Smithsonian Channel

Discover why the desire to capture Nazi weapon technology turns the U.S. and USSR from WW II allies into Cold War enemies; look at how the superpowers try to gain an Arctic foothold, from guerrilla warfare to intelligence schemes to nuclear arms.

The discovery of an underground haven used by World War I soldiers.

Southern Mexico stretches from Yucatan's crystal-clear cenotes to the fertile land of the Oaxaca Valley; Maya and Zapotec traditions live through gastronomy and art; history is ever present in ancient pyramids and architecture.

Tease out the common denominators that lead to tyranny; map the rise of some of the 20th century's dictators and discover how they seized power, exploited governing systems and gutted existing power structures to gain total control.

On July 3, 1940, the British fleet attacks the French navy at Mers el-Kébir, Algeria; in ten minutes, Bretagne sank, Mogador was destroyed, and Provence and Dunkerque were grounded.

A look at Naval warfare's fastest combat ships and how the advantage of speed determined the outcome of some of the great seas battles of the last 150 years.

Tease out the common denominators that lead to tyranny; map the rise of some of the 20th century's dictators and discover how they seized power, exploited governing systems and gutted existing power structures to gain total control.

Engineers grapple with an apartment building, ripped apart by a man-made canyon; the Gateway Arch takes shape in St. Louis; an unpromising plot in Copenhagen, Denmark, is transformed by a gleaming new triangular office.

The Black Pyramid is a decaying brick-and-clay structure that contains an elaborate network of tunnels filled with ancient artifacts; Egyptologists use a mini-laser to uncover the mysteries contained within.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom. Examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatras fate.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

The Black Pyramid is a decaying brick-and-clay structure that contains an elaborate network of tunnels filled with ancient artifacts; Egyptologists use a mini-laser to uncover the mysteries contained within.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom. Examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatras fate.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

The Black Pyramid is a decaying brick-and-clay structure that contains an elaborate network of tunnels filled with ancient artifacts; Egyptologists use a mini-laser to uncover the mysteries contained within.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom. Examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatras fate.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

Tackling the grade 6 rapids and untamed waters of the Buller River on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, blessed by a Māori elder of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.

Dive into the historical and natural secrets of the deep; explore an uninhabited concrete island, ocean spirals off the Australian coast, underwater evidence of a violent past and tracks thousands of metres below the sea's surface.

Rumoured to be the cleanest river in Europe, few dispute it's the coldest; cascading down from the Dinaric Alps in Serbia, it soon crosses the border into Bosnia Herzegovina, where marine biologist and fisherman Sanel Riđanović casts for salmon.

The vast majority of information being gathered about Mars is by orbiters chronicling everything they can.

Charles de Salaberry is forced to rely on cunning tactics.

Dive into the historical and natural secrets of the deep; explore an uninhabited concrete island, ocean spirals off the Australian coast, underwater evidence of a violent past and tracks thousands of metres below the sea's surface.

Tackling the grade 6 rapids and untamed waters of the Buller River on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, blessed by a Māori elder of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.

Rare archive footage charts the German Army in 1940 as it unleashes a new Blitzkrieg tactic.

Look at the opening acts of WW II as the Soviets launch their Winter War in Finland; see why the global media focused on the grim, snowy fighting while the Axis turned its eyes toward neighboring Norway and the rich mineral wealth of the north.

A look at how the C-47 evolved from passenger plane to a transport aircraft and flying hospital in WWII and years later as a gunship in Vietnam.

Mike Davidson embarks with the team to one of the most extreme, avalanche-prone ski mountains in the world: Snowbird; they battle to keep the steep and deep slopes safe with shovels, snowcats and even a WWII Howitzer.

Engineers grapple with an apartment building, ripped apart by a man-made canyon; the Gateway Arch takes shape in St. Louis; an unpromising plot in Copenhagen, Denmark, is transformed by a gleaming new triangular office.

The Black Pyramid is a decaying brick-and-clay structure that contains an elaborate network of tunnels filled with ancient artifacts; Egyptologists use a mini-laser to uncover the mysteries contained within.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom. Examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatras fate.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Rethink what we know about death and preservation. See why Denmark's perfectly preserved Tollund Man raises haunting questions, observe Portuguese bodies that rewrite history, and uncover the dark mystery of Scotland's Frankenstein mummies.

Hunt for the Amber Room, a Nazi-looted treasure that disappeared in 1944. Track the final flight of bandleader Glenn Miller over the English Channel, then re-examine the arrest of Anne Frank to see if she was betrayed or a victim of coincidence.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Rethink what we know about death and preservation. See why Denmark's perfectly preserved Tollund Man raises haunting questions, observe Portuguese bodies that rewrite history, and uncover the dark mystery of Scotland's Frankenstein mummies.

Hunt for the Amber Room, a Nazi-looted treasure that disappeared in 1944. Track the final flight of bandleader Glenn Miller over the English Channel, then re-examine the arrest of Anne Frank to see if she was betrayed or a victim of coincidence.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Rethink what we know about death and preservation. See why Denmark's perfectly preserved Tollund Man raises haunting questions, observe Portuguese bodies that rewrite history, and uncover the dark mystery of Scotland's Frankenstein mummies.

Hunt for the Amber Room, a Nazi-looted treasure that disappeared in 1944. Track the final flight of bandleader Glenn Miller over the English Channel, then re-examine the arrest of Anne Frank to see if she was betrayed or a victim of coincidence.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

The St. Lawrence River is one that forged North America, allowing ships to traverse the continent; the adventure begins in Canada's first capital city of Kingston and near Canada's second-largest city of Montreal.

Traipsing along ancient pathways criss-crossing Easter Island; finding gigantic designs carved into Asia's Eastern Steppe; ascending a tall pyramid rising from Antarctica's icy landscape.

Tackling the grade 6 rapids and untamed waters of the Buller River on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, blessed by a Māori elder of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.

Responding to an emergency call, Northstar marine sets out to salvage a sunken tug in the Delaware Bay; following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sally, Capt. Chris Ward and his crew work to salvage sunken sailboats and wrecked powerboats.

Traipsing along ancient pathways criss-crossing Easter Island; finding gigantic designs carved into Asia's Eastern Steppe; ascending a tall pyramid rising from Antarctica's icy landscape.

The St. Lawrence River is one that forged North America, allowing ships to traverse the continent; the adventure begins in Canada's first capital city of Kingston and near Canada's second-largest city of Montreal.

Look at the opening acts of WW II as the Soviets launch their Winter War in Finland; see why the global media focused on the grim, snowy fighting while the Axis turned its eyes toward neighboring Norway and the rich mineral wealth of the north.

The discovery of an underground haven used by World War I soldiers.

Rare archive footage charts the German Army in 1940 as it unleashes a new Blitzkrieg tactic.

Discover why the desire to capture Nazi weapon technology turns the U.S. and USSR from WW II allies into Cold War enemies; look at how the superpowers try to gain an Arctic foothold, from guerrilla warfare to intelligence schemes to nuclear arms.

Archaeologists dig in Pompeii to uncover the dark side of the idyllic Roman city by finding the room of an enslaved person.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Rethink what we know about death and preservation. See why Denmark's perfectly preserved Tollund Man raises haunting questions, observe Portuguese bodies that rewrite history, and uncover the dark mystery of Scotland's Frankenstein mummies.

Hunt for the Amber Room, a Nazi-looted treasure that disappeared in 1944. Track the final flight of bandleader Glenn Miller over the English Channel, then re-examine the arrest of Anne Frank to see if she was betrayed or a victim of coincidence.

Navigating the narrow, deep fjords that lead to Narvik, Norway, where German and British forces faced off in April 1940; repeated torpedo failures threatened to sink the mission and leave Hitler's invading troops exposed and vulnerable.

A look at the rise and fall of the infamous Nazi dive bomber Ju-87 Stuka, an aircraft of World War II.

By the spring of 1945, the United States begins to take back the Philippines; on Borneo, the Australians invade Labuan; when the United States invades Okinawa, Japan makes a strong stand and launches the biggest kamikaze attacks of the war.

Navigating the narrow, deep fjords that lead to Narvik, Norway, where German and British forces faced off in April 1940; repeated torpedo failures threatened to sink the mission and leave Hitler's invading troops exposed and vulnerable.

A look at the rise and fall of the infamous Nazi dive bomber Ju-87 Stuka, an aircraft of World War II.

By the spring of 1945, the United States begins to take back the Philippines; on Borneo, the Australians invade Labuan; when the United States invades Okinawa, Japan makes a strong stand and launches the biggest kamikaze attacks of the war.

Navigating the narrow, deep fjords that lead to Narvik, Norway, where German and British forces faced off in April 1940; repeated torpedo failures threatened to sink the mission and leave Hitler's invading troops exposed and vulnerable.

A look at the rise and fall of the infamous Nazi dive bomber Ju-87 Stuka, an aircraft of World War II.

By the spring of 1945, the United States begins to take back the Philippines; on Borneo, the Australians invade Labuan; when the United States invades Okinawa, Japan makes a strong stand and launches the biggest kamikaze attacks of the war.

Navigating the narrow, deep fjords that lead to Narvik, Norway, where German and British forces faced off in April 1940; repeated torpedo failures threatened to sink the mission and leave Hitler's invading troops exposed and vulnerable.

A look at life in the Pacific before, during, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, presented through home movies and combat footage.

Months after the Pearl Harbor attack, shock waves reverberate in every corner of the Pacific; Americans deploy to stem the enemy's advance; after culture clashes, Allied forces later bond over efforts to thwart Japan's move to control New Guinea.

In 1943, the United States engages in a new series of island-hopping invasions; the first stop is the Tarawa Atoll, where troops embark upon the largest amphibious invasion ever staged in the Pacific to fight one of the costliest battles of the war.

By the summer of 1944, the United States is gaining the upper hand in the Pacific War with better training, troop numbers and supply lines; it aims for the heart of Japan's inner defense ring, engaging in a naval battle for Saipan in the Marianas.

Allied forces move to take the valuable islands of Tinian and Guam that threaten American air operations; meanwhile, Gen. Curtis LeMay is tasked with planning and executing a fire bombing campaign against Japan.

Isaac Brock's daring made him a hero, but may also be his flaw.

Paid programming.

The discovery of an underground haven used by World War I soldiers.

Discover why the desire to capture Nazi weapon technology turns the U.S. and USSR from WW II allies into Cold War enemies; look at how the superpowers try to gain an Arctic foothold, from guerrilla warfare to intelligence schemes to nuclear arms.

An elite group of British paratroopers launch a midnight raid in order to capture Hitler's unusual radar equipment.

Rare archive footage charts the German Army in 1940 as it unleashes a new Blitzkrieg tactic.

Look at the opening acts of WW II as the Soviets launch their Winter War in Finland; see why the global media focused on the grim, snowy fighting while the Axis turned its eyes toward neighboring Norway and the rich mineral wealth of the north.

Navigating the narrow, deep fjords that lead to Narvik, Norway, where German and British forces faced off in April 1940; repeated torpedo failures threatened to sink the mission and leave Hitler's invading troops exposed and vulnerable.

An elite group of British paratroopers launch a midnight raid in order to capture Hitler's unusual radar equipment.

Look at the opening acts of WW II as the Soviets launch their Winter War in Finland; see why the global media focused on the grim, snowy fighting while the Axis turned its eyes toward neighboring Norway and the rich mineral wealth of the north.

Revisit Colditz Castle, a Nazi fortress where breakouts featured human catapults and clever disguises; meet the pilots who staged the famed Great Escape from a Polish stalag; see how 32 POWs pulled off the Warburg Wire Job in just one minute.

After the landing on Normandy Beach, the Battle of Carentan breaks out and an American unit launches a desperate bayonet charge.

When a body is discovered in a bombed-out London church, investigators race to determine if it was caused by the Nazi Blitz or a local killer.

Revisit Colditz Castle, a Nazi fortress where breakouts featured human catapults and clever disguises; meet the pilots who staged the famed Great Escape from a Polish stalag; see how 32 POWs pulled off the Warburg Wire Job in just one minute.

After the landing on Normandy Beach, the Battle of Carentan breaks out and an American unit launches a desperate bayonet charge.