Viasat History

Nazi naval commander Karl Donitz claimed after the Second World War that he'd only been a sailor following orders, but we set out to prove that he earned his bloody role as Hitler's successor.

Viasat History. From a rejected, illegitimate child to England's longest-reigning and one of its most successful monarchs, we explore Elizabeth I's legacy through her complicated bond with her mother, Anne Boleyn.

The Maisy Battery was made up of three-and-a-half miles of recently-excavated trenches, bunkers, barracks, and gun encasements near Pointe du Hoc that tell a new story of D-Day.

In 2023, three amateur codebreakers decoded 57 long-lost letters from Mary, Queen of Scots, uncovering a hidden correspondence preserved in the French National Library after a year of remote collaboration.

Cleopatra, the seventh of her name, is history's most famous Ptolemy - heir to a Greek dynasty ruling Egypt for centuries. How did these foreign pharaohs blend Greek and Egyptian traditions?

Egypt's last queen was a brilliant strategist. In a Mediterranean world under Roman domination, Cleopatra succeeded in ascending to the throne despite facing numerous obstacles.

Viasat History. About 4000 years ago, strong kings ruled for over 1500 years in the land of Kush (now northern Sudan and southern Egypt) - who were these African kings and what happened to them?

Nazi naval commander Karl Donitz claimed after the Second World War that he'd only been a sailor following orders, but we set out to prove that he earned his bloody role as Hitler's successor.

A team of experts investigate the methods Hitler used to indoctrinate Germany, turning it into a finely-tuned war machine; we visit Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry and the holiday park of Prora.

Nazi naval commander Karl Donitz claimed after the Second World War that he'd only been a sailor following orders, but we set out to prove that he earned his bloody role as Hitler's successor.

Viasat History. From a rejected, illegitimate child to England's longest-reigning and one of its most successful monarchs, we explore Elizabeth I's legacy through her complicated bond with her mother, Anne Boleyn.

Japan's escalation of the War in the East is devastatingly effective, but despite their success it is possible to see their inevitable defeat, and they have roused the military might of the USA.

Plans. A turning point in the Cold War as the Rolling Thunder bombings and the devastating Tet Offensive shattered US morale, LBJ escalated the Vietnam War, and Ho Chi Minh led fierce resistance.

The Maisy Battery was made up of three-and-a-half miles of recently-excavated trenches, bunkers, barracks, and gun encasements near Pointe du Hoc that tell a new story of D-Day.

Viasat History. From a rejected, illegitimate child to England's longest-reigning and one of its most successful monarchs, we explore Elizabeth I's legacy through her complicated bond with her mother, Anne Boleyn.

French explorer Franck Goddio has been working on a 3D reconstruction of an ancient monument resting beneath the Mediterranean Sea: the remains of the temple of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

How did Cleopatra die? Where is her tomb located? To get closer to the answers, one must understand ancient Egyptian funerary rites. Leading experts help us decipher the traditions of Cleopatra's era.

Viasat History. Egyptian archaeologists uncover a lost cemetery of elite women from the 8th century B.C.E. / B.C., when Kushite kings ruled Egypt and power was shared with the God's Wife of Amun.

The war turns in favour of the Allies. Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

In February 1972, Nixon made a ground-breaking trip to China to meet Mao; China had been slowly opening up to the West while their partnership with the Soviets had been souring for years.

The rivalry between Calakmul and Tikal reached its climax. Warfare, once a source of strength, became a catalyst for instability. This set the stage for the decline of the Classic Maya world.

A battle worthy of Hollywood that founded the glory of Ramses II when he faces the king Muwatalli II at Qadesh.

Viasat History. Eight attempts were made on Queen Victoria's life during her 63-year reign. We uncover the motives of the would-be assassins, and explore how Victoria's resilience helped shape modern monarchy.

The Spanish island of Villa Winter was suspected of being a port for German U-boats and part of a larger plan to invade the United States.

The Spanish island of Villa Winter was suspected of being a port for German U-boats and part of a larger plan to invade the United States.

French explorer Franck Goddio has been working on a 3D reconstruction of an ancient monument resting beneath the Mediterranean Sea: the remains of the temple of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

How did Cleopatra die? Where is her tomb located? To get closer to the answers, one must understand ancient Egyptian funerary rites. Leading experts help us decipher the traditions of Cleopatra's era.

Known as the Butcher of Poland, Hans Frank warped the law to encourage persecution, enslavement, starvation, and genocide - we want to know more.

Experts look to uncover the truth behind the mystery of Mary Magdalene's life after witnessing the resurrection.

Viasat History. Eight attempts were made on Queen Victoria's life during her 63-year reign. We uncover the motives of the would-be assassins, and explore how Victoria's resilience helped shape modern monarchy.

The war turns in favour of the Allies. Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

In February 1972, Nixon made a ground-breaking trip to China to meet Mao; China had been slowly opening up to the West while their partnership with the Soviets had been souring for years.

The Spanish island of Villa Winter was suspected of being a port for German U-boats and part of a larger plan to invade the United States.

Viasat History. Eight attempts were made on Queen Victoria's life during her 63-year reign. We uncover the motives of the would-be assassins, and explore how Victoria's resilience helped shape modern monarchy.

In 2023, three amateur codebreakers decoded 57 long-lost letters from Mary, Queen of Scots, uncovering a hidden correspondence preserved in the French National Library after a year of remote collaboration.

Viasat History. From a rejected, illegitimate child to England's longest-reigning and one of its most successful monarchs, we explore Elizabeth I's legacy through her complicated bond with her mother, Anne Boleyn.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese Division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

A new chapter began as Carter and Brezhnev grappled with a world in flux; starting with revolution in Iran and Soviet moves in Afghanistan, it ended with Brezhnev's death and Carter's election loss.

The Serpent dynasty's dominance ended. Under Jasaw Chan K'awiil, Tikal briefly led, but instability grew. Political, ecological and social pressures caused the gradual collapse of the age of Classic Maya.

Hellenistic pharaohs fought the Seleucids for centuries; Ptolemy IV faced Antiochos the Great at Raphia with 100,000 men and war elephants. Discover the combatants, naval strategy and consequences.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

Viasat History. How intimate was Queen Victoria's relationship with her Highland servant John Brown? Criminal barrister Rob Rinder and British historian Dr Fern Riddell uncover the truth behind the rumour.

Kraftwerk Nord West was one of the largest Nazi bunkers ever; constructed outside of the French town of Watten, it was a missile facility with storage for 108 missiles and two launch pads.

Viasat History. Eight attempts were made on Queen Victoria's life during her 63-year reign. We uncover the motives of the would-be assassins, and explore how Victoria's resilience helped shape modern monarchy.

In 2023, three amateur codebreakers decoded 57 long-lost letters from Mary, Queen of Scots, uncovering a hidden correspondence preserved in the French National Library after a year of remote collaboration.

Viasat History. From a rejected, illegitimate child to England's longest-reigning and one of its most successful monarchs, we explore Elizabeth I's legacy through her complicated bond with her mother, Anne Boleyn.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

Viasat History. How intimate was Queen Victoria's relationship with her Highland servant John Brown? Criminal barrister Rob Rinder and British historian Dr Fern Riddell uncover the truth behind the rumour.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese Division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

A new chapter began as Carter and Brezhnev grappled with a world in flux; starting with revolution in Iran and Soviet moves in Afghanistan, it ended with Brezhnev's death and Carter's election loss.

Kraftwerk Nord West was one of the largest Nazi bunkers ever; constructed outside of the French town of Watten, it was a missile facility with storage for 108 missiles and two launch pads.

For more than 3,000 years, the Maya civilisation flourished in Mesoamerica, developing cities, a sophisticated writing system, and an advanced understanding of time, astronomy, and the natural world.

In the eastern Maya Lowlands, a dynasty once shrouded in mystery gradually emerges as the most powerful political force of the Classic Maya world: the Kaanul, identified by their serpent emblem.

The rivalry between Calakmul and Tikal reached its climax. Warfare, once a source of strength, became a catalyst for instability. This set the stage for the decline of the Classic Maya world.

The Serpent dynasty's dominance ended. Under Jasaw Chan K'awiil, Tikal briefly led, but instability grew. Political, ecological and social pressures caused the gradual collapse of the age of Classic Maya.

The Germans continue their retreat from Russia, but the most significant event at this stage of the war is the second front in Europe with the D-Day landings on June 6th - Operation Overlord.

Gorbachev had inherited a nation in economic decline; in 1991, the Soviet Union fell apart completely and was ultimately dissolved as an era that had shaped the aims of the world's leaders was over.

In southern Peru stands an Inca city uninhabited for several centuries but still virtually intact: Machu Picchu. We discover the secrets behind its construction and the genius of the Inca builders.

Cleopatra conquers the Egyptian throne by allying with powerful men to regain power; facing Octavian at the Battle of Actium, nothing goes to plan and leads to her downfall and his rise as emperor.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

September 10th, 1898: Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni stabs the Austrian Empress Elisabeth with a file. The murder of the Empress is the beginning of a political struggle against anarchism in Europe.

As the Red Army approached a forest in Poland toward the end of the war, they stumbled upon a complex containing more than 1,000 structures across 25 square kilometres.

For more than 3,000 years, the Maya civilisation flourished in Mesoamerica, developing cities, a sophisticated writing system, and an advanced understanding of time, astronomy, and the natural world.

In the eastern Maya Lowlands, a dynasty once shrouded in mystery gradually emerges as the most powerful political force of the Classic Maya world: the Kaanul, identified by their serpent emblem.

The rivalry between Calakmul and Tikal reached its climax. Warfare, once a source of strength, became a catalyst for instability. This set the stage for the decline of the Classic Maya world.

The Serpent dynasty's dominance ended. Under Jasaw Chan K'awiil, Tikal briefly led, but instability grew. Political, ecological and social pressures caused the gradual collapse of the age of Classic Maya.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

A team of experts investigate the methods Hitler used to indoctrinate Germany, turning it into a finely-tuned war machine; we visit Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry and the holiday park of Prora.

Kennedy and Castro's Cold War clash ignites the Bay of Pigs, Berlin Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, pushing the world to nuclear brinkmanship..

Plans. A turning point in the Cold War as the Rolling Thunder bombings and the devastating Tet Offensive shattered US morale, LBJ escalated the Vietnam War, and Ho Chi Minh led fierce resistance.

In February 1972, Nixon made a ground-breaking trip to China to meet Mao; China had been slowly opening up to the West while their partnership with the Soviets had been souring for years.

Geli Raubal and Eva Braun, two women brought into Hitler's private life. One met a tragic end during his rise to power, the other followed him to a deadly finale.

Carin and Emmy Göring enabled Hermann Göring's ambitions in the Nazi regime. One a beloved companion committed to the Nazi vision, the other a star of the stage with little taste for politics.

Magda Goebbels embraced Nazi ideology with devotion and saw herself as a mother of the nation. In a horrifying act of loyalty, she enacted one of the most atrocious crimes a mother can commit.

Tracing the origins of his sadistic pseudo-science, we investigate Josef Mengele, the notorious demon doctor of Auschwitz.

Nazi naval commander Karl Donitz claimed after the Second World War that he'd only been a sailor following orders, but we set out to prove that he earned his bloody role as Hitler's successor.

Known as the Butcher of Poland, Hans Frank warped the law to encourage persecution, enslavement, starvation, and genocide - we want to know more.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

Viasat History. Eight attempts were made on Queen Victoria's life during her 63-year reign. We uncover the motives of the would-be assassins, and explore how Victoria's resilience helped shape modern monarchy.

Viasat History. How intimate was Queen Victoria's relationship with her Highland servant John Brown? Criminal barrister Rob Rinder and British historian Dr Fern Riddell uncover the truth behind the rumour.

Throughout WWII, Jews were deported to extermination camps such as Buchenwald; Commander Koch leads a middle-class life nearby with his family as his children play next door to the horror of the camp.

Hitler's health went downhill; Hermann Göring was barely sane due to his morphine addiction. With the war turning, Hitler and his court retreated to his bunker in Berlin and staged his inglorious end.

This is the extraordinary story of cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, along with other victims of the camp - Jews, Poles and Roma - who played and created music amidst the terrors of the Holocaust.

The Germans advance into Moscow, and the Japanese attack Pearl Harbour.

Japan's escalation of the War in the East is devastatingly effective, but despite their success it is possible to see their inevitable defeat, and they have roused the military might of the USA.

The war turns in favour of the Allies. Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese Division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

The remains of 7,000 humans were discovered in the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta's Neolithic temple; could the temple reveal the mystery of who they belonged to and what happened to its owners?

September 10th, 1898: Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni stabs the Austrian Empress Elisabeth with a file. The murder of the Empress is the beginning of a political struggle against anarchism in Europe.

In 2023, three amateur codebreakers decoded 57 long-lost letters from Mary, Queen of Scots, uncovering a hidden correspondence preserved in the French National Library after a year of remote collaboration.

For more than 3,000 years, the Maya civilisation flourished in Mesoamerica, developing cities, a sophisticated writing system, and an advanced understanding of time, astronomy, and the natural world.

In the eastern Maya Lowlands, a dynasty once shrouded in mystery gradually emerges as the most powerful political force of the Classic Maya world: the Kaanul, identified by their serpent emblem.

The rivalry between Calakmul and Tikal reached its climax. Warfare, once a source of strength, became a catalyst for instability. This set the stage for the decline of the Classic Maya world.

The Serpent dynasty's dominance ended. Under Jasaw Chan K'awiil, Tikal briefly led, but instability grew. Political, ecological and social pressures caused the gradual collapse of the age of Classic Maya.

In southern Peru stands an Inca city uninhabited for several centuries but still virtually intact: Machu Picchu. We discover the secrets behind its construction and the genius of the Inca builders.

The Germans advance into Moscow, and the Japanese attack Pearl Harbour.

Japan's escalation of the War in the East is devastatingly effective, but despite their success it is possible to see their inevitable defeat, and they have roused the military might of the USA.

The war turns in favour of the Allies. Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese Division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

The Germans continue their retreat from Russia, but the most significant event at this stage of the war is the second front in Europe with the D-Day landings on June 6th - Operation Overlord.

Viasat History. In an exciting archaeological and scientific investigation, we meet the most eminent specialists in the Bible to try to answer one fundamental question: who wrote the Holy Book?

This documentary peels back the layers of centuries-old tradition and artistic interpretation to reveal the real historical and archaeological evidence behind the life of Jesus.

Explore the fascinating 2,000-year-long history of the Holy Lance, a sacred relic of Christianity sought by Emperor Constantine, Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler.

Tracing the origins of his sadistic pseudo-science, we investigate Josef Mengele, the notorious demon doctor of Auschwitz.

Nazi naval commander Karl Donitz claimed after the Second World War that he'd only been a sailor following orders, but we set out to prove that he earned his bloody role as Hitler's successor.

Known as the Butcher of Poland, Hans Frank warped the law to encourage persecution, enslavement, starvation, and genocide - we want to know more.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

The remains of 7,000 humans were discovered in the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta's Neolithic temple; could the temple reveal the mystery of who they belonged to and what happened to its owners?

Cleopatra conquers the Egyptian throne by allying with powerful men to regain power; facing Octavian at the Battle of Actium, nothing goes to plan and leads to her downfall and his rise as emperor.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

September 10th, 1898: Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni stabs the Austrian Empress Elisabeth with a file. The murder of the Empress is the beginning of a political struggle against anarchism in Europe.

The Germans continue their retreat from Russia, but the most significant event at this stage of the war is the second front in Europe with the D-Day landings on June 6th - Operation Overlord.

Gorbachev had inherited a nation in economic decline; in 1991, the Soviet Union fell apart completely and was ultimately dissolved as an era that had shaped the aims of the world's leaders was over.

As the Red Army approached a forest in Poland toward the end of the war, they stumbled upon a complex containing more than 1,000 structures across 25 square kilometres.

1323 B.C. / B.C.E.: Egypt is still in chaos left by Akhenaten's attempted religious revolution when his son, the young king Tutankhamun, dies; the 18th dynasty comes to an end in a state of disorder.

Ramses I's eight-year-old son Seti becomes king and all eyes are on him; the young prince representes the future of the new royal family which has yet to assert its influence over the kingdom.

Seti I is still in his prime when he dies in 1279 B.C. / B.C.E.; despite his short reign, it proves brilliant and gives Prince Ramses ample time to perfect his education for his future role as king.

Ramses II launched the construction of two temples dedicated to the Pharaoh and to his wife Nefertari; how did the Egyptians organise and manage such a project 1,500 kilometres from the Nile delta?

The Allies continue their eastward push from Normandy and close on the German border. In the east the Soviet Union unleashes the greatest offensive of the war, Operation Bagration.

Examines the common themes dictators share, the situations that lead to tyranny and the techniques they use to come to power.

This two-parter charts teams of archaeologists as they undertake digs in and around the iconic Machu Picchu Citadel and Tambo Viejo on the Peruvian coast at never-before-excavated sites.

When his father died in 958 A.D. / C.E., Danish king Harald Bluetooth inherited a fragmented kingdom threatened by Otto I's empire but succeeded in turning it into a unified Christian kingdom.

Adolf Hitler had set his mind on making Germany into a great empire. In the process, he wanted to rid the world of Bolshevism and Jews; but his invasion of Poland tipped the world into a violent war.

Uncover haunting factors and new evidence, possibly leading to fresh verdicts for these enigmatic men.

A secret weapons programme in the heart of Austria could have ended badly for the Allies and may have indicated nuclear plans being concocted by Hitler.

1323 B.C. / B.C.E.: Egypt is still in chaos left by Akhenaten's attempted religious revolution when his son, the young king Tutankhamun, dies; the 18th dynasty comes to an end in a state of disorder.

Ramses I's eight-year-old son Seti becomes king and all eyes are on him; the young prince representes the future of the new royal family which has yet to assert its influence over the kingdom.

Seti I is still in his prime when he dies in 1279 B.C. / B.C.E.; despite his short reign, it proves brilliant and gives Prince Ramses ample time to perfect his education for his future role as king.

Ramses II launched the construction of two temples dedicated to the Pharaoh and to his wife Nefertari; how did the Egyptians organise and manage such a project 1,500 kilometres from the Nile delta?

Adolf Hitler had set his mind on making Germany into a great empire. In the process, he wanted to rid the world of Bolshevism and Jews; but his invasion of Poland tipped the world into a violent war.

This two-parter charts teams of archaeologists as they undertake digs in and around the iconic Machu Picchu Citadel and Tambo Viejo on the Peruvian coast at never-before-excavated sites.

When his father died in 958 A.D. / C.E., Danish king Harald Bluetooth inherited a fragmented kingdom threatened by Otto I's empire but succeeded in turning it into a unified Christian kingdom.

Uncover haunting factors and new evidence, possibly leading to fresh verdicts for these enigmatic men.

The Allies continue their eastward push from Normandy and close on the German border. In the east the Soviet Union unleashes the greatest offensive of the war, Operation Bagration.

Examines the common themes dictators share, the situations that lead to tyranny and the techniques they use to come to power.

A secret weapons programme in the heart of Austria could have ended badly for the Allies and may have indicated nuclear plans being concocted by Hitler.

Ramses the Great has earned the distinction of being the most feared and respected pharaoh when he signs the first true peace treaty in human history with longstanding foes the Hittites.

Ramses reaches the 30th year of his reign as a pharaoh of unparalleled achievements, but he has little time to savour his lengthy tenure on the throne amid the grandeur.

Ramses fortified borders and established peace with other kingdoms during his long reign; his 13th son Merenptah must strive to uphold his father's legacy, but will his efforts prove sufficient?

The world is fascinated by the Pyramids of Giza; we explore theories and recent advances in archaeology, Egyptology and astrophysics to decipher the clues left behind by the ancient Egyptians.

The Allies succeed in crossing the Rhine and fight their way through Germany as the Red Army finally forces Axis troops from Soviet territory and closes on the capital, Berlin.

A strong decisive leader will emerge when the conditions are right, but there's a process to winning over a population; they need to sell themselves and build a cult of personality.

Archaeologists hunt for clues to how the mysterious Inca conquered much of South America, and why, when Europeans arrived, the mighty empire crumbled.

King Harald Bluetooth consolidates his own authority among the Danes by choosing to be baptised and convert his people, but power in over-ambitious hands can unfortunately lead to the worst.