To mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, historian James Holland takes us through the depths of the operation, the brutal 77 day Battle for Normandy that came after the initial invasion. Holland challenges some of the myths that come to surround this vital campaign, arguing that we have become all too comfortable in our understanding of these events.As veterans gather to relive one of the turning
A journey through the dramatic and destructive years of the French Revolution, telling its history in a way not seen before - through the extraordinary story of its art. Our guide through this turbulent decade is the constantly surprising Dr Richard Clay, an art historian who has spent his life decoding the symbols of power and authority.
An old documentary by BBC's series Panorama from 1976 on the troubles in Northern Ireland. At the time the IRA were still continuing their "Long War" strategy so Panorama decided to head to South Armagh, a predominantly Catholic area along the border to report on how the British army were getting on.
This is a gripping hour and a half special by the History Channel on the horrors of the Holocaust, starting off with the early days of persecution found in Nazi Germany right up until the final acts of extermination itself. The History Channel visits many of the archives found in Eastern Europe and the US in an attempt to accurately tell the story of those that were faced with theft and death
Ireland, a fertile land upon which no Roman centurions ever trod, the most westerly outpost of Europe is a land of waring clans and ancient culture for centuries under English rule, a nation of divided loyalties where some still struggle for independence while their neighbors stay loyal to the British crown. This is a land of resilient people, a land of poets and artists, politicians and entrepren
On becoming Prime Minister in 1940, Winston Churchill said that all his past life had been preparation for a moment of destiny, but no chapter had prepared him more than the First World War. In 1914 he had felt the same call of destiny and glory but would experience humiliation and disgrace.In early 1916 he was an infantry officer serving in the trenches, where his battle to clear his name
Man has fought wars in many terrible places over the centuries, but never has he fought in a place as terrible as this, this is the place where the men who ran the second world war arctic convoys went to work, among not only the German, submarines and planes but nature at her most brutal. One hundred mile an hour winds, mountainous waves, Icebergs and temperatures down to minus 60 degrees celsius.
The city of London is over 2000 years old with layers of rich history. Hidden away in the past, however, is a secret; The London you know today is in fact built upon the huge amount of disease and filth of the 14th century. Historian Dan Snow walks us through a very realistic reimagination of London as it was 700 years ago. 14th century London was seething with animals and grime. The population ha
Whenever there have been sea traders, there have been sea thieves. Pirates have been sailing the seas throughout history stealing from weak and solitary ships, easily taken in the vast and un-defendable sea. Piracy reached it’s peak in the 16th century, and remained big well into the 17th and 18th centuries. One well known pirate was Blackbeard. He was feared by many and enjoyed lighting matches b