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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.

Updated: daily
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  • Tenerife Air Crash

    Thu 2 Apr 2015

    In 1977 the worst ever air accident took place when two jumbo jets collided in Tenerife.

  • 1943 Bengal Famine

    Wed 1 Apr 2015

    In 1943, during WW2, famine stuck Bengal in British-run India, killing millions.

  • Unearthing the Terracotta Army

    Tue 31 Mar 2015

    In March 1974 farmers uncovered an intricately carved clay head whilst digging a well

  • Ireland Smoking Ban

    Mon 30 Mar 2015

    In March 2004 Ireland banned smoking in the workplace

  • The Beeching Report

    Thu 26 Mar 2015

    In March 1963 the British government announced plans to slash the country's rail network

  • The John and Yoko Bed-in

    Wed 25 Mar 2015

    In 1969 John Lennon of the Beatles and his new wife Yoko Ono staged a bed-in for peace

  • A Cure for Tuberculosis

    Tue 24 Mar 2015

    Professor Denny Mitchison was a pioneer in the search for a cure for tuberculosis.

  • The Invention of the Black Box

    Mon 23 Mar 2015

    The story of the Black Box flight recorder and the man behind it, David Warren

  • Algeria's War of Independence

    Fri 20 Mar 2015

    In March 1962, a ceasefire was agreed in the Algerian war for independence from France

  • Escape from East Berlin

    Thu 19 Mar 2015

    How a student helped East Berliners escape Communism in the boot of a diplomat's car

  • Golda Meir

    Wed 18 Mar 2015

    In March 1969, Golda Meir became Israel's first female prime minister

  • The Biggest Art Heist in US History

    Tue 17 Mar 2015

    Thieves bluff their way into a Boston museum, stealing art worth around $500 million

  • British Theatre Trial

    Mon 16 Mar 2015

    How a play 'The Romans in Britain' caused a scandal in London's National Theatre in 1982

  • Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy

    Fri 13 Mar 2015

    The secret romance between the Greek shipping magnate and JFK's widow in the 1960s

  • Suite Francaise

    Thu 12 Mar 2015

    The extraordinary story of the manuscript of the French novel Suite Francaise, now a film

  • Kosovo Killings

    Wed 11 Mar 2015

    When Serb forces attacked the home of KLA leader Adem Jashari more than 50 people died

  • The Mysterious Death of an MP in Kenya

    Tue 10 Mar 2015

    Leading Kenyan MP JM Kariuki disappeared in strange circumstances in March 1975

  • Alexander McQueen

    Mon 9 Mar 2015

    The fashion designer who shocked the world in 1995 with an outrageous collection.

  • The German Invasion of Czechoslovakia

    Fri 6 Mar 2015

    Hitler sent his troops into Czechoslovakia on the morning of 15 March 1939.

  • Stalin's Interpreter

    Thu 5 Mar 2015

    Valentin Berezhkov was Stalin's translator during the World War Two

  • The Man who Changed Parenting

    Wed 4 Mar 2015

    Baby and Child Care by Dr Benjamin Spock became a best-seller after publication in 1946

  • Britain's First Commercial Surrogate Mother

    Tue 3 Mar 2015

    In 1985 surrogate mother Kim Cotton triggered a national debate and a change in the law

  • The Sound of Music

    Mon 2 Mar 2015

    On the 50th anniversary of the film the Sound of Music, we talk to Johannes von Trapp

  • The Highway of Death

    Fri 27 Feb 2015

    Allied forces bombed Iraqi vehicles leaving Kuwait at the end of the first Gulf War

  • The Battle of Iwo Jima

    Thu 26 Feb 2015

    In February1945 US Marines fought the Japanese in one of the fiercest battles of WW

  • Spanish Coup Attempt

    Wed 25 Feb 2015

    In February 1981 armed Civil Guards tried to take control of the Spanish parliament.

  • The Looting of the Benin Bronzes

    Tue 24 Feb 2015

    The British attack Benin city in 1897 and steal its ancient artwork, the Benin bronzes.

  • Aldrich Ames CIA Traitor

    Mon 23 Feb 2015

    In February 1994, CIA officer Aldrich Ames was arrested for spying for the Russians

  • Saturday Night Fever

    Fri 20 Feb 2015

    The chart-topping Bee Gees sound track which made the movie a hit

  • Larnaca Airport Shootout

    Thu 19 Feb 2015

    In 1978 Egyptian and Cypriot troops fought each other during a hostage crisis in Cyprus

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