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  • BBC Four
  • BBC Two

Days That Shook the World

  • 2003 – 2006
  • Ended
  • Documentary
  • ~53m / ep
  • 3 seasons
  • 7.0/10

Days That Shook the World is a British documentary television series that premiered on BBC Two on 17 September 2003. The programme features various milestones throughout history. It has been broadcast on the BBC, Discovery Channel UK, The History Channel and Viasat History. The series was also released on DVD by the Polish edition of Newsweek in 2007.

Latest: Season 3 · 2005

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  1. E1. The Cost of Betrayal: The Defection of Burgess & MacLean/The Execution of the Rosenbergs

    Oct 20, 2005 · 50m

    19 June 1953 and 25 May 1951 The differing fates of the most famous Soviet spies are explored as, in the USA, the Rosenbergs face the electric chair for passing atomic secrets to the Soviets and, after a dramatic flight, the British spies Burgess and Maclean find safety in the hands of the KGB.

  2. E2. Rule of the Gun: The O.K. Corral/Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

    Apr 22, 2006 · 50m

    26 October 1881 and 14 February 1929 From the wild west and the mob-run city come two stories that have entered American mythology: the gunfight in the obscure mining town of Tomestone and Al Copone's frenzied attack on George 'Busgsy' Malone in Chicago.

  3. E3. Fact or Fiction: The War of the Worlds/Hitler Diaries

    Nov 3, 2005 · 50m

    30 October 1938 and 24 April 1983 Over a million radio listeners panic thinking the nation was being attacked by Martians in Orsen Welles 'War of the Worlds' and one of the world's most venerable newspapers falls for fake diaries of Adolf Hitler. Clever fakers or just a gullible public?

  4. E4. The War to End All Wars: The End of World War I

    Nov 10, 2005 · 50m

    11 November 1918 This dramatic story of the final days of World War 1 finds soldiers still fighting and Germany turning to anarchy. Meanwhile, in a wood in France, hostile negotiations take place in a race to end the war.

  5. E5. Let Freedom Rise: The Boston Tea Party/The Independence of India

    Nov 17, 2005 · 50m

    6 December 1773 and 14 August 1947 The catalyst and repercussions of freedom from colonial rule are explored in the American 'patriots' raid on a British ship and the web of devastation and destruction the soured India's independence celebrations.

  6. E6. Battle For The Holy City: The Six-Day War

    Nov 24, 2005 · 50m

    7 June 1967 By the third day of a six day war, Israeli forces have destroyed egypt's armies in the Sinai, captured the West Bank and seized the Old City of Jurusalem. But the euphoria of victory soon turns to anguish.

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