Witness: Archive 2011

The leader of a student protest in Greece nearly 40 years ago tells Alan Johnston about the moment when the country's military junta sent in the tanks, and how she only just managed to escape with her life.This programe was first broadcast last year.

In the 1960s, radio and stage shows helped provoke a change in attitudes towards World War I.Songs once sung by men in the trenches helped audiences to think of the war from the point of view of ordinary soldiers rather than officers.Image: British soldiers during the Battle of the Somme (Press Association)

In November 1989 the civil war in El Salvador hit the capital city.Rebels fighting the US-backed goverment began attacks in San Salvador.But after less than two weeks of gun-battles and street fighting the rebels left the capital.Image: VT Freeze Frame

The Soviet leader died in November 1982 after years of ill health.He had ruled the USSR for 18 years and presided over a period of economic and political stagnation. Image: Associated Press

In November 1964 the first spacecraft to go to Mars left Earth. It was to send back the first photographs of the Red Planet.Engineer John Casani designed the Mariner craft.Photo: One of the images sent back by Mariner.

In 1980, the British swimmer, Duncan Goodhew, faced a moral dilemma over whether to compete in the Moscow Olympics, which were being boycotted by the USA.In the end, he decided to compete and won Gold in the 100m breastroke.For Witness, David Prest hears from Duncan Goodhew and other British athletes at the 1980 games.PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

It is 20 years since the newspaper magnate disappeared off his yacht.After his death it soon became clear that his publishing empire was in serious financial difficulties.We hear from one man who knew him well.

Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest on 4 November 1956 ending a shortlived popular uprisingFor six year old Miklos Gimes it would mean his last meeting with his father - and exile.Photo: Getty Images

On 2 November 1936 the first regular TV service in the world was launched by the BBC.Initially it only had a few hundred viewers and was only broadcast for two hours a day. Viewers watched variety acts beamed live from the studios.

How a jazz concert organised by a 17-year old turned into a bestselling album.And how it almost didn't happen.Vera Brandes describes the difficulties surrounding the legendary performance by the American pianist.Photo credit: Jacques Munch/AFP/Getty Images

In late October 1984 the body of a Polish priest was found in a town outside Warsaw.He was Father Jerzy Popieluszko and he had become the spiritual leader for the banned trade union Solidarity. It was later revealed that he had been kidnapped and killed by members of the Communist secret police.

In October 1974 one of the greatest boxing matches of all time took place in Zaire.Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought for the World Heavyweight title.The President of Zaire, Mobutu Sese Seko had paid them millions of dollars to travel to Africa.Hear from Jerry Eisenberg who covered the game as a reporter for The New Jersey Star Ledger. (Fight archive courtesy of ESPN)Photo: AFP/Getty Images

In the autumn of 1965 a purge of communist sympathisers began in Indonesia.Hundreds of thousands of people were caught up in the terror - many of them were killed.Others like Carmel Budiardjo and Putu Oka, were jailed for years without trial.

When the Korean War ended, a few US POWs chose to stay with their captors and live under communism.David Hawkins was one of them.He tells his remarkable story to Witness.

It is almost 40 years since the publication of a groundbreaking book about relationships.It was written by a British academic and illustrated with images of real people.It went on to sell millions of copies around the world.Image © Chris Foss courtesy www.ChrisFossArt.com

It is 55 years since the Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi was arrested in Kenya.He had been fighting against white rule in the British colony.Photo: Mau Mau suspects in a prison camp. Getty images

It is 45 years since tragedy struck a Welsh mining village.Tons of coal-waste collapsed onto houses and Aberfan's primary school.One hundred and forty-four people were killed in total - most of them children.(Photo: Jim Gray/Getty Images)

In October 1966 a Soviet double agent escaped from a British jail.He was helped, not by the KGB, but by other former prisoners. Michael Randle was an anti-nuclear protestor who took part in the escape.(Photo: Michael Randle on his release from Wormwood Scrubs prison).

In October 1970 James Cross, a British diplomat, was taken hostage.The kidnappers were from the FLQ - the Front de Liberation du Quebec. Soon after, a provincial minister from Quebec was also kidnapped - he was found days later, dead in the boot of a car. (Photo: James Cross and his wife Barbara, on his release. Getty Images)

On 18 October 1989, the East German communist leader, was forced from power.He had been slow to react to the changes within the Soviet bloc.Three weeks after he left office, the Berlin Wall came down.(Photo: Honecker meets Gorbachev in October 1989. Associated Press)