This Week in History - July 28th - August 3rd

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.

This week: July 28th - August 3rd
- 3rd of August 1936. The African-American athlete Jesse Owens wins the first of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, in front of Adolf Hitler.
- 1st of August 1774. The English chemist Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen, but did he get there first?
- 28th of July 1939. The iconic Sutton Hoo helmet is unearthed in Suffolk and provides a connection to Britain’s Anglo-Saxon past.

Presented by Ron Brown and Viji Alles.
Produced by Stuart Ross.

Published on Monday, 28th July 2025.

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