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Witness History

Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.

When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.

You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal’s worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.

And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.

If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2024

Latest Episodes:

Creating New Zealand's national walking trail May 18, 2023

Show notes

In 2011 a 3,000 km long walking trail was opened in New Zealand.

Geoff Chapple had spent years lobbying for the creation of Te Araroa. He’d written articles in newspapers and tested out routes in the country's rugged landscape.

The process of exploring where it could go sometimes put him in danger as he tells Alex Collins.

(Photo: Geoff wading in the Waipapa River in the far north of New Zealand while on the Te Araroa trail. Credit: Amos Chapple)

The Dambusters May 17, 2023

Show notes

In the early hours of 17 May 1943 a bold World War II attack destroyed two dams in the Ruhr Valley in Germany's industrial heartland, causing 1,600 casualties and catastrophic flooding which hampered the German war effort.

The dams were highly protected but 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force had a new weapon – the bouncing bomb.

Invented by Barnes Wallis, the weapon was designed to skip over the dams' defences and explode against the sides.

The Dambusters mission was a huge propaganda success for Britain and later inspired a famous film.

In 2013, Simon Watts spoke to George "Johnny" Johnson, the last survivor of the Dambusters squadron.

(Photo: Squadron Leader George "Johnny" Johnson. Credit: Leon Neal via Getty Images)

German child evacuees of World War Two May 16, 2023

Show notes

Beginning in 1940 thousands of German children were evacuated to camps in the countryside to avoid the bombs of World War Two.

These camps were seen as safe places where they could continue their education but also where Nazi beliefs could be taught.

Alex Collins has listened to archive recordings from "Haus der Geschichte der Bundersrepublik Deutschland" in Bonn one of Germany's national history museums and hears the stories of former camp residents Gunter Stoppa and Klaus Reimer.

You may find some of the contents distressing.

(Photo: German children being evacuated to Prussia. Credit: Getty Images)

Singapore executes Filipina maid May 15, 2023

Show notes

In 1995, the execution of Flor Contemplacion caused protests, a government resignation and a diplomatic crisis between the Philippines and Singapore.

Flor, who worked in Singapore, was convicted of killing another domestic helper, Delia Maga, and the four-year-old boy Delia looked after, Nicholas Huang. While Singapore stood by the conviction, millions of Filipinos believed Flor was innocent and had been let down by their government as an overseas worker.

Flor’s daughter Russel Contemplacion, who was 17 at the time, and Flor's lawyer Edre Olalia give Josephine McDermott their account.

(Photo: The coffin of Flor Contemplacion is carried to church prior to her funeral. Credit: Getty Images)

World War II victory in North Africa May 12, 2023

Show notes

Peter Royle, 103, endured a month of solid fighting in the hills outside of Tunis in 1943. Eventually the Allies prevailed and took more than 250,000 German and Italian prisoners of war. They declared victory in Tunisia on 13 May.

Peter came close to dying many times. He recalls how he once hummed God Save the King to prevent himself being shot by friendly fire. He was under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, fresh from victory in the North African desert, and recalls him being inspirational to the troops.

This episode is presented by Josephine McDermott. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve for future generations.

Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has spoken to many men and women who served during the war. We are calling the collection World War Two: We were there.

(Photo: Peter Royle in battle kit in 1941. Credit: Peter Royle's family)

Warsaw Ghetto uprising May 11, 2023

Show notes

In May 1943, the uprising in the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw in Poland came to an end.

The Germans had crushed the uprising and deported surviving ghetto residents to concentration camps.

Simha "Kazik" Rotem was one of the Jewish fighters who survived to tell his story.

He spoke to Louise Hidalgo in 2010.

(Photo: Warsaw Ghetto. Credit: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The last commercial flight out of Kai Tak May 10, 2023

Show notes

In 1998, one of Hong Kong’s best known landmarks, Kai Tak airport, closed after 73 years. Kai Tak, which was built between the mountains and the city, was world-famous for its unique landing approach that became known as 'the Kai Tak heart attack’. Captain Kim Sharman was the pilot of the last commercial flight out of Kai Tak.

During his career he landed at the airport more than 1,000 times. Twenty-five years on he shares his memories with Gill Kearsley.

(Photo: Boeing 747 landing at Kai Tak Airport. Credit: Russ Schleipman via Getty Images)

The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’ May 09, 2023

Show notes

On 23 November 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, a ship called the SS Tilawa was carrying more than 950 passengers and crew from India to East Africa when it was sunk by Japanese torpedoes.

Two hundred and eighty people died. The ship became known as the 'Indian Titanic'.

Ben Henderson speaks to the last two known survivors, Arvind Jani and Tej Prakash Mangat.

(Photo: Arvind Jhani and Tej Prakash Mangat. Credit: their families)

United States bomb the Chinese embassy in Belgrade May 08, 2023

Show notes

In 1999, NATO carried out a bombing campaign in Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War.

On 7 May, five American bombs hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, killing three people and damaging relations between China and the West.

Ben Henderson speaks to Hong Shen, a Chinese businessman, who was one of the first on the scene.

(Photo: Protesters hold pictures of Chinese journalists killed in the embassy bombing. Credit: Stephen Shaver/AFP via Getty Images)

The removal of Scotland's Stone of Destiny May 05, 2023

Show notes

On Christmas Eve 1950, four young Scottish students took the 'Stone of Destiny' from Westminster Abbey in London.

The symbolic stone had been taken from Scotland to England centuries earlier and had sat beneath the Coronation Chair in the abbey ever since.

In 2018, Anya Dorodeyko spoke to the late Ian Hamilton who took part in the daring escapade in order to draw attention to demands for Scottish home rule.

(Photo: Ian Hamilton. Credit: BBC)

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