Soviet Imaginary Heroes

A Soviet story of heroic feats of bravery during WWII... that could not have happened.

• 11 mins

The Great Plague

In the summer of 1665, London was gripped by one of the worst epidemics in its history

• 9 mins

Space Crash

In June 1997, astronauts on the Mir space station faced disaster after a collision.

• 11 mins

Ukraine's Wartime Ultra-Nationalists

In 1941, far-right Ukrainians declared independence, hoping for Hitler's support.

• 9 mins

Angela Merkel

A look back at the career of the German Chancellor before she became a politician.

• 11 mins

World War One: The Battle of the Somme

BBC archive recordings of veterans who fought in one of the bloodiest battles in history

• 9 mins

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

On 1 July 2004, Saddam Hussein made his first appearance in a Baghdad courtroom.

• 11 mins

Born on the Fourth of July

Ron Kovic is a former US Marine turned peace activist whose story became a Hollywood film

• 9 mins

Starbucks: The Early Days

It is 45 years since the multibillion-dollar coffee company opened in Seattle in the USA.

• 11 mins

Denmark's second EU Referendum

In 1993, Denmark held a second referendum on greater EU integration

• 9 mins

The Renovation of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper

In 1999, after 20 years of restoration work, the masterpiece was revealed to the public.

• 11 mins

The Sale of London Bridge

In July of 1967 London Bridge put up for sale. American Robert P McCulloch bought it

• 9 mins

Spanish Republic

The writers and artists who took part in cultural missions during the Spanish Civil War.

• 11 mins

Executions in Cuba

In July 1989 four Cuban army officers were convicted of drug trafficking and executed.

• 9 mins

The Assassination of Anwar Sadat

On October 6th 1981, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was killed by army officers.

• 11 mins

War in Slovenia

In 1991, Yugoslav army tanks moved into Slovenia to try to stop it becoming independent

• 9 mins

Forced Sterilisation in Peru

In the 1990s, President Alberto Fujimori launched a family planning programme in Peru.

• 11 mins

The Mumbai Train Bombings

In July 2006, seven coordinated explosions tore through packed commuter trains in Mumbai.

• 9 mins

The Nestle Boycott

In July 1977 US campaigners launched a boycott against Nestle over the sale of baby milk.

• 9 mins

Child refugees from the Spanish Civil War

In 1937, Britain took in 4000 Basque children at the height of fighting in northern Spain

• 9 mins

1916: Central Asia Rebels Against the Russian Empire

In 1916, Muslims in Central Asia rose up against Russian imperial rule.

• 9 mins

Dutch Elm Disease

In the 1970s Dutch Elm disease killed millions of Elm trees in England, France and the US

• 9 mins

Medicare

In July 1966, the US government health insurance programme Medicare came into force.

• 9 mins

The Srebrenica Massacre

In July 1995 Bosnian Serb troops murdered thousands of Bosnian Muslim men and boys.

• 9 mins

The Death of Bruce Lee

The film star and martial arts legend died suddenly in Hong Kong in 1973.

• 9 mins

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

In 1958 the Nigerian writer published his first book, revolutionising African literature.

• 9 mins

The Beilis Case: an Anti-Jewish Trial

In 1913, a Russian Jew, Mendel Beilis, was falsely accused of a murder.

• 9 mins

Race Riots in Liverpool

In 1981 police used CS gas for the first time in mainland Britain to control race riots

• 9 mins

The First CIA Coup in Latin America

In 1954 CIA-backed officers overthrew Guatemala's elected government.

• 9 mins

Meeting Picasso

In the summer of 1951 art historian John Richardson met Pablo Picasso for the first time.

• 9 mins