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Private Notes
From America's entrance into World War II to the use of planes in Vietnam, the aircraft carrier has figured prominently in American warfare for the better part of a century. This documentary explores the importance of these massive ships in various campaigns and battles of the 20th century.
In the Second World War aircraft carriers brought as new form of warfare the oceans and battlefields with their extraordinary size and fire power. Foe first time battles could be won and lost without the rival sailors ever catching sight of each other’s ships. Ironically, Germany was one of the only nations involved in this conflict not to operate carriers. It is very possible that had the German navy had such potent vessels in its armoury the war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean could have ended very differently. This programme looks at the mighty British, American and Japanese carrier fleets of the second world. How did they develop their strategies for the development of this latest weapon – a floating gun battery and airfield combined.
An ancient text containing the secrets to life after death. A remarkable documentary containing the secrets to this storied manuscript. An important addition to your DVD library.
•Features a stunning dramatization of a soul's journey through the Afterlife to re-birth.
•In Tibet, the "art of dying" is nothing less than the art of living.
•Interviews with renowned holy men and scholars
Take another look at ancient texts that were edited out of the Bible. Are they the missing links to Christ's true teachings or heretical attempts to rewrite history? Explore the kabalistic stories of angels and demons disavowed by orthodox leaders and the apocalyptic visions and the sexual imagery that were barred from the Old Testament. Why was Peter's account of a "Lord of The Rings"-style battle of wits and magic repressed by Rome? With discoveries being made all across the world--in caves ruined temples ancient libraries and monasteries--these tantalizing fragments continue to be found and debated. Are they heresy or hidden truth?
Thirty years ago, an unheralded film known as Star Wars opened in theatres and took audiences on a ground breaking journey to a galaxy far, far away. It instantly seized the public's imagination, and three decades later still claims that grasp.
The History Channel premieres STAR WARS: THE LEGACY REVEALED, a 2-hour special exploring why the emotional impact of the Star Wars Saga remains as relevant as ever.
Through interviews with politicians, academics, journalists and critics, we'll learn about the similarities between the tales of Luke Skywalker and King Arthur and Buddha and Yoda. We'll see how Star Wars' intensely compelling stories - borrowed from diverse traditions, from Greek mythology and American westerns to the Bible and even Vaudeville - force us to explore some of the biggest questions of our time.
Uncover the Legend and watch how Lucas re-introduced the world to the modern myth.
Over 90% of international trade travels by water and a new generation of criminals is blending terror tactics with time-tested methods to threaten this economic lifeline. Nations and corporations are racing to protect themselves and their goods, and though the pirates are still ahead, new international response units and mercenary ships are combating the attacks. The U.S. Coast Guard trains navies worldwide in anti-piracy measures, but corrupt law enforcement officials mar advances in their effectiveness. Today's pirate is organized, political, and will command world attention once again.
Cannibalism evokes an image of uncivilized people roasting enemies over a fire. But the reality is that even the most civilized humans have resorted to cannibalism. And there's new evidence that some of Europe's first humans had a taste for their own kind of flesh. Usually cannibalism occurs as a last resort--people being pushed to do the unthinkable in order to survive. And while there's little doubt that it occurred survivors struggle to conceal the truth or simply deny it happened. Was it a practice accepted by societies long ago? We also investigate the recent discovery of Neolithic bones in England that show signs of cannibalism--a discovery that shocked experts and horrified many since some bones belonged to newborns. Our three tales of cannibalism suggest that those who ate human meat are far from alone. Secrecy denial even pride are emotions that accompany the act of eating human flesh. But how do we handle the truth behind the act?
Outcast immigrants, forgotten war heroes, mountain men, religious soldiers and other mysterious American folk take center stage in this informative two-hour television event. Host Billy Ray Cyrus turns the spotlight on the backwoods in this History Channel special.
Ed Gein is seen as one of the most weird and bizarre serial killers of the twentieth century, second only to maybe Jeffrey Dahmer. His crimes also inspired the movies Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs.
No one suspected that playboy Congressman Charlie Wilson and his partner Gust Avrakotos--an aggressive CIA agent nicknamed Dr. Dirty --would mastermind the covert arming of the Afghan Mujahideen in what became the largest and most successful campaign in CIA history.
THE TRUE STORY OF CHARLIE WILSON profiles this unorthodox alliance, and chronicles the epic journey the two men undertook to guarantee the success of their freedom fighters. Now, THE HISTORY CHANNEL examines the unforeseen and far-reaching effects of the CIA s efforts to assist the Afghan rebels in the fight against the Soviet Union--namely, the Afghan uprising against the West. Revealing the full story behind the Hollywood blockbuster Charlie Wilson s War, THE TRUE STORY OF CHARLIE WILSON penetrates the inner-workings of the CIA to uncover the men and the designs that have returned to haunt America today.
Historians separate myths from realities in the life of President Andrew Jackson, whose portrait appears on the $20 bill.
Seven score and two years ago, a self-described "madman" altered the history of the world.
With upwards of 100,000 men and the reluctant blessing of the Union, General William Tecumseh Sherman swept through the South with unprecedented speed and savagery. The effect of his campaign, spurred by the concept of total war - the complete elimination of the Confederacy's strategic, economic, and psychological ability to wage war - was terrible for the civilian population and devastating for the South's army.
Pushing the entertainment and educational potential of television, this feature-length documentary - filmed on location in brilliant High Definition - breaks new ground in documentary presentation. This deeply immersive THE HISTORY CHANNEL® production combines compelling narration with unmatched dramatic sequences that transport you to critical moments of the fateful campaign.
As much psychological profile as historical reconstruction, after experiencing SHERMAN'S MARCH you will know the man and understand what drove him to the edge of sanity and into the pantheon of history's greatest military strategists. Hear from Sherman himself, as well as from characters both major and minor from every side of the conflict, as they relate in their own words the epic events of 1865.
The swath of destruction cut by General Sherman's onslaught would have been visible from the Moon, but he believed any sacrifice was justified if it meant ending the bloodiest war in history. His campaign remains controversial to this day, and this magnificent documentary - as only programming from THE HISTORY CHANNEL® can - contributes powerfully and vividly to the debate.
It was the largest manhunt in history--ten thousand federal troops, detectives and police hunted those responsible for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The conspiracy was vast--an effort to decapitate the United States government at the end of the Civil War.
The manhunt was intense--ending 12 days later in a fiery showdown with the man who pulled the trigger--John Wilkes Booth.
Though largely forgotten, some 20-30 thousand Native Americans fought in the Civil War. Ely Parker was a Seneca leader who found himself in the thick of battle at the side of General Ulysses S. Grant. Stand Waite, a Confederate General and a Cherokee was known for his brilliant guerilla tactics. Also highlighted is Henry Berry Lowery, who became known as the Robin Hood of North Carolina. Respected Civil War authors Thom Hatch and Lawrence Hauptman help reconstruct these stories, along with descendants like Cherokee Nation member Jay Hanna, whose great-grandfathers fought for both the Union and the Confederacy. Together, they reveal a new perspective and the very personal reasons that drew these Native Americans into the fray.
Host Steve Thomas; Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas.
What do the symbols and numbers on the dollar bill actually mean? We'll take a look at the shadier and more intriguing threads of meaning and symbolism at play in the bill's design. Extraordinary strands of numerology are interwoven into the bill's structure which on analysis suggest surprising hidden alignments. Why does it look the way it does and how has it changed through the ages? We'll analyze the significance of changes in the bill's appearance over time and examine alternative designs. We'll also look at the historical context of the bill's conception--what the dollar bill set out to represent--the patriotism and idealism of a young republic; and go inside the Treasury's Department of Printing and Engraving for exclusive access to the presses and the people who process the millions upon millions of dollars in circulation.
In 1963, the assassination of President Kennedy puts Vice President Lyndon Johnson in charge. But for all his grand ambitions and plans, his presidency will come to be defined by the slowly ticking time bomb of Vietnam. Thanks to a combination of arrogant and short-sighted advisors, a divisive political climate, and Johnson's own stubbornness, he commits to a gradual and irreversible series of decisions that leads to a bloody and unpopular war.
The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a galley fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Venice, the Papacy (under Pope Pius V), Spain, Republic of Genoa, Duchy of Savoy, the Knights of Malta and others, defeated a force of Ottoman galleys. The 5-hour battle was fought at the northern edge of the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece, where the Ottoman forces sailing westwards from their naval station in Lepanto met the Holy League forces, which had come from Messina, in the morning of Sunday 7 October.Of major naval battles fought solely between rowing vessels, this was the last in world history.Follow an expedition to find the battlefield and the remains of the Lepanto Battle and learn about the greatest naval battle in world history.
The Royal Air Force held its breath as its ageing but legendary fleet of Vulcan Aircraft undertook one last mission. The RAF took the first strike against the Argentinian invaders of the Falkland Islands. Its bombs delivered an unmistakable message; the British are coming and we will not be defeated. Only one aircraft could achieve this seemingly impossible mission over such a long distance - the legendary Vulcan Bomber.
As large as a Boeing 737-200 and as fast as a fighter. With an operational ceiling of 65,000 feet her delta shape and ultra secret anti radar devices made her all but invisible to enemy forces. She was unlike anything that had been seen before and sent shock waves around the world.The programme charts the history of the aircraft, the conflicts it was involved in and follows the restoration of the World's only flying Vulcan, XH558. Also features archive film and photographs, interviews with aviation journalists, those involved with XH558's restoration and former RAF pilot and author Frederick Forsyth.An Electromedia Production for the History Channel.
Le Gheer, Belgium - July 5th 1955 - 26,000 lbs of high explosives - a MINE - laid deep beneath the German trench lines during the First World War, detonates in a thunderstorm. It leaves a crater 250ft in diameter and 60ft deep! It is one of several charges known to be lying dormant under the battlefields of the old Western Front and one of potentially hundreds of mines abandoned at the end of the war by the men who had laid them.
Narrated by actor John Shrapnel, "One of Our Mines is Missing! skilfully weaves past and present as it unfolds the story of the search for one of these mines - The Broadmarsh - deep within the bowels of the Canadian Memorial Site at VIMY Ridge, France.
Rare archive film and photographs, unique privately sourced images, sophisticated 3D animation and superb aerial photography bring the troglodyte world of the tunnellers to life.
And, for the first time ever, cameras take us into the heart of not one, but TWO mine chambers as British Army explosives experts attempt to defuse the potentially lethal packages within.
An investigation into the 400-year-old Prophecy of the Roman Popes, unearthed at the end of last century and thought by some to be the lost book of philosopher Nostradamus.
Star Wars Tech is a documentary about the technical aspects of Star Wars, from Darth Vader's robotic limbs to the lightsaber to how an X-wing compares to modern jets. The one-hour program debuted on The History Channel on May 28, 2007, coinciding roughly with the 30-year anniversary of Star Wars
For years, the focus of the Titanic disaster has been on the notorious iceberg that gouged the ship
as it cruised through the North Atlantic in April 1912. But was the iceberg the only thing that
contributed to the sinking of this legendary vessel? In this eye-opening program, follow the
History(R) crew as it explores the explosive theory that the doomed liner may have had a fatal
design flaw - one which could have caused it to sink even if it had not struck the iceberg. While
examining data from the crew's pioneering 2005 expedition to the Titanic wreck site, marine
architect Roger Long was shown a document from the Belfast shipbuilder Harland and Wolff, which
illustrated a curious feature of the Titanic - a poorly designed expansion joint. Could this have
been the weak point in the ship that caused it to break in two as it sank on the night of April 15,
1912? To find out, elite divers Richie Kohler and John Chatterton, along with their team, return to
the Titanic, and later explore the wreck of its equally ill-fated sister ship, the Britannic, in
search of evidence to substantiate Long's theory. Featuring advanced CGI technology, archive
documents and photographs, as well as footage from the modern-day History(R) expeditions, "Titanic's
Achilles Heel" is a remarkable journey into the ongoing legacy of a ship that continues to capture
the world's attention.
This is the true and astounding saga of the Spartans at Thermopylae. It is among the greatest tales of war ever recounted. All the glory and grit of these warriors' last stand is captured in this exceptional documentary.
It is almost impossible to understand how 300 Spartans managed to hold off the million-man Persian army for even a moment, much less seven days. To a man they paid with their lives but their stunning Last Stand assured that their sacrifice would resonate throughout history.
Relying on brilliant tactics, lifelong training, and unshakable allegiance, the doomed Spartans achieved the impossible. The Battle of Thermopylae is literally a textbook case, required reading even to this day at military colleges and officer training around the world. Now, THE HISTORY CHANNEL offers a definitive perspective on the epic conflict with this instructive and thrilling feature-length presentation.
Transporting dramatizations and incisive graphics put you in the heat of the battle and show the lay of the land. The complications and strategies of the conflict are revealed through careful analysis, and critical moments are reconstructed to show exactly what happened. Discover what the Spartans were fighting for, what made them capable of such heroics and what drove them to such sacrifice.
In April 1861, the newly inaugurated President Lincoln calls for 75,000 men to fight for the Federal cause. What he does not anticipate is the shared desire by hundreds of women to fight for their country. Forbidden by laws of society, these determined women become the "Secret Soldiers of the Civil War." Travel back in time and hear the story of two of the Civil War's most interesting female soldiers--Sarah Emma Edmonds and Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Hear their tales of passion, recounting the sacrifice of identity, fear of discovery, and constant need for duplicity...even under fire.
Obsession takes on many forms. For these guys, it's trekking across the globe to find and recover rare airplanes that crashed during World War II, then restore them so they'll fly again. Jerry Yagen is the Virginia millionaire plane collector who bankrolls the hunt. Murray Griffiths is the lead plane hunter who also runs a restoration shop in Australia. Mechanic Adam Maley rounds out the team, keeping things colorful with his West Virginia twang. This mission takes them deep into the treacherous jungles of Papua New Guinea to find a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter plane. Joining Murray and Adam for the trip is adventurer Tony Bierne, who knows PNG inside and out and can speak Pidgin with the locals. In their search, the team goes up against crocodiles, poisonous snakes and a completely unpredictable jungle. What they learn is that no matter how hard they try, it can all go to hell in an instant. They face obstacles that would make most men give up, but they're determined to find a P-38 – and preserve history. The entire time, Jerry squirms in his plush office, desperate to know what's going on but cut off from his team on the other side of the globe. And in Australia, Murray's wiseguy mechanics keep the work going on a Bell P-39 Airacobra, which Jerry wants flying in less than six months. The pressure's on, for this band of fanatics who've dedicated their lives... to Chasing Warbirds.
A gripping story of bravery and defiance that explores the Falklands conflict through the eyes of the people who lived through it, the islanders. Winner of the prestigious Broadcasting Press Guild ‘Best Multichannel Programme’.
Web shooting, spider speed and the ability to defy gravity - these are just a few of the skills in Spider-Man's arsenal. But how do his awesome superhuman powers hold up when measured against scientific fact? Exciting new documentary ‘Spider-Man Tech' delves into the fascinating evolution of the popular character. Featuring exclusive interviews with comic book legends, including Stan Lee, top Hollywood filmmakers and leading scientists, this entertaining and informative show unravels the web of secrets surrounding Spider-Man's dazzling powers while exploring the real-life abilities of his eight-legged namesake, the arachnid.
The story of one of the most famous men in history. You might think you know him - the heroic and successful discoverer of America. Now think again.
NSSM : GUNS...GREED...GENOCIDE is an investigation documentary that reveals the deadly consequences of United States foreign policies accross Africa from 1957 to the present days. Dealing with blood diamonds, uranium traffics, oil business and CIA coups d'états, this documentary exposes never before seen films, unheard tapes and interviews from the people who watched it all unfold.
The film documents the final days of the Peoples Temple at Jonestown, Guyana. Interspersed with interviews from survivors, dramatic recreations of the events show how Reverend Jim Jones becomes increasingly paranoid and erratic as pressures build on him, both inside the compound and from the United States. When Congressman Leo Ryan insists on visiting, Jones alternates between reluctant acceptance and refusal. Ultimately, Jones allows Ryan, several journalists, and the Concerned Relatives representatives to visit the compound. Jones coaches the Peoples Temple members on what to say, but is surprised by a series of defections. Jones orders the deaths of all involved and forces the members of the Temple to commit mass suicide. Hyacinth Thrash, an elderly member, hides and survives. Sherwin Harris, who never visited the compound itself, survives, but his estranged ex-wife, Sharon, and daughter, Lianne, both commit suicide. Vernon Gosney and Tim Reiterman escape the assassination of Ryan, but both are shot and wounded by the assassins. Stephan Jones, Jim Jones' son, was not at the compound during the mass suicide.
Relive the terrible fate of an historic ship and join one of the most thrilling deep-water expeditions of all time in this mesmerizing special presentation. HMHS Britannic, the largest and grandest of the Olympic Class cruisers, sister ship to the ill-fated Titanic, was launched just six months before the outbreak of WWI and was soon pressed into service as a floating hospital. On November 21, 1916, while steaming through the Kea Channel in the Aegean Sea, an explosion ripped through the Britannic and in less than an hour, the ship sank beneath the waves, taking the lives of 30 men with it. Whether it was a German mine or submarine torpedo that caused the blast, a bigger mystery remains: why and how did this giant ship sink so fast?. From deadly chambers to decades-old mysteries, join wreck divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler as they lead an exhilarating expedition to unravel the mystery of the Britannic's final hour.
Scotland's Essential History is a one-hour special filmed for the History Channel in which Scottish archaeologist and historian Neil Oliver takes a revealing journey through the history of one of the world’s oldest nations.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a major Allied victory in the First World War. A bold and imaginative strategy played out in three dimensions - in the air, on the ground and in a labyrinth of tunnels under No Man's Land. Travel from heaven to hell on Vimy Ridge through an archaeological dig, opening of a tunnel, live fire tests and demos, personal letters and computer-gaming style animation.
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier is a 2-hour 2007 television documentary about the 40-year history of Star Trek and an auction of Star Trek props released by Paramount Pictures for an auction by Christie's auction house in New York City. The documentary aired in the United States on February 19, 2007 and March 3, 2007 on The History Channel.
1571: The greatest naval battle in world history. 600 ships carrying 250,000 people and 50,000 casualties. The bloodiest confrontation ever between Muslims and Christians.
Chronicles Rome's spectacular structural history from the rise of Julius Caesar to the Empire's eventual collapse
Examine the planning and construction of the city's greatest masterpieces, including the awe-inspiring Colosseum and its mysterious subterranean aqueducts.
Are they an elaborate hoax or the product of a mystical
force? Despite continuous attempts to rationalise their existence,
they remain one of the greatest unsolved mysteries.
The early years of the Tour are full of heroics and all the protagonists are featured, from Lucien Petit Breton and Philippe Thijs, to Rene Vietto and Antonin Magne. After WW2 came the Italian revolution with the emergence of Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, one of the greatest of them all. However, the Golden Age of the 50's saw the return of the French champions in Bobet, Walkowiak and Gaul as well as the inaugural win of Jacques Anquetil in 1957 who went on to complete the first ever five-timer. His battles with Raymond Poulidor are still talked about to this day. Then came Eddy Merckx, who trounced the opposition in his five victories. Merckx was followed by Luis Ocana, Bernard Thevenet and Lucien Van Impe before the next five-time winner emerged in Bernard Hinault, followed by Spanish legend Miguel Indurain who dominated the early 1990's with his five consecutive victories from 1991. Other individual highlights include Stephen Roche's 1987 victory and the amazing 1989 success of Greg LeMond over two-time winner Laurent Fignon by a mere eight seconds. The programme finishes with an extended profile of the now disgraced Lance Armstrong. Introduced by Sean Kelly and narrated by David Duffield.
In April 2003, U.S. Army engineers began to explore the secret tunnels beneath Baghdad. This underground labyrinth stretches for miles.. Designed in part by American companies, this underground city began as a subway and became a subterranean city.
The dark and dangerous world of cults has long been a source of both fascination and fear. What attracts followers to cults and, more importantly, what makes them stay? In this special feature-length documentary, journey behind closed doors into a secret world where faith and devotion give way to desperation and despair. From the bizarre prophecies of Charles Manson to the desperate paranoia of Jim Jones, cult leaders draw followers into worlds of power, obsession, and sometimes death. Hear from parents who have lost their children to cults and travel back in time to examine how cults have been attracting devotees throughout history. Featuring archival footage and interviews with renowned scholars, survivors, and faithful adherents, Cults: Dangerous Devotion is an eye-opening examination of a hidden world few people will ever see.
In the year 480 B.C., the Greeks and the Persians fight one of the most famous battles in history at a place called Thermopylae. Here, the mighty Persian war machine, which has conquered most of the known world, will attempt an expansion into Europe. The only thing standing in their way will be an army led by 300 Spartans, the greatest soldiers the world has ever known. They will fight to the very last man, and in doing so will protect the cradle of democracy during its infancy, and the battle will go down in history as the greatest military stand of all time.
Relying on brilliant tactics, lifelong training, and unshakable allegiance, the doomed Spartans achieved the impossible. The Battle of Thermopylae is literally a textbook case, required reading even to this day at military colleges and officer training around the world.
In 1968, the fury and violence of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago propelled us toward a tipping point in politics. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, America suffered its bloodiest year in Vietnam and drugs seduced us. Yet idealism--and hope--flourished. Explore the significance of that turbulent year and the way it continues to affect the American landscape. Tom Brokaw offers his perspective on the era and shares the rich personal odysseys of some of the people who lived through that chaotic time, along with the stories of younger people now experiencing its aftershocks. Includes archival footage and interviews with former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who was talking to King when he was assassinated and rushed to his side to try to staunch the wound; Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, who wrestled RFKs' assassin to the ground; and Arlo Guthrie, best known for his song "Alice's Restaurant.
The June 6th Allied invasion of Normandy was one of the important moments of World War II, but what is less known is the African American role in it. This film profiles the contributions of Black American soldiers for that important victory as veterans tell their stories. Although burdened and frustrated by racist mistreatment by their own military, these soldiers performed their duty for a greater cause.
They came in the dead of night. Iraqi troops and tanks - hundreds of them - pouring over the desert border. Americans awoke to the news on August 2nd, 1990: Iraq had invaded Kuwait. The White House responded quickly. By January 17th, 1991, eight F-15 fighter jets swept through the Baghdad sky, raining missiles upon the city below. Operation Desert Storm had begun. Within three days, the allied coalition controlled the Iraqi sky. Six days after the invasion of Kuwait, President Bush announced the deployment of 100 thousand troops to the Persian Gulf. MINUTE BY MINUTE: THE GULF WAR includes interviews with soldiers from these troops. Hear the story of Major General Barry McCaffrey, leader of the Twenty Fourth Infantry, one of the first units to arrive in the Middle East. Daniel Pons, father, husband, teacher and Army Lab Specialist who was called to duty while teaching a middle school math class. These first person accounts during and after the Persian Gulf War lend a unique and personal look into a battle that has continued to shape current events and American life.
