Babi Yar

On 29 September 1941, the organised massacre of Ukrainian Jews began.

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Russian Rock concert

In September 1991 the first heavy metal rock concert was held at a Moscow airfield.

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Mexico City Massacre

Just before the 1968 Olympics, the Mexican government cracked down hard on demonstrators.

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The Battle of Cable Street

In October 1936, fascists clashed with Jews, socialists and anarchists in London.

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The Manhattan Project

The invention of the atomic bomb was known as The Manhattan Project.

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Assassination of Anwar Sadat

In October 1981 the President of Egypt was shot at a military parade.

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The US Bombing of Afghanistan

It's 10 years since the first airstrikes on Afghanistan.

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Thai Student Massacre

In October 1976 security forces opened fire on student demonstrators in Bangkok.

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Burton and Taylor remarry

In October 1975 the filmstars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor got married - again!

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USS Cole

On 12 October 2000, an American destroyer was attacked by al-Qaeda suicide bombers.

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First Birth Control Clinic Opened in the US

Margaret Sanger's clinic was open for 10 days giving women advice about contraception

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Coca Cola Change 1985

In 1985 the soft drink company changed its age old formula.

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French Algerian Massacre

On 17 October 1961, French police turned against Algerian demonstrators in Paris.

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Erich Honecker stands down

On 18 October 1989, the East German communist leader, was forced from power.

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Canada Kidnap - James Cross

In October 1970 James Cross, a British diplomat, was kidnapped by Quebec separatists.

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George Blake Escapes

In October 1966 a Soviet double agent escaped from a British jail.

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Aberfan Disaster

It is 45 years since tragedy struck a Welsh mining village.

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Mau Mau uprising

It is 55 years since the Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi was arrested in Kenya.

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Nelson Mandela's Autobiography

Written with the help of other ANC activists, how was the book smuggled out of prison?

• 9 mins

The Joy of Sex

It is almost 40 years since the publication of a groundbreaking book about relationships.

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The American POW who chose China

When the Korean War ended, a few US POWs chose to stay and live under communism.

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Indonesian killings

In the autumn of 1965 a purge of communist sympathisers began in Indonesia.

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Murder of Polish priest

In late October 1984 the body of a Polish priest was found in a town outside Warsaw.

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Keith Jarrett in Cologne

How a jazz concert organised by a 17-year old turned into a bestselling album.

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75 years of BBC TV

On 2 November 1936 the first regular TV service in the world was launched by the BBC.

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Hungarian uprising of 1956

Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest on 4 November 1956 ending a shortlived popular uprising.

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The death of Robert Maxwell

It is 20 years since the newspaper magnate disappeared off his yacht.

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Mission to Mars

The first spacecraft to go to Mars left Earth in November 1964

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The Death of Leonid Brezhnev

The Soviet leader died in November 1982 after years of ill health.

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San Salvador offensive

In November 1989 the civil war in El Salvador hit the capital city.

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