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 Georgian-Abkhaz War
Mon 3 Feb 2014
In 1992 a war erupted in the separatist Georgian territory of Abkhazia
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American Football and Brain Injuries
Fri 31 Jan 2014
The death of former NFL star Mike Webster led to questions about safety in 2002
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US Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Cuba
Thu 30 Jan 2014
In January 1961, the US closed down its embassy in Cuba and withdrew all diplomatic staff
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Gay Pride in Russia
Wed 29 Jan 2014
In 2006, Russian activists broke the law to stage the first gay pride march in Moscow.
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The Cairo Fire 1952
Tue 28 Jan 2014
In January 1952 hundreds of buildings were deliberately set ablaze in downtown Cairo
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WW2, the Holocaust and Rome
Mon 27 Jan 2014
In 1943, Rome's Jewish citizens were promised safety if they gave gold to the Nazis.
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The Creation of Modern Nigeria in 1914
Fri 24 Jan 2014
Rare archive recordings of people who lived through the unification of Nigeria in 1914
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The Execution of Ted Bundy
Thu 23 Jan 2014
In January 1989, US serial killer Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair in Florida
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The Siege of Leningrad
Wed 22 Jan 2014
In January 1944 the WW2 blockade of Leningrad finally ended after almost 900 days
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World's First Nuclear-Powered Submarine
Tue 21 Jan 2014
The world's first nuclear-powered submarine was launched on 21st January 1954.
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The Minnesota Starvation Experiment
Mon 20 Jan 2014
The WW2 attempt to understand how best to care for starving civilians in war-torn Europe
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The Battle of Monte Cassino
Fri 17 Jan 2014
The allies launched a major offensive against the Germans in Italy in January 1944
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The First Battle of Fallujah
Thu 16 Jan 2014
In 2004, US forces began battling insurgents based in the Iraqi city of Fallujah
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Nigeria's First Coup
Wed 15 Jan 2014
In 1966 a small group of Nigerian army officers launched the country's first ever coup
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Jimi Hendrix
Tue 14 Jan 2014
The guitarist's girlfriend on his electrifying performances and their life off-stage
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Soviet Lithuania Crackdown
Mon 13 Jan 2014
In 1991, pro-independence Lithuanians took to the streets of Vilnius against Soviet tanks
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Mother Teresa
Fri 10 Jan 2014
The young nun who would become Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1929
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The Panama Flag Riots
Thu 9 Jan 2014
In 1964 violence erupted in Panama, prompted by a dispute over the American flag.
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Twelve Years A Slave
Wed 8 Jan 2014
Solomon Northup was born a free man in America but kidnapped into slavery in the South
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Impeachment of President Clinton
Tue 7 Jan 2014
In 1999, Bill Clinton was tried by the US Senate over his relationship with an intern
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Albert Camus
Mon 6 Jan 2014
One of France's most famous writers was killed in a car crash on 4 January, 1960
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Lord Haw Haw - Britain's Most Hated WW2 Traitor
Fri 3 Jan 2014
On the 3rd of January 1946 Britain's most famous wartime traitor was hanged.
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The Longest Ever Raft Journey
Thu 2 Jan 2014
The Las Balsas expedition saw 12 men set off on three rafts across the Pacific Ocean
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The Zapatista Uprising in Mexico
New Year's Day 2014
Armed indigenous rebels seized towns in Chiapas, Mexico, on New Year's Day in 1994
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Edith Piaf
Tue 31 Dec 2013
The life of the legendary French singer remembered by her friends and lovers
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Anti-Shah Demonstrations in Iran
Mon 30 Dec 2013
Millions of people took to the streets of Iran's main cities in December 1978.
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Prison Camp in WW2 Manila, Philippines
Fri 27 Dec 2013
Thousands of foreign civilians were interned when Japanese troops invaded in WW2
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The Murder of Dian Fossey
Boxing Day 2013
Gorilla expert Dian Fossey was murdered in her cabin in Rwanda on 26 December 1985
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Grand Theft Auto
Christmas Day 2013
A controversial new computer game designed in Scotland became a surprise hit in 1997
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The MP Who Faked His Own Death
Christmas Eve 2013
British MP John Stonehouse faked his own death in Miami and reappeared in Australia
