History Channel Documentaries

The days leading up to the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy are recalled through recollections, diaries and letters, including the personal writings of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill and Erwin Rommel. Narrator: Edward Herrmann.

It's the world's most dangerous handbag. It enables the United States President to authorize a nuclear attack anywhere in the world. It's called the "Nuclear Football".

Explores the mythology of Helen of Troy and the role she played as the catalyst for the Trojan War. Includes selected scenes and comments from the cast of Wolfgang Petersen's film "Troy."

Imagine the future - a strange new weapon is detonated high over a large city. There is no explosion, no visible destruction, but everything electronic within the range of this weapon will go out.. permanently. Every electronic gadget in every home and office - disabled. No computers, no TV, no life support systems in hospitals, no water supply, no heat, no lights - truly, a return to the dark ages. Imagine a full range of new weapons; one can take out the electricity in your city, another can destroy you. If you haven't heard about these weapons, it's no surprise. Their development has been secretive and they sound more like science fiction than reality. When did this reality really begin and how far advanced is it now? This revealing documentary opens the window on this - until now - secretive science.

A compelling documentary that takes an in-depth look at the 490th U.S. Army Air Corps Bomb Squadron, who flew numerous bombing missions in China-Burma-India. These missions are from the so-called "forgotten theater" of WWII. Between February 1943 and August 1945, the squadron flew 615 missions, dropped 8,257,000 pounds of bombs and destroyed 192 bridges, earning them the nickname "Burma Bridge Busters." This is a heartfelt tribute to the brave men of the 490th Squadron

Who was the real Robin Hood? This age-old question and many more are answered in this exciting documentary. Come and explore the true story behind the beloved myth of Robin Hood the outlawed hero who famously stole from the rich and gave to the poor. In it you will track down the legend of the myth, its origins, and its many interpretations over the years; take a trip back to medieval times and visit the real Robin Hood country; and examine the far-reaching influences the Robin Hood legend has had throughout popular culture. With a myth so famously enduring and intriguing as its subject, this documentary will prove to be both satisfying and fascinating for anyone interested in Robin Hood.

For centuries, the adventures of King Arthur and his fabled court have dominated the imagination of the western world. But how did this overpowering legend begin and what truth lies behind the enduring story of Arthur, King of Britons? In this 2-hour exploration of the Arthurian medieval myths, we examine the tantalizing historical facts behind the story of this band of deathless heroes and illuminate the contemporary quest by researchers to establish if the 6th-century warlord truly existed.

Warlike amazons; the one-eyed man-eating Cyclops; the ferocious griffin, part bird, part lion. Were these creatures, celebrated by the ancient Greeks and immortalised by Homer something more than myth? The Greek myths are filled with magical tales of transformation, tragic episodes of human pettiness and jealousy, inspiring accounts of courage and valor, and legions of gods and heroes. But perhaps the most compelling stories are those of creatures like the one-eyed Cyclops and the ferocious half-lion, half-eagle known as the griffin. ANCIENT MONSTER HUNTERS follows a group of palaeontologists as they explore newly-translated evidence and examine remains that just may have inspired tales of these legendary monsters. Travel to the island of Samos, said to be the site of an Amazon battlefield, and analyse the gigantic bones that were found there. New data suggests the ancients actually searched for, excavated, measured and displayed these massive fossils. Is this the proof that the practice of palaeontology, long considered a modern science, actually began some 2,000 years before? Meet the monsters that just might link the Greek classical age with earth's prehistoric past and find out if these mythological beasts really have a place in the fossil record.

By the summer of 1900, Galveston, Texas was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, and its citizens were full of optimism as the 20th century approached. One of those citizens was Isaac Cline, appointed a decade earlier to head the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Galveston. But on September 8 of that year, a Category 4 hurricane washed away most of the city and claimed more than 6,000 lives--still the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. This documentary focuses on Isaac Cline's role in the disaster: was he (as local legend has it) a heroic figure who saved lives by warning the population to flee, or did scientific hubris prevent him from seeing the danger until it was too late?

The story of knights is the story of their armour, from simple and functional, to the almost futuristic and fantastical. JThis is a look at the story of the knights and their armour, from their early beginnings to the peak of their power, to their decline and the legacy they have left us today. Knights and Armour combines the adventure and heroism of Excalibur, with the romance and chivalry of Camelot. Following, in part, the incredible true story of the quintessential knight, Sir William Marshal, Knights and Armour travels to the battlegrounds and ancient courts to tell the glorious tale of the knights who cut majestic and colourful figures whether on parade, jousting or fighting hand to hand with mace, sword, axe or lance.

After the British invade the Capital and burn much of it down, the fledgling America appears on the verge of total collapse. But soldiers make a stand against the British in Baltimore, and the momentum improbably shifts to America's inferior forces. Follow their journey to victory, as they defend their threatened democracy.

Never a robust man, Adolf Hitler was increasingly dependent on his personal physician throughout his time as fuehrer. As a result, the enigmatic and despised doctor, Theodor Morell, may well have played an important role in shaping the course of history, but scholars and World War II buffs have long debated his significance. From the facts that all agree on to more daring theories, HIGH HITLER examines the many aspects of this fascinating tale. Recent findings suggest that the world's most infamous dictator, a teetotal vegetarian, was ruling in an ""altered state,"" but how big a part did Hitler's drug dependency play in the decisions he made? And can any of the blame be assigned to Morrell?

Theatrical special drawn from the trial excerpts presenting new theories about the famous events in Salem Village

Considered the most successful warrior in recorded history, Alexander the Great conquered Asia by age 32. His innovative battle tactics remain a topic of endless fascination to scholars and military leaders. Actor Peter Woodward hosts this absorbing documentary that chronicles Alexander's life through ancient historians' narratives, interviews with contemporary scholars, state-of-the-art reenactments and tours of key historical sites.

At 11 a.m., November 11, 1918, World War One ended. Victory had been assured and final territory already agreed upon. So why did more soldiers die that day than on D-Day? Based on Joseph Persico's book 11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, we reveal how Allied leaders found outrageous excuses to send 13,000 men to their deaths against a defeated enemy. Some leaders desired promotion, others craved retribution, while one commander chose to capture a town that day solely to bathe! Despite the human toll, nothing was gained--territories taken that day were eventually returned to Germany. The senseless 11th-hour slaughter captures the whole WWI in a microcosm--pointless carnage for no positive purpose.

A alien special for all you ET lovers.

Inventor, writer, businessman, scientist, diplomat, and the face gracing the hundred-dollar bill--this stately figure is the Benjamin Franklin history has taught us to remember. Now, in this revealing yet informal History Channel® presentation, the real man behind the myth is finally brought to light. By his own admission, the man who negotiated an alliance with France, helped write the Declaration of Independence and was the first to tame lightning was far from perfect. A self-promoter and occasionally ruthless competitor, this Founding Father never made a penny from his achievements and was more comfortable speaking in front of the British Parliament than he was being with his own family. Narrated in an easy, conversational tone by Edward Herrmann (Intolerable Cruelty, The Practice), BEN FRANKLIN features in-depth interviews with renowned biographers and historians, as well as reenactments shot in High-Definition video on locations in Philadelphia--a truly remarkable virtual "walk" in Franklin's footsteps. Available on DVD for the first time, BEN FRANKLIN is a fresh, down-to-earth, informative look at one of America's most essential human monuments.

This 90-minute special presents the complex and riveting history of Rwanda, providing an in-depth look at the propaganda campaign that's crucial to understanding how genocide leaders got ordinary citizens to participate. In 1994, the small African country was awash in blood. An estimated 75 percent of the Tutsi minority was slaughtered, and in just 100 days, more than 800,000 were killed. And, at least 50,000 politically moderate Hutus also perished. We explore the 1994 genocide and post-genocide period, and grapple with the question: How does a country recover from its haunted past? Unfolding through firsthand experiences of Rwandans who lived through the genocide, we document stories of survivors, perpetrators, and government officials and sort through the difficulties of balancing justice with reconciliation.

Shot from the Sky tells the real life saga of B-17 pilot Roy Allen. Shot down over occupied France. Befriended by the French Resistance, betrayed to the Nazis, Roy becomes one of one-hundred and sixty-eight Allied airmen who are imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. In the heart of the Nazi Empire. In the most deadly place on Earth. The only thing that can keep them alive is each other.

From Dante's Inferno to modern-day revival meetings, this feature-length special chronicles our views of Satan and his legendary realm. - A sweeping look at the many faces of the Satan through the ages. - Hear from survivors of near death experiences who claim to have glimpsed Hell. - Includes interviews with leading theologians and historians. From the dark Hades of Greek Mythology to the fire-and-brimstone visions of fundamentalist thunderers, Hell has long held a particular grip over the human imagination. HELL: THE DEVIL'S DOMAIN travels the world to peer into the darkest depths of this eternal fascination.

Developed in 1947 as an image to symbolize urgency in the Cold War and the threat of nuclear disaster, the mission of the Doomsday Clock has expanded to include non-nuclear global security issues. Maintained by the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, it's based at the University of Chicago. In response to world events, they move the clock's minute hand closer to or away from midnight--doomsday. In this hour, we cover the clock's history, its effectiveness, and its critics.