Witness History Episodes Episode guide
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Pollard Spy Case
It's 26 years since an American intelligence analyst admitted selling secrets to Israel.
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The Pompidou centre
It is 35 years since the opening of the iconic modern art centre in Paris.
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The Rosenhan Experiment
In 1969 an American psychologist called David Rosenhan put psychiatrists to the test.
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African Troops During WWII
During World War II, African soldiers were a vital part of the Allied forces in Burma
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Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee: Punk rock and the Queen
In 1977, The Sex Pistols punk rock band mocked Britain's Silver Jubilee celebrations.
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The Biafran war
Between 1967 and 1970 there was a civil war in Nigeria over the formation of Biafra.
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The Lod airport massacre
It is 40 years since gunmen attacked an Israeli airport. We hear from a survivor.
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La Penca bombing
In May 1984 a bomber tried to kill an anti-Sandinista rebel leader in Nicaragua.
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The Dionne Quintuplets
The story of the "miracle babies" who became global superstars in the 1930s.
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Dutch School Siege
Thirty-five years ago, gunmen took 105 young children hostage in a school in Holland.
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The Hacienda nightclub
How the legendary Manchester venue launched a dance music revolution.
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The murder of Giovanni Falcone
Twenty years ago the anti-mafia judge was assassinated by a bomb under his car.
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Monkeys in Space
The USA sent two monkeys into space and brought them back alive for the first time
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Star Wars - the film
It is 35 years since one of the biggest movie franchises of all time hit cinema screens.
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Mount St Helens
On May 18th 1980 there was a huge volcanic eruption in Washington state in the USA.
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The South Asia nuclear standoff
In May 1998 a nuclear arms race began in South Asia.
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The execution of Anne Boleyn
In May 1536 the Queen of England was executed on the orders of her husband Henry VIII.
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The Anschluss
In March 1938 Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany - one Vienna resident remembers.
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Michael Apted and the 7 Up TV series
In 1964, a TV documentary series introduced a group of seven-year-olds to British viewers
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The assassination of a Prime Minister
On May 11th 1812, the British Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, was killed.
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Paris 1968
How student protests and workers' strikes threatened to bring down France's government.
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The Psychiatrist and Rudolf Hess
How a British psychiatrist examined the deputy Nazi leader after his flight to Scotland.
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Attack on Fela Kuti
The Nigerian military stormed the musician's compound in Lagos, Kalakuta Republic
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The trial of Charles Manson
He was responsible for a series of gruesome murders in the Hollywood hills.
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The General Strike
In May 1926 workers across Britain went on strike in support of coal miners.
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Suicide of gay footballer
Justin Fashanu, Britain's first openly gay footballer, killed himself in May 1998.
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The Los Angeles Riots
The people of South Central Los Angeles took to the streets in fury at police brutality
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The capture of President Izetbegovic
In May 1992 the Bosnian president was taken captive by Serb soldiers.
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The right to die
In 2002 a paralysed woman, known as Miss B, was allowed to die in a London hospital.
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Mass Trespass
How walkers stormed an English peak in 1932 and started a fight for countryside access.