Gorbachev: The Great Dissident

Gorbachev: The Great Dissident

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Gorbachev: The Great Dissident

Episode 2 | BBC World News | August 20, 2011

Modern history

Civics and citizenship

Ethical understanding

Personal and social capability

Classification: Not Classified

This two part film takes a fresh and in depth look at Gorbachev's role in his own country's emergence out of Soviet Communism, as well as his global significance as the great international statesman who helped end the Cold War.

Overview

This two part film takes a fresh and in depth look at Gorbachev's role in his own country's emergence out of Soviet Communism, as well as his global significance as the great international statesman who helped end the Cold War.

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An economic crisis and the fear of communism drive voters into Hitler's arms and he is named Chancellor. As democracy begins to disappear from Germany, Hitler prepares for war.

Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler: Marching To War

Years 9-10, 11-12 History, Modern History

An economic crisis and the fear of communism drive voters into Hitler's arms and he is named Chancellor. As democracy begins to disappear from Germany, Hitler prepares for war.

What happened at the start of Hitler's life to provoke his relentless rise to power? From his early life as a mediocre student and failed artist, follow the events that led to Hitler's dictatorship.

Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler: Becoming Hitler

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What happened at the start of Hitler's life to provoke his relentless rise to power? From his early life as a mediocre student and failed artist, follow the events that led to Hitler's dictatorship.

Prying into the territory of the other side was fraught with danger. During the Cold War the super powers mobilised thousands of spies and spotters to lift the enemy's secrets. Even the allied military missions in Germany doubled as covert observers in the spying game.

The Spying Game

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

Prying into the territory of the other side was fraught with danger. During the Cold War the super powers mobilised thousands of spies and spotters to lift the enemy's secrets. Even the allied military missions in Germany doubled as covert observers in the spying game.

Once Hitler seizes power, he transforms his Alpine retreat in Bavaria into a vast mansion called the Berghof. The area becomes a magnet for the most powerful Nazis and Hitler's Berghof a show piece for the Reich.

Nazi Megastructures: The Eagle's Nest

Years 9-10, 11-12 Design and technologies, Modern history, History

Once Hitler seizes power, he transforms his Alpine retreat in Bavaria into a vast mansion called the Berghof. The area becomes a magnet for the most powerful Nazis and Hitler's Berghof a show piece for the Reich.

Germany is on the rise and Hitler has plans for world domination. He sees the battleship as the ultimate status symbol for his new Third Reich, and orders two vessels to be constructed that are bigger, more powerful, and more heavily armoured than anything else at sea. But the British will stop at nothing until Hitlers new mega-weapons are destroyed.

Nazi Megastructures: Hitler's Megaships

Years 9-10, 11-12 Design and technologies, Modern history, History

Germany is on the rise and Hitler has plans for world domination. He sees the battleship as the ultimate status symbol for his new Third Reich, and orders two vessels to be constructed that are bigger, more powerful, and more heavily armoured than anything else at sea. But the British will stop at nothing until Hitlers new mega-weapons are destroyed.

As European countries fall like dominoes to the all-conquering German armies, Hitler becomes convinced of his own military genius. He plans to invade Russia and orders the construction of a huge, heavily protected command complex of bunkers and buildings named the Wolfs Lair. But as he isolates himself in his concrete city, the war begins to slip from his grasp, and a conspiracy is hatched to make the secret base his tomb.

Nazi Megastructures: The Wolf's Lair

Years 9-10, 11-12 Design and technologies, Modern history, History

As European countries fall like dominoes to the all-conquering German armies, Hitler becomes convinced of his own military genius. He plans to invade Russia and orders the construction of a huge, heavily protected command complex of bunkers and buildings named the Wolfs Lair. But as he isolates himself in his concrete city, the war begins to slip from his grasp, and a conspiracy is hatched to make the secret base his tomb.

In this final episode in the series we examine the end game of the Cold War and look at how the gradual thawing of the conflict began. This was the era that began with detente and ended with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Neither Reagan nor Thatcher believed in the high ideals of detente. They spoke the language of new weapons and renewed aggression towards communism. Thatcher's foreign policy was confrontational and confident. She, just as Reagan, saw no reason to compromise with or accept communism. In Thatcher, Reagan saw a great ally and the chance to expand its nuclear sphere of influence. At the same time, the Soviet Union was suffering the effects of life under a succession of failed rulers. The economy was collapsing and there was growing dissent among the nations in the Soviet Empire. One by one countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia rejected Soviet rule and established their own independence. Russia had lost its superpower status and with it had gone the need for cold war. But did the end of this period in history bring about the positive social changes that everyone predicted or did it leave behind it a world empty of order, just as dangerous but in a different way? Time has yet to tell but it is certain that history has not quite finished with America and Russia.

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 6

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

In this final episode in the series we examine the end game of the Cold War and look at how the gradual thawing of the conflict began. This was the era that began with detente and ended with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Neither Reagan nor Thatcher believed in the high ideals of detente. They spoke the language of new weapons and renewed aggression towards communism. Thatcher's foreign policy was confrontational and confident. She, just as Reagan, saw no reason to compromise with or accept communism. In Thatcher, Reagan saw a great ally and the chance to expand its nuclear sphere of influence. At the same time, the Soviet Union was suffering the effects of life under a succession of failed rulers. The economy was collapsing and there was growing dissent among the nations in the Soviet Empire. One by one countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia rejected Soviet rule and established their own independence. Russia had lost its superpower status and with it had gone the need for cold war. But did the end of this period in history bring about the positive social changes that everyone predicted or did it leave behind it a world empty of order, just as dangerous but in a different way? Time has yet to tell but it is certain that history has not quite finished with America and Russia.

Nazi Megastructures returns with a third series that uncovers the hidden remains of some of Hitler's most ambitious projects, telling the stories of the engineers that built them and revealing how these structures changed warfare forever. In June 1940, the Nazis set foot on British soil. The Channel Islands, a British territory since the 11th century is now under German occupation. Hitler becomes obsessed with keeping control of this small corner of Britain and orders the construction of some of the most fortified structures in the Third Reich.

Nazi Megastructures: Hitler's Island Megafortress

Years 9-10, 11-12 Design and technologies, Modern history, History

Nazi Megastructures returns with a third series that uncovers the hidden remains of some of Hitler's most ambitious projects, telling the stories of the engineers that built them and revealing how these structures changed warfare forever. In June 1940, the Nazis set foot on British soil. The Channel Islands, a British territory since the 11th century is now under German occupation. Hitler becomes obsessed with keeping control of this small corner of Britain and orders the construction of some of the most fortified structures in the Third Reich.

Strategy: The Genius of Warfare: Terrorism - War Without Frontiers

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, Design and technologies, History

Since 1945, there have been no less than eight wars being fought somewhere on the planet at any given time. They have rarely been proper wars - with uniformed soldiers confronting each other - more often than not they have been guerrilla wars, and they have employed some of the most terrifying tactics. In this program, we examine the origins of guerrilla warfare and how they have subsequently given birth to the global phenomenon of terrorism. Each new decade brings its own developments in this strategy of war. The 1960s saw revolutionary politics become cool and suddenly every city had its own brand of urban guerrilla. In the 1970s, the increase in cheap air travel meant that terrorists were no longer confined to committing atrocities in their own backyard. Now they were free to send a message anywhere by hijacking and blowing up planes in the full glare of the media spotlight. But nothing could compare with the far reaching potential of the centuries newest type of urban guerrilla - the cyber terrorist, armed with the potential to cripple the world at the touch of a keypad. The world has changed, and a new age begun, and however interpreted or understood, it is an age of terror.

As the 1960s began, a generation was growing to adulthood which had known only the cold war. In those early years of the 1960s there was an idealistic hope. John F Kennedy had been elected as president and he talked of the torch being passed to a new generation. There were hopes that he would break the cold war deadlock and bring an end to the conflict. These hopes were dashed when he engaged in a stand-off with Nikita Khrushchev over Russian nuclear bases being built in Cuba. Kennedy was not the kind of man to back down and a tense few days ensued with the world waiting to see who would give in first. In the end, both sides gave a little; Russian returned its missiles to the Soviet Union and the US removed their missiles from Turkey. But the damage had been done and by the end of the decade both leaders would be gone; one deposed by his own parliament and the other killed by a sniper's bullet. The end of the decade was a dark time for peace. The nuclear club grew with the explosion of Chinese and French nuclear weapons, and conflicts in far away places like Egypt, Israel and Vietnam led the American people to question their country's involvement in wars that were happening in places that they had never seen and didn't care about.

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 5

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

As the 1960s began, a generation was growing to adulthood which had known only the cold war. In those early years of the 1960s there was an idealistic hope. John F Kennedy had been elected as president and he talked of the torch being passed to a new generation. There were hopes that he would break the cold war deadlock and bring an end to the conflict. These hopes were dashed when he engaged in a stand-off with Nikita Khrushchev over Russian nuclear bases being built in Cuba. Kennedy was not the kind of man to back down and a tense few days ensued with the world waiting to see who would give in first. In the end, both sides gave a little; Russian returned its missiles to the Soviet Union and the US removed their missiles from Turkey. But the damage had been done and by the end of the decade both leaders would be gone; one deposed by his own parliament and the other killed by a sniper's bullet. The end of the decade was a dark time for peace. The nuclear club grew with the explosion of Chinese and French nuclear weapons, and conflicts in far away places like Egypt, Israel and Vietnam led the American people to question their country's involvement in wars that were happening in places that they had never seen and didn't care about.

An exploration of the stories behind the resistance groups that formed to fight the Third Reich during World War II. These took many practical forms. Guerrilla forces of all sizes fought military actions against Axis troops; clandestine civilian organisations performed acts of sabotage or espionage; religious groups led acts of civil disruption and protest and underground presses spread prohibited ideas and information. Who were the men and women who made up the resistance movements?

Europe's Secret Armies: Secret Armies of the Low Countries

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

An exploration of the stories behind the resistance groups that formed to fight the Third Reich during World War II. These took many practical forms. Guerrilla forces of all sizes fought military actions against Axis troops; clandestine civilian organisations performed acts of sabotage or espionage; religious groups led acts of civil disruption and protest and underground presses spread prohibited ideas and information. Who were the men and women who made up the resistance movements?

The escalation of the Cold War meant that the whole world began to take sides. Rather like children attaching themselves to gangs in the schoolyard, the two superpowers gathered teams of allies, supporters, henchmen and followers. The world became a giant chessboard, with nations as squares of the board to be captured. As the cold war became a way of life, technology moved fast to keep up the pace. The launch of the American U2 spy plane and the Russian satellite Sputnik brought about a new chapter in the cold war story; now both sides could see what the other was up to. While the US was concentrating on the threat in Europe, it nearly missed the threat appearing in its own backyard. A revolution, supported by Russia, had overthrown the ruling dictator and replaced him with the legendary Fidel Castro. This period in the Cold War's history is one of significant events and great change. The Berlin Wall appeared overnight and made East Berlin a prison, and two new players joined the game, determined not to concede any points to the other side. Nikita Khrushchev and John F Kennedy would come to symbolise a period of the Cold War where the whole world would truly have to hold its breath.

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 4

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

The escalation of the Cold War meant that the whole world began to take sides. Rather like children attaching themselves to gangs in the schoolyard, the two superpowers gathered teams of allies, supporters, henchmen and followers. The world became a giant chessboard, with nations as squares of the board to be captured. As the cold war became a way of life, technology moved fast to keep up the pace. The launch of the American U2 spy plane and the Russian satellite Sputnik brought about a new chapter in the cold war story; now both sides could see what the other was up to. While the US was concentrating on the threat in Europe, it nearly missed the threat appearing in its own backyard. A revolution, supported by Russia, had overthrown the ruling dictator and replaced him with the legendary Fidel Castro. This period in the Cold War's history is one of significant events and great change. The Berlin Wall appeared overnight and made East Berlin a prison, and two new players joined the game, determined not to concede any points to the other side. Nikita Khrushchev and John F Kennedy would come to symbolise a period of the Cold War where the whole world would truly have to hold its breath.

Seventy years ago, British India was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan. The repercussions of that event last till this day. Through the modern day victims of partition, we explore its legacy.

The Asian Century: Partition of India

Years 11-12 Modern history, Asia and Australia

Seventy years ago, British India was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan. The repercussions of that event last till this day. Through the modern day victims of partition, we explore its legacy.

The story of the mistakes and miscalculations made by both the British and German armies as they fought for control of Crete in 1941.

Europe's Secret Armies: The Mountain Men of Crete

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

The story of the mistakes and miscalculations made by both the British and German armies as they fought for control of Crete in 1941.

In 1966, the photographer Philip Jones Griffiths first visited Vietnam. It was an experience that would profoundly shape his career and legacy, as well as the world's understanding of the humanitarian cost of war. Griffiths captured incredible images of the victims of war and his 1971 photo journal, Vietnam Inc, transformed forever our understanding of this terrible conflict. This beautifully shot documentary gives fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was a true humanitarian and whose pictures are classics of photojournalism, as powerful today as the day they were taken.

The Man Who Shot Vietnam

Years 11-12 Visual arts, Modern history, History

In 1966, the photographer Philip Jones Griffiths first visited Vietnam. It was an experience that would profoundly shape his career and legacy, as well as the world's understanding of the humanitarian cost of war. Griffiths captured incredible images of the victims of war and his 1971 photo journal, Vietnam Inc, transformed forever our understanding of this terrible conflict. This beautifully shot documentary gives fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was a true humanitarian and whose pictures are classics of photojournalism, as powerful today as the day they were taken.

The Polish people were among the first to feel the full heart-stopping force of the German Wermacht. This is the story of the ways in which they fought back, including the Ghetto Uprising of 1943.

Europe's Secret Armies: The Polish Resistance

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

The Polish people were among the first to feel the full heart-stopping force of the German Wermacht. This is the story of the ways in which they fought back, including the Ghetto Uprising of 1943.

From the ruins of world war the battle lines of the cold war had emerged. Old wartime alliances had dissolved and friends and enemies had changed place. The weapons of war had also changed; the building of nuclear weapons had changed the rules and each side now raced to develop their own nuclear capabilities. The US had been first but when Russia detonated its own nuclear bomb in 1949 the impetus to build ever more destructive weapons accelerated. In Episode Three of the series we examine how the rise of Communism in countries all over the globe made the cold war not just a fight for land but a fight for the minds of the people of the world. As China becomes a communist regime the US begins to fear the spread of these new politics with an almost maniacal ferocity. As always throughout history, the tide of change brings fear and suspicion and US Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his witch-hunts and suspected spies are caught and executed. The cold war was a game where each side knew the limits but as a new decade dawned there appeared to be no chance of the cold war thawing out any time soon.

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 3

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

From the ruins of world war the battle lines of the cold war had emerged. Old wartime alliances had dissolved and friends and enemies had changed place. The weapons of war had also changed; the building of nuclear weapons had changed the rules and each side now raced to develop their own nuclear capabilities. The US had been first but when Russia detonated its own nuclear bomb in 1949 the impetus to build ever more destructive weapons accelerated. In Episode Three of the series we examine how the rise of Communism in countries all over the globe made the cold war not just a fight for land but a fight for the minds of the people of the world. As China becomes a communist regime the US begins to fear the spread of these new politics with an almost maniacal ferocity. As always throughout history, the tide of change brings fear and suspicion and US Senator Joseph McCarthy begins his witch-hunts and suspected spies are caught and executed. The cold war was a game where each side knew the limits but as a new decade dawned there appeared to be no chance of the cold war thawing out any time soon.

After the German invasion of 1940, the Norwegian government fled to London, leaving the country in the hands of the collaborator Quisling. But there were many willing people to fight back.

Europe's Secret Armies: Norwegian Heroes

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

After the German invasion of 1940, the Norwegian government fled to London, leaving the country in the hands of the collaborator Quisling. But there were many willing people to fight back.

On the afternoon of April 29, 1992, the powder keg that was the city of Los Angeles, exploded. A jury in the all-white community of Simi Valley had just found four white LAPD officers not guilty in the brutal, videotaped beating of an African American taxi driver named Rodney King. Roiling resentment against the police, which under Chief Daryl Gates had an "us against them" mentality, turned the City of Angeles into a war zone. In South Central, motorists were pulled from their vehicles and beaten. Television viewers saw one white man, Reginald Denny, pulled from his tractor trailer, beaten to a pulp and then witnessed a rioter slam a huge cinder block into the Denny's head while he lay helpless on the ground. The LA riots had begun. For six days the city was under siege, taken over mostly by thugs who used the King verdict as an excuse to run rampant. Stores were looted. Korean shop owners armed themselves and shot anyone who tried to storm their stores. Hundreds of fires burned for days, making LA resemble the oil fields of Iraq when Saddam Hussein's fleeing troops set alight oil wells in the desert. Police abandoned entire neighbourhoods, instead trying to protect upscale enclaves like West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Daryl Gates said during a press conference "Let it burn". Long standing scores between gangs, neighbours and anyone with a grudge were violently settled.

The Lost Tapes: LA Riots

Years 11-12 Modern history, History

On the afternoon of April 29, 1992, the powder keg that was the city of Los Angeles, exploded. A jury in the all-white community of Simi Valley had just found four white LAPD officers not guilty in the brutal, videotaped beating of an African American taxi driver named Rodney King. Roiling resentment against the police, which under Chief Daryl Gates had an "us against them" mentality, turned the City of Angeles into a war zone. In South Central, motorists were pulled from their vehicles and beaten. Television viewers saw one white man, Reginald Denny, pulled from his tractor trailer, beaten to a pulp and then witnessed a rioter slam a huge cinder block into the Denny's head while he lay helpless on the ground. The LA riots had begun. For six days the city was under siege, taken over mostly by thugs who used the King verdict as an excuse to run rampant. Stores were looted. Korean shop owners armed themselves and shot anyone who tried to storm their stores. Hundreds of fires burned for days, making LA resemble the oil fields of Iraq when Saddam Hussein's fleeing troops set alight oil wells in the desert. Police abandoned entire neighbourhoods, instead trying to protect upscale enclaves like West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Daryl Gates said during a press conference "Let it burn". Long standing scores between gangs, neighbours and anyone with a grudge were violently settled.

The story of the cold war proves that an individual can leave his or her mark on history. It is certain that the personalities of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union in those first post war years shaped history and plotted the path of world events. The second episode of this series examines how America solidified its position as a new superpower and how the Soviet Union, under the iron fist of Stalin, continued to spread the word of communism. Britain, exhausted by world war and lacking in resources, began to break up her Empire. Britain gradually reduced its position on the world stage and America stepped in to fill the void. At the same time the relationship that had developed between Russia and the US during the final stages of World War II slowly began to disintegrate as both sides grew to see the other as a threat to their respective ideals.

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 2

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

The story of the cold war proves that an individual can leave his or her mark on history. It is certain that the personalities of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union in those first post war years shaped history and plotted the path of world events. The second episode of this series examines how America solidified its position as a new superpower and how the Soviet Union, under the iron fist of Stalin, continued to spread the word of communism. Britain, exhausted by world war and lacking in resources, began to break up her Empire. Britain gradually reduced its position on the world stage and America stepped in to fill the void. At the same time the relationship that had developed between Russia and the US during the final stages of World War II slowly began to disintegrate as both sides grew to see the other as a threat to their respective ideals.

The songs tell stories about the lives of Gurindji people who lived and worked at Wave Hill station before they began a protest against poor conditions in 1966.

Wajarra: Songs from the Stations

Years 9-10, 11-12 Indigenous Australians, Modern history, History

The songs tell stories about the lives of Gurindji people who lived and worked at Wave Hill station before they began a protest against poor conditions in 1966.

More than 600km long, Hitler's Siegfried Line was one of the greatest fortifications in warfare history. The campaign to breach it took more than six months and cost 140,000 American casualties.

Nazi Megastructures: Hitler's Siegfried Line

Years 9-10, 11-12 Design and technologies, Modern history, History

More than 600km long, Hitler's Siegfried Line was one of the greatest fortifications in warfare history. The campaign to breach it took more than six months and cost 140,000 American casualties.

The Cold War lies at the very heart of the story of the 20th century. This conflict reduced the world into the simplest of divisions - us versus them. But it was, to coin a phrase, a looking glass world. To cross to the other side was to see the same threats and evils somehow back to front and upside down. In both East and West the cold war world was a place where the man next door could be a spy, an informer; a place where hysteria and suspicion could be enough to prove guilt. In this six part series we examine the origins of this conflict and take a closer look at what motivated each side. In this first episode we focus on the early part of the 20th century and see how revolution in Russia and the aftermath of two world wars led to divisions and alliances between the worlds most influential governments. How were the seeds of the cold war conflict sown, and is there any truth to the view that the cold war was a threat created by governments on all sides to keep their populations in line?

Stalemate: The Cold War: Part 1

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

The Cold War lies at the very heart of the story of the 20th century. This conflict reduced the world into the simplest of divisions - us versus them. But it was, to coin a phrase, a looking glass world. To cross to the other side was to see the same threats and evils somehow back to front and upside down. In both East and West the cold war world was a place where the man next door could be a spy, an informer; a place where hysteria and suspicion could be enough to prove guilt. In this six part series we examine the origins of this conflict and take a closer look at what motivated each side. In this first episode we focus on the early part of the 20th century and see how revolution in Russia and the aftermath of two world wars led to divisions and alliances between the worlds most influential governments. How were the seeds of the cold war conflict sown, and is there any truth to the view that the cold war was a threat created by governments on all sides to keep their populations in line?

An exploration of the stories behind the resistance groups that formed to fight the Third Reich during World War II. These took many practical forms. Guerrilla forces of all sizes fought military actions against Axis troops; clandestine civilian organisations performed acts of sabotage or espionage; religious groups led acts of civil disruption and protest and underground presses spread prohibited ideas and information. Who were the men and women who made up the resistance movements?

Europe's Secret Armies: Germany: Resisting from Within

Years 9-10, 11-12 Modern history, History

An exploration of the stories behind the resistance groups that formed to fight the Third Reich during World War II. These took many practical forms. Guerrilla forces of all sizes fought military actions against Axis troops; clandestine civilian organisations performed acts of sabotage or espionage; religious groups led acts of civil disruption and protest and underground presses spread prohibited ideas and information. Who were the men and women who made up the resistance movements?

Relive Hitler's final days, detailed through never-before-seen interviews with the men and women who were with him during those last desperate moments.

The Day Hitler Died

Years 11-12 Modern history, History

Relive Hitler's final days, detailed through never-before-seen interviews with the men and women who were with him during those last desperate moments.

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