20th Century

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Trevor Barnes details the 1960s operation to uncover the infamous Portland Spy Ring – one of the most dangerous KGB espionage networks ever to operate in the UK. (Image by Getty Images)

Hunting down the Portland Spy Ring . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Berlin by night: Haus Vaterland on Potsdamer Platz during the 1930s. It contained the largest cafe in the world, a major cinema and numerous theme restaurants. (Photo by Getty Images)

The gay MPs who opposed appeasement . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Georg Elser, a little-known carpenter-turned-assassin whose daring attempt to kill Hitler almost succeeded

Georg Elser: the man who nearly assassinated Hitler

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Toby Wilkinson The rediscovery of Ancient Egypt . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Simon Hall explores why Fidel Castro’s visit to New York City in 1960 shaped the rest of the decade. (Image by Getty Images)

Castro and the trip that shaped the 1960s . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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George Washington Carver in a laboratory

History hero Gillian Burke chooses George Washington Carver (c1864–1943) . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Wrens operating the Colossus computer at Bletchley Park, 1943

Second World War

Your guide to Bletchley Park, the key WW2 decryption centre

Shocked and despondent Lennon fans gather in New York’s Central Park to mourn his death (Photo by Luiz Alberto/Keystone/Getty Images)

The death of John Lennon: what happened?

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Giles Tremlett discusses how more than 35,000 volunteers from across the globe fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War. (Image by Getty Images)

The International Brigades: fighting fascism in Spain . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Robert Colls discusses the importance of sport to English society over the past 200 years. (Image by Getty Images)

England’s sporting obsession . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Maaza Mengiste on the HistoryExtra podcast. (Image by Getty Images)

Ethiopia 1935: The real history behind The Shadow King . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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David Olusoga “Desks went from a niche furniture item to the work station of millions” . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Mixed signals: A shortwave radio listening post in California, set up to report and translate broadcasts from Asia. (Photo by AP/Shutterstock)

Second World War

Caught off guard: why didn’t America see Pearl Harbor coming?

Rosa Parks being fingerprinted after her arrest

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat: what happened next?

British mystery writer Agatha Christie, c1926.

The mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie