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In this series, historian Paul Murton sets out to experience life on Scotland’s magnificent islands. He uncovers the past and reveals its connections with the present, pointing to all that makes these islands quirky, surprising and beautiful. Part 2 of 6.
The presence of the American soldiers - nicknamed the ‘Sammies’ (sent by Uncle Sam) - on French soil during the Great War is virtually unknown. And yet, 2 million arrived in France between 1917 and 1918 to fight alongside French and UK troops.
Peter and Catherine the Great - these Tsars conquer parts of Northern Europe, the Crimea, and the Caucasian region by force. Their successors defend the empire against Napoleon and establish Russia among the great powers.
The Red Army, forged by Leo Trotsky from revolutionary guards and members of the Tsarist troops, becomes the sword of Communist Russia.
With Putin, the army regains its force and momentum. His wars in Georgia, Chechnya and Ukraine betray the cunning spirit of a secret service man, always ready to lay the blame on Western liberal states.
Gottfried von Cramm, a tennis star, defied the Nazis, facing threats from Hitler, imprisonment for being gay, and combat on the Eastern Front. This film highlights his courage and resilience against immense adversity.
In the 1950s, Havana shines as a vibrant metropolis—alive with music, casinos, and cabarets. However, beneath the allure lies a city controlled by the American mafia, where luxury contrasts sharply with the poverty endured by most Cubans. U.S. tourists escape Prohibition and moral restrictions back home. Icons like Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra, and Ava Gardner revel in the city’s rhythms, frequenting hotspots like the Hotel Nacional and the Tropicana nightclub. Yet beneath the surface, corruption and oppression grip Cuba.
Marrakesh, hailed as the most enchanting city in the Maghreb, captivated Western elites with its almost mystical allure.In the last century, The Hotel La Mamounia became a meeting place for famous personalities. For Winston Churchill, the politician of the century and a talented painter, it was the most beautiful place in the world, inspiring some of his most famous works. Alfred Hitchcock shoots a classic film in the streets of the Medina, which triggers a tourist boom. Yves Saint Laurent found groundbreaking inspiration for his fashion in Marrakesh. The Rolling Stones escaped the British police there, and after their return, the band was forever changed.