The History Hour

The history of art heists


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Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

It's 30 years since Edvard Munch’s painting, The Scream, was stolen from the national gallery in Oslo, Norway. We hear from the man who helped to recover it.

Our expert guest is historian and author, Susan Ronald, who explores the history of art heists in the 20th century.

Plus, a first hand account from Kampala terror attacks in 2010 and the mystery of St Teresa of Avila's severed hand.

Finally, we hear about the last World War II soldier to surrender. Hiroo Onoda was an Imperial Japanese Army intelligence officer who spent nearly 30 years in the Philippine jungle, believing World War Two was still going on.

Contributors:

Kuddzu Isaac - DJ and Kampala terror attack survivor
Charley Hill - Scotland Yard art detective and private investigator
Susan Ronald - historian and author
Sister Jenifer - the Mother Superior of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Ronda
Hiroo Onoda - Japanese WWII soldier
Christos and Ioanna Kotsikas - residents of Thessaly, Greece

(Photo: The Scream. Credit: Getty Images)

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The History HourBy BBC World Service

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