Witness: Archive 2011

On 17 October 1961, French police turned against Algerian demonstrators in Paris. Some were shot, others drowned in the Seine. For years the killings were not acknowledged. We hear from one man whose sister died that day.(Photo: Demonstrators, arrested during a march by between 20,000 and 30,000 pro-Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) Algerians, are seen in a bus on October 17, 1961 in Paris. French police attacked the illegal but peaceful demonstration.) (Credit AFP/Getty Images)

In 1985 the soft drink company changed its age old formula.The public backlash against the new taste surprised everyone.Eventually, the bosses gave in and brought back the old Coca Cola.(Image Credit: Reuters)

Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the US in 1916. It was open for 10 days, giving women advice about contraception. For this she was arrested for breaking obscenity laws and was sent to prison for 30 days. She spent her time there teaching women about birth control. Later she went on to found The Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Photo: Margaret Sanger (left) outside court, awaiting trial.

On 12 October 2000, an American destroyer was attacked by al-Qaeda suicide bombers in the Yemeni port of Aden.Kirk Lippold was the commanding officer on board that day. The attack left 17 sailors dead.

In October 1975 the film stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor got married - for the second time.To avoid the media they held the ceremony on a remote game reserve in Botswana.We hear from the man who married them.

It's ten years since the first airstrikes on Afghanistan.The start of what the US and its allies called Operation Enduring Freedom. Two Afghans who were in Kabul that night share their memories.

On October 6, 1981 the President of Egypt was shot dead.He was killed by Egyptian officers taking part in a military parade.He was replaced by his Vice-President, Hosni Mubarak.Photo: September 6, 1978 Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat Credit: AP

The invention of the atomic bomb was known as The Manhattan Project, with research and design led by Robert Oppenheimer.Young American scientist Bill Wilcox was part of the team which helped make the bomb, he told Louise Hidalgo about his top secret work which began in 1943. He recalls the “privilege of being part of a remarkable group of people”.This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.(Photo: The first atomic bomb test in the United States. Credit: Getty Images)

On 4 October 1936, fascists clashed with Jews, socialists and anarchists in London.It is often hailed as the day that fascism was defeated in Britain.Bill Fishman was a Jewish teenager from London's East End when he got caught up in the fighting.Photo: Getty Images.(This programme was first broadcast last year)

Just before the 1968 Olympics, the Mexican government cracked down hard against student demonstrators. Some were killed, others arrested - David Huerta was one of the young protestors, hear his story.Photo: Mexican soldiers arresting students after the shooting (Associated Press).

In September 1991 the first heavy metal rock concert was held at a Moscow airfield.The bands Metallica and ACDC had been persuaded to take part.It almost turned into a riot - as organiser Boris Zosimov remembers.Photo: Boris today.

On 29 September 1941, the organised massacre of Ukrainian Jews began. In the capital Kiev, most of them were taken to a place called Babi Yar, and shot.Raissa Maistrenko escaped the shooting as a three-year-old girl. Rabbi Alexander, Dukhovny's mother survived the Holocaust outside the city. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In September 1969 left-wing activists kidnapped Charles Burke Elbrick in Rio de Janeiro.They demanded the release of 15 of their comrades in exchange for his life.One of the kidnappers was Fernando Gabeira, then a young journalist. Photo: Fernando Gabeira now.

He was one of the most innovative musicians in the USA in the 1960s.Listen to one woman's story of working for Frank Zappa.

Almost 40 years ago Britain and Iceland came to blows over fishing rights in the North Atlantic.Hear from a British fisherman, and an Icelandic coastguard skipper about the battle for cod.

He was the President of Liberia and in September 1990 he died a very violent death.The BBC's West Africa correspondent at the time was Elizabeth Blunt, she was there when he was captured by rebels.Photo: VT Freeze Frame

In the mid 1960s young people in China were encouraged to criticise their elders. Thousands of members of the Communist establishment were arrested and jailed.For one teenage boy the world was turned on its head.Photo: Jean Vincent/AFP/Getty Images

The Chilean politician was killed by a bomb in Washington DC, 35 years ago.He had gone there after being released from detention by General Pinochet's government.He was finally buried in his home country, 16 years later.Photo AFP

In November 1974 the Palestinian leader was allowed to speak at the UN.But there was a great deal of opposition to his visit and security was extremely strict.Hear from the man who helped write his speech and organise his trip.(This programme is a repeat)Photo: Associated Press

The Secretary General of the UN was killed in a plane crash 50 years ago.He was on his way to Congo, in an attempt to prevent war.Two people who knew him well remember the man.Photo: Associated Press