Witness History: World War Two
History
The Mount Vesuvius eruption that buried Pompeii in 79AD is well known, but far fewer people know about the last time the volcano erupted in 1944.
It was World War Two, and families in southern Italy had already lived through a German invasion, air bombardment, and surrender to the Allies.
And then at 16:30 on 18 March, Vesuvius erupted. The sky filled with violent explosions of rock and ash, and burning lava flowed down the slopes, devastating villages.
By the time it was over, 11 days later, 26 people had died and about 12,000 people were forced to leave their homes.
Angelina Formisano, who was nine, was among those evacuated from the village of San Sebastiano. She’s been speaking to Jane Wilkinson about being in the path of an erupting volcano.
(Photo: Vesuvius erupting in March 1944. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images)
The 'comfort women' of World War Two
French child evacuees of World War Two
The WW2 escape line that fooled the Nazis
Wang Jingwei: China’s traitor or protector?
Axis Sally: World War II traitor who broadcast for the Nazis
Vidkun Quisling: Norway’s traitor
Japan surrenders in China
Lee Miller in Hitler's bath
Last communist march before Hitler
The Dambusters
German child evacuees of World War Two
World War II victory in North Africa
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
Pink Triangles: Gay men in Nazi concentration camps
Families interned in WW2 China
World War Two child evacuees in Britain
Shanghai at War
Britain's secret propaganda war
Broadcasting D-Day
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins