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The Death of General Patton

America's legendary military commander, General George Patton, died in December 1945

• 9 mins

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita

One of the 20th Century's most scandalous books was published in 1955

• 9 mins

Michael Jackson's Thriller

In 1982 the world's best selling album was released

• 9 mins

It's a Wonderful Life

A former Hollywood child star remembers filming the classic Christmas movie in 1946.

• 9 mins

The Beagle 2 Mission to Mars

On Christmas Day 2003, a British space craft was due to land on Mars to look for life

• 9 mins

The Donner Party

In 1846, a group of US pioneers were trapped in the mountains over the winter.

• 9 mins

Rasputin

In 1916, the infamous holy man Grigori Rasputin, was murdered by Russian aristocrats

• 9 mins

The Poster Boy for the Communist System

In 1935, Alexei Stakhanov, a coal miner, became a Soviet celebrity.

• 9 mins

The Millennium Bug

How the world waited for a potential global computer meltdown on New Year's Eve 1999

• 9 mins

Vietnamese Boat People Arrive in Britain

Some of the first Vietnamese refugees arrive in Britain after a dramatic rescue at sea.

• 9 mins

The start of the Open University

A new university in Britain offers a radically different approach to higher education.

• 9 mins

The Eames Chair

In 1956, Charles and Ray Eames launched the Eames Chair.

• 9 mins

Fidel Castro Takes Havana

In Jan 1959 leftist revolutionaries ended decades of rule by Cuba's US-backed dictator

• 9 mins

Chairman Mao's Little Red Book

How the thoughts of China's communist leader became an unexpected global best-seller

• 9 mins

Palomares Nuclear Accident

How two US military planes, one carrying nuclear weapons, crashed over a Spanish village

• 9 mins

A Mass Shooting in America

In October 2006 a man killed five Amish schoolgirls and injured five more in Pennsylvania

• 9 mins

Russia's Forbidden Art

The Russian painter who created a world-famous collection of forbidden Soviet art

• 9 mins

The First Alzheimer's Patient

The tragic case that led to the discovery of Alzheimer's disease.

• 9 mins

The Freedom Tower in Tehran

Hossein Amanat was the young architect employed to build a tower for Iranian royalty.

• 9 mins

Nigeria's First Coup

In 1966 a small group of Nigerian army officers launched the country's first ever coup

• 9 mins

The Adventures of Tintin

One of the most famous cartoon characters in history was born in January 1929 - Tintin.

• 9 mins

Mexico's Tequila Crisis

In January 1995 Mexico was forced to seek a multi-billion dollar bailout from the US

• 9 mins

The Soldier Who Never Surrendered

In 1972 a Japanese soldier was found hiding in the jungle on the Pacific island of Guam.

• 9 mins

The Poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko

In 2004, a Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was mysteriously poisoned

• 9 mins

The Funeral of Jan Palach

Hundreds of thousands of people mourned the student activist in Prague in January 1969.

• 9 mins

The Wapping Dispute

In January 1986 newspaper owner Rupert Murdoch took on the British print unions.

• 9 mins

The First Fleet Lands in Australia

Britain established a penal colony in Australia.In January 1788

• 9 mins

The Challenger Disaster

On 28 January 1986 The Challenger space shuttle launch went horribly wrong

• 9 mins

Sharia Returns to Nigeria

In 2000, Zamfara became the first Nigerian state to implement full Sharia law

• 9 mins

The First Batman TV Series

In January 1966 Batman and Robin appeared on the small screen for the first time

• 9 mins