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Witness History Episodes

  1.

    The assassination of Georgi Markov

    The Bulgarian dissident was attacked with a poisoned umbrella on his way to Bush House.

  2. The killing of Olof Palme

    On 28 February 1986, the Swedish Prime Minister was killed on a Stockholm street.

  3. Mary Quant and the miniskirt

    A 2012 episode looks back at the work of the pioneering designer, who has died aged 93

  4. From the silent screen to talkies

    In the late 1920s Hollywood made the change from silent films to movies with soundtracks.

  5. The Damascus Spring

    Twelve years ago Syria experienced a brief burst of political openness.

  6. Moose Murders

    Nearly 30 years ago Moose Murders made history as the biggest flop ever on Broadway.

  7. Nixon in China

    It is 40 years since the US President went to China and met Chairman Mao.

  8. Sucked out of a Plane

    In February 1989, nine people were sucked out of a plane over the Pacific Ocean.

  9. Japanese internment

    In February 1942 all Japanese Americans were ordered to internment camps.

  10. The bombing of Darwin

    In February 1942 Japan launched the largest ever attack against Australia.

  11. The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

    On 15 February 1989, the last Soviet soldiers rolled out of Afghanistan.

  12. Sister Dorothy Stang

    In February 2005 a Catholic nun working in the Amazon was murdered.

  13. The Stolen Generation

    Debra Hocking was taken from her indigenous Australian family as a baby.

  14. Deep Blue versus Kasparov

    It was the first time a computer had beaten a reigning world champion chess player.

  15. 50 years of Silicone Breast Implants

    In 1962 Timmie Jean Lindsey became the first woman in the world to have the operation.

  16. Charonne Metro deaths

    It is 50 years since nine French peace protestors died during a demonstration in Paris.

  17. Drugs in Mexico

    On 7 February 1985 a US drug enforcement agent was abducted in Guadalajara.

  18. Death of King George VI

    How Britain mourned the death of King George VI in 1952.

  19. Umm Kulthum

    The great Egyptian singer was buried 37 years ago.

  20. The Hama massacre

    It is 30 years since thousands of Syrians were killed by their own army.

  21. Diane Blood

    Winning the chance to conceive a child using sperm from her dead husband

  22. Dickens in America

    How a visit to America in 1842 became a turning-point in the career of Charles Dickens.

  23. Bloody Sunday

    It is 40 years since 13 civil rights marchers were killed in Northern Ireland.

  24. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff

    It was the worst maritime disaster in history.

  25. The Challenger disaster

    In January 1986 a space shuttle launch went horribly wrong.

  26. The rise of Hitler

    On 25 January 1933 the last legal communist march was held in Berlin.

  27. Japanese soldier in hiding

    In January 1972 a Japanese soldier was found in the jungle of Guam.

  28. Jackson Pollock

    It is one hundred years since the great American abstract painter was born.

  29. The Wannsee conference

    It is 70 years since senior Nazi officials met to plan the killing of European Jews.

  30. Roe v Wade

    In January 1973 abortion was legalised across the USA.

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