Main content

Witness History Episodes

  1.

    Freeze

    In 1988 a group of students put on an exhibition called Freeze. It changed British art.

  2. The Monkey Trial

    In 1925 the US was gripped by the Monkey Trial, a teacher tried for teaching evolution.

  3. Tragedy on the Tour de France

    Tom Simpson, the legendary British cyclist who died on the Tour de France.

  4. The Vote for Women Priests

    In 1992 the Church of England faced its toughest decision since the split from Rome.

  5. Spy and Femme Fatale Mata Hari

    How the Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari, wowed Paris but was then executed for spying.

  6. Rainbow Warrior

    25 years ago the Greenpeace campaign ship, the Rainbow Warrior, was bombed.

  7. Uncovering Srebrenica

    How an American journalist uncovered the story of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia.

  8. Piper Alpha oil rig disaster

    On 6 July 1988 the Piper Alpha oil rig in the North Sea off Scotland exploded.

  9. Witness: the Algerians who fought for France

    The fate of the Algerians who fought for France during the war of independence.

  10. Entebbe raid

    Summer 1976, and an Air France plane is hijacked and flown to Entebbe airport in Uganda.

  11. Battle of Gettysburg

    The battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War.

  12. The murder of Colombian footballer Andres Escobar

    Colombian defender Andres Escobar was murdered after an own goal in the 1994 World Cup.

  13. Slovenian War of Independence

    Slovenia's ten day war of independence.

  14. Stonewall Riots

    A raid on the Stonewall club in New York leads to the birth of the gay rights movement.

  15. Korean War

    It is 60 years since the beginning of the Korean War. Listen to one soldier's story.

  16. Berlin airlift

    In 1948 West Berlin was blockaded by the Soviets - all supplies had to be airlifted in.

  17. Pickles and the Stolen World Cup

    In 1966 England won the football World Cup. But would there be a trophy to collect?

  18. Cigarette ruling

    In 1997 a ruling in America changed the tobacco industry forever.

  19. Peron Returns

    In 1973 Juan Peron returned to Argentina from exile. But his homecoming turned to chaos.

  20. Charles de Gaulle's rallying cry

    De Gaulle, the BBC and the birth of the French Resistance.

  21. The Rosenbergs

    Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for spying against the USA on 19 June 1953.

  22. Soweto Uprising

    Schoolchildren protest against Afrikaans as the language of instruction in South Africa

  23. Exxon Valdez

    In March 1989, the Exxon Valdez went aground, spilling 11 million gallons of oil

  24. Tragedy at Le Mans

    The worst accident in motor-racing history happened in 1955 at Le Mans.

  25. USA v England

    In 1950 a team of part-time footballers from the USA beat England in the World Cup.

  26. Kosovo War

    On this day in 1999 the Kosovo war came to an end - a Serbian soldier tells his story.

  27. Cousteau Film

    Jacques Cousteau's film the Silent World revolutionised underwater filmmaking.

  28. Kim Phuc's Story

    In 1972 a photo of a little Vietnamese girl, burned and crying, shocked the world.

  29. Palestinian refugees: the day my family was killed

    In 1948, the creation of Israel led to many Palestinians becoming refugees

  30. The Marshall Plan

    It's June the 5th 1947 and America comes to the aid of a devastated Europe.

  2. 1
  3. …
  4. 144
  5. 145
  6. 146
  7. 147
  8. 148
  9. …
  10. 155