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In this episode Paul is visiting two Hebridean islands which are very different: Gigha and Jura. Where Gigha is lush and verdant, Jura is rugged and bleak but Paul discovers that both islands have their own unique character and charm. Part 3 of 6.
At the end of the Second World War, hundreds of Chinese seamen who worked for the Merchant Navy during the conflict vanished from their homes in Liverpool, England. They left behind heartbroken wives and children, and many went to their graves believing they had been deserted. Decades later, the astonishing truth is finally revealed. Declassified documents prove these heroic men and their families were betrayed by the British government in an astonishing act of deception. As their descendants search for clues, could a potential relative in Singapore be the missing puzzle piece for one Liverpool family? Part 1 of 2.
An attack on a small religious community on the Holy island of Lindisfarne in AD 793 heralded the start of the Viking Age of conquest and expansion but before this, we look at the Vikings’ beginnings in Scandinavia. Part 1 of 6.
The Siege of York occurred from 866 when the Great Heathen Army laid claim to the Northumbrian capital of York. We look at the major battles, players and strongholds in 9th Century England. Part 2 of 6.
The 'Silk Road' opened up a world of trade for the Scandinavians in the East. Seeking further wealth, the Vikings known in the East as 'Rus' attacked Constantinople in 860. The Rus became a permanent and feared fixture in the Byzantine Empire. Part 3 of 6.
Witness Kim Il Sung’s transformation from guerilla fighter to brutal dictator of North Korea. How did he build the most controlled society on earth and launch a dictatorship that has lasted for three generations? Part 1 of 6.
Learn how Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with an iron fist for almost 30 years. To maintain power, he used fear, intimidation and violence like few other dictators in history, but he made the fatal mistake of believing his regime could take on the world. Part 2 of 6.
See why Benito Mussolini was considered a pioneer among 20th-century dictators. From undermining judges to indoctrinating children, he forged key tactics for seizing power. He also created fascism, an ideology that would plunge Europe into darkness. Part 3 of 6.
Watch Manuel Noriega rise through the Panamanian military to become chief of intelligence—and then, military dictator. He spied for the United States, but in the end, money laundering, drug trafficking, and political crimes led to his downfall. Part 4 of 6.
Learn how Francisco Franco used the tactics of colonial war to win control of Spain. Driven by a deeply conservative vision, he used torture, murder and incarceration to transform Spanish society. Part 5 of 6.
See how Idi Amin used lessons learnt in the colonial British army to build a powerful dictatorship in Uganda. Through a combination of populist charm and brutal violence, he ruled for eight years—until his strategic blunders brought him down. Part 6 of 6.
1950: Early days of the Cold War - We examine the accident that occurred at Mount Kologet in a remote part of Canada on 14 February 1950, the first crash involving a bomber carrying a nuclear bomb. Part 1 of 2.
1960, The Cold War - The nuclear accidents keep happening, in Thule (Greenland) and Palomares (Spain), they have both left indelible marks on the areas they affected, despite great efforts to keep them secret. Part 2 of 2.