This Week in History

April 28 - May 4


Listen Later

Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.

With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.

This week. April 28th – May 4th

- 30th of April 1945. Deep beneath the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun take their own lives. The BBC announces it in a newsflash the following day.
- 29th of April 1429. A 17-year-old peasant girl enters the siege of Orleans to defeat English forces. Nearly five hundred years later Joan of Arc is canonised and becomes a patron Saint of France.
- 1st of May 1840. The world's first postage stamp is issued. Known as the Penny Black it revolutionised the postal service and has today become a collector’s item.

Presented by Jane Steel and Viji Alles

Produced by Luke Doran and Clara Nissen

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

This Week in HistoryBy BBC Radio 4