
Tue 20 Sep 2011
In November 1974 the Palestinian leader was allowed to speak at the UN.
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The Death of Dag Hammarskjold
Mon 19 Sep 2011
The Secretary General of the UN was killed in a plane crash 50 years ago.
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Black Wednesday
Fri 16 Sep 2011
On 16 September 1992, Britain lost billions in foreign currency reserves in a single day.
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Lehman Brothers
Thu 15 Sep 2011
On 15 September 2008, the US investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy.
