The failed attempt to overthrow the Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachov in August 1991. 

Mr Gorbachov was held prisoner in his holiday dacha in the Crimea on the Black Sea while tanks and troops were deployed on the streets of Moscow. 

One of Mr Gorbachov's neighbours recalls an abruptly curtailed telephone conversation, and a Moscow journalist remembers filming on the streets of a nervous capital. Published on August 18, 2011.

The Moscow Coup

The theft of the Mona Lisa from the museum of the Louvre in Paris in August 1911. 

The search for the famous painting would take two years and helped to cement its fame around the world. 

We hear how even the famous artist Pablo Picasso was arrested during the police investigation that involved detectives in both Europe and America. Published on August 22, 2011.

Stealing the Mona Lisa

He was the President of Liberia and in September 1990 he died a very violent death.

The BBC's West Africa correspondent at the time was Elizabeth Blunt, she was there when he was captured by rebels.

Photo: VT Freeze Frame Published on September 23, 2011.

The Death Of Samuel Doe

In September 1991 the first heavy metal rock concert was held at a Moscow airfield.

The bands Metallica and ACDC had been persuaded to take part.

It almost turned into a riot - as organiser Boris Zosimov remembers.

Photo: Boris today. Published on September 30, 2011.

Russian Rock concert

Seventy years ago the American president Franklin Roosevelt gave the go-ahead to the project to develop the world's first atomic bomb. 

Young scientist Bill Wilcox helped make the bomb. Published on October 5, 2011.

The Manhattan Project

On October 6, 1981 the President of Egypt was shot dead.



He was killed by Egyptian officers taking part in a military parade.



He was replaced by his Vice-President, Hosni Mubarak.



Photo: September 6, 1978 Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat

Credit: AP Published on October 6, 2011.

Assassination of Anwar Sadat

On 17 October 1961, French police turned against Algerian demonstrators in Paris. Some were shot, others drowned in the Seine. For years the killings were not acknowledged. We hear from one man whose sister died that day.



(Photo: Demonstrators, arrested during a march by between 20,000 and 30,000 pro-Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) Algerians, are seen in a bus on October 17, 1961 in Paris. French police attacked the illegal but peaceful demonstration.) 



(Credit AFP/Getty Images) Published on October 17, 2011.

French Algerian Massacre

The Soviet leader died in November 1982 after years of ill health.

He had ruled the USSR for 18 years and presided over a period of economic and political stagnation. 

Image: Associated Press Published on November 9, 2011.

The Death of Leonid Brezhnev

On All Saints Day 1755, the Portuguese city of Lisbon was hit by a triple disaster - an earthquake, followed by a tsunami and a fire.

One of the most splendid cities in Europe suffered massive damage and thousands of people were killed.

The disaster also led to debate across Europe about whether earthquakes were a natural phenomenon or a message from God.

Witness brings together accounts by British survivors of the earthquake, and hears from Edward Paice, author of Wrath of God - the Great Lisbon Earthquake.

Image: Lisbon before the earthquake (Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Published on November 15, 2011.

Great Lisbon Earthquake

In 1979 British public sector workers went on strike over pay.

Among those taking industrial action were grave-diggers.

But the media, politicians, and even their own families turned against them at the thought of bodies being left unburied. Published on November 30, 2011.

The Winter of Discontent

It is 70 years since Japanese planes attacked the US Navy base in Hawaii.

The action forced the USA into World War II.

Jack Hammett, was a young naval medic who survived the carnage. 

Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images. Published on December 7, 2011.

Pearl Harbour

In December 1986 Kazakhs began protesting against Moscow's rule.

The young demonstrators were objecting to a Kremlin decision to put a Russian in charge of their country.

Hear how one 16 year old girl had her first taste of freedom. Published on December 15, 2011.

Kazakh uprising

A snapshot of the attitudes and emotions on both sides of the racial divide as the South Africa authorites cemented the foundations of Apartheid in 1957. Published on October 2, 2013.

Apartheid in the 1950s

Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to people who lived through moments of history to bring you a personal perspective on world events.

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