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 and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
Episodes to download
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Canada's Biggest Peacetime Evacuation
Fri 8 Nov 2013
In 1979 a train carrying tonnes of dangerous chemicals crashed in Canada
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The Death of Dylan Thomas
Thu 7 Nov 2013
In November 1953 Welsh poet Dylan Thomas died in New York aged just thirty-nine.
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The Green March in the Sahara
Wed 6 Nov 2013
In 1975 hundreds of thousands of Moroccans marched into disputed territory in the desert.
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Waterford Kamhlaba multi-racial school
Tue 5 Nov 2013
In 1963 southern Africa's first multi-racial school opened in Swaziland.
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Degenerate Art and the Nazis
Mon 4 Nov 2013
In 1937, the Nazis staged an exhibition to ridicule modern art - it was seen by millions
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The Samaritans Helpline
Fri 1 Nov 2013
In 1953 the first phone helpline for people considering suicide was set up in London
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The Assassination of Indira Gandhi
Thu 31 Oct 2013
On 31 October 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot by her bodyguards
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Hurricane Mitch
Wed 30 Oct 2013
In 1998 Central America was hit by Hurricane Mitch - more than 18,000 people died
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Tokyo Rose - The Most Hated Woman in America
Tue 29 Oct 2013
In 1949 Iva Toguri was falsely accused of making Japanese propaganda during World War Two
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The Wall Street Crash of 1987
Mon 28 Oct 2013
On Black Monday, Wall Street prices fell by a record rate in October 1987
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The BBC's First Man in Moscow
Fri 25 Oct 2013
In 1963, Erik de Mauny became the first BBC correspondent based in the Soviet Union.
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A Heroine of Burundi's Civil War
Thu 24 Oct 2013
In 1993, Marguerite Barankitse came to symbolise hope for peace in Burundi's civil war
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Beirut Barracks Bombing
Wed 23 Oct 2013
In 1983, hundreds died in suicide attacks on American and French bases in Lebanon
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Spying for the Stasi
Tue 22 Oct 2013
The secret life of Sascha Anderson, an avant-garde poet who informed for the Stasi
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The Opening of Sydney Opera House
Mon 21 Oct 2013
In 1973 Sydney Opera House finally opened its doors to the public, 10 years late
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Death of Grenada's Revolution
Fri 18 Oct 2013
The day Maurice Bishop leader of Grenada was killed. Six days later the US invaded
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The Scottsboro Boys: A Miscarriage of Justice in the US
Thu 17 Oct 2013
In 1931, nine black teenagers were convicted of raping two white girls in Alabama.
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Walter Sisulu is Released
Wed 16 Oct 2013
In October 1989, anti-apartheid leader Walter Sisulu was freed from jail after 26 years.
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The Brighton Hotel Bombing
Tue 15 Oct 2013
The day Margaret Thatcher survived a bomb attack in October 1984
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Escape from Sobibor Death Camp
Mon 14 Oct 2013
Hundreds of Jewish slave labourers staged a revolt in a Nazi death camp in October 1943
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Thomas Sankara African Revolutionary
Fri 11 Oct 2013
When one of Africa's most celebrated leaders was killed in a coup in Burkina Faso
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Josephine Baker - Black American Superstar
Thu 10 Oct 2013
In 1925 a young black American dancer became an overnight sensation in Paris
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Tunnel Under the Berlin Wall
Wed 9 Oct 2013
In October 1964 a group of students helped 57 people escape from East Germany
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Danish Jews Escape the Holocaust
Tue 8 Oct 2013
During WWII, most of the Jews in Denmark evaded Nazi plans to send them to death camps
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The Murder of Anna Politkovskaya
Mon 7 Oct 2013
The outspoken Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered in October 2006
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The Betty Ford Center
Fri 4 Oct 2013
How a First Lady's struggle with drugs led to the founding of a world famous rehab clinic
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Israel's Nuclear Secrets
Thu 3 Oct 2013
In October 1986, Mordechai Vanunu revealed Israel's secret nuclear weapons programme
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Australia's Asylum Stand-off
Wed 2 Oct 2013
In 2001, Australia refused entry to more than 400 refugees aboard a Norwegian freight ship
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Mao's American Comrade
Tue 1 Oct 2013
Mao declares the formation of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949
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Appeasement
Mon 30 Sep 2013
In September 1938, Neville Chamberlain tried to negotiate with Hitler over Czechoslovakia.
