The History Hour

World War Two African victory and 'Kai Tak heart attack'


Listen Later

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

We hear about the Allies' campaign in North Africa in the Second World War in 1943.

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve for future generations.

Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has spoken to many men and women who served during the war. We are calling the collection World War Two: We were there.

We also have the story of the last flight out of the old international Hong Kong airport in 1998. The approach to the airport was known as 'the Kai Tak heart attack' because of it's location between the mountains and the city.

As well as the end of the uprising in the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, the sinking of the 'Indian Titanic' and the United States' bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

Contributors:

Peter Royle - British Army Captain in the Royal Artillery.
Dr Helen Fry - author and historian, specialising in the Second World War.
Simha "Kazik" Rotem - a Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
Arvind Jhani and Tej Mangat - survivors of the sinking of the SS Tilawa.
Captain Kim Sharman - the pilot of the last passenger flight out of Kai Tak.

(Photo: Tunis victory parade, 20 May 1943. Credit: Peter Royle)

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

The History HourBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

550 ratings


More shows like The History Hour

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,420 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

371 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,810 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,671 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,180 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

482 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,747 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,078 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

973 Listeners

The Forum by BBC World Service

The Forum

275 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

585 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

964 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,076 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,043 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,867 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

368 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

841 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

758 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,645 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,173 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

709 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,960 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

25 Listeners