History Channel Documentaries

A & E goes behind the scenes for a rough-and-tumble look at the people and history behind today's most flamboyant sport-pro wrestling. In addition to interviews with Jesse the Body Ventura, Hulk Hogan, Andr+ª the Giant and many others, you'll be treated to clips of some of the sport's earliest stars.

With only a motley group of Creoles, freed blacks, local Native Americans, and poorly armed frontiersman, General Andrew Jackson defeats the same forces that brought Napoleon down - effectively ending the War of 1812.

They were unlikely allies, bound together on the principle of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." But despite fighting on opposite sides of the globe and the ideological divide that separated them, Germany and Japan cooperated extensively throughout World War II. Using government documents, the recollections of soldiers and commentary from leading historians, SAMURAI AND THE SWASTIKA tells the long-overlooked story of the strategic alliance between the Axis powers. See how Japan supplied Germany with much-needed raw materials for the war, while German engineers shared sophisticated rocket and jet-propulsion technology with their Japanese counterparts. Jointly, they supported anti-English uprisings in India, giving aid and military supplies to Bose Chandras, a dissident Indian general, and his guerilla army. And in perhaps the boldest scheme of all, they conspired to destroy the Panama Canal and cut off America's Pacific war from its crucial Atlantic supply operations. Here, sophisticated computer animations bring this bold scheme to life in astonishing detail. From the origins of their alliance to a seized shipment of Uranium bound for Japan at the end of the war, this is a compelling look at how the Axis powers supported each other throughout World War II.

The internet is the defining technology of our time. An historic revolution in communications for the human race that is changing the world. But where did the internet come from? How did it get started? And who built this essential tool and playful toy to millions? And where is it going?

In 1864, General Grant doggedly pursued Lee's forces. On June 3, the two sides met at Cold Harbor, a crossroads near Richmond, where Grant hurled his men against entrenched breastworks, losing 7,000 in 20 minutes. Fighting on, he won victory 10 months later. Hastening the South's end, Cold Harbor ushered in an era of trench warfare.

Re-accounts of the days of Abraham Lincoln from his days in office.

As a war, it was small, nasty and suspicious. As news, it was a godsend. The Spanish-American War did many things it united an adolescent nation and paraded its global ambitions for all to see, while heralding the descent of a tired empire. In this unique program, the conflict comes to life as it was presented to people at that time through the accounts of newspapers nationwide. From the slow buildup of public sentiment against Spain to the sensationalistic coverage of the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, the forces, personalities and events of the war that secured America a place on the world stage are relived. Marvel at the fiery rhetoric of "yellow journalism" pioneer William Randolph Hearst, and learn of the many errors and outright fabrications that marred the coverage of the conflict. And ride along with Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders as they charge up San Juan Hill, all according to the reporters of the day. It's a revealing look at the power of the press and its often problematic influence in the real world, where reporters can be as effective in spurring events as presenting them.

History is filled with words that carry meanings quite from the original. The small quaint town in Poland called Auschwitz is known as Genocide. Our program documents when on at Auschwitz told by the survivors and the Germans that worked there.

Narrated by Harry Smith, DEAR HOME: LETTERS FROM WWI chronicles the experiences of American soldiers and supply clerks, pilots and postal workers from draft day to homecoming, how they clung to pen and paper as their only connection to home, and how the war left them forever changed.

A fun-filled glimpse into the not so distant history of video games. Since inception, the gaming industry has been a driving force in computer technology and video games are one of today’s dominant entertainment mediums.

The era about which the Bible is written was an era of earthquakes, floods and other disasters. Bible stories tell of Noah and the flood, the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the ten plagues that forced an Egyptian pharaoh to free Hebrew slaves. Are the Biblical accounts based on fact? Controversial evidence is explored to validate these Biblical claims and whether there may be a parallel to modern disasters.

The real story behind Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor is an account of remarkable military daring, startling military blunders and still-controversial political decisions made at the highest levels. December 7 1941 was a turning point in history. The world was forever changed after the fateful attack on Pearl Harbour. It was the most daring naval and army manoeuvres of all time. In less than two hours without warning a swarm of Japanese fighter planes, each bearing a red sun soared over pearl harbour, Hawaii. At 7.53am a Japanese commander radioed to his pilots, "Tora, Tora, Tora!" In a matter of minutes, bombs and torpedoes fell from the sky paralysing U.S pacific naval forces. The day of infamy began with an intricate well-planned attack and a thunderous roar. The shock and anger over the surprise raid rallied a divided nation together more than any other event known to modern man.