The Whisky War: Denmark v Canada
Witness History1 Mar 2024

The Whisky War: Denmark v Canada

In 1984, a diplomatic dispute broke out between Canada and Denmark over the ownership of a tiny island in the Arctic.

The fight for Hans Island off the coast of Greenland became known as the Whisky War. Both sides would leave a bottle of alcohol for the enemies after raising their national flag.

What could be the friendliest territorial dispute in history came to an end in 2022, with the agreement held up as an example of how diplomacy should work.

Janice Fryett hears from Tom Hoyem and Alan Kessel, politicians on either side of the bloodless war.

A Made in Manchester Production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Tom Hoyem with a Danish flag on Hans Island. Credit: Niels Henriksen)

Episoder(2000)

The Howard Hughes literary hoax

The Howard Hughes literary hoax

In 1971, the publishing world was rocked by one of the biggest hoaxes in literary history – a fake autobiography of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes.Hughes was an aerospace engineer, film produ...

26 Nov 202510min

Colombia's Salt Cathedral

Colombia's Salt Cathedral

In 1995, a cathedral was built 180m underground in the Zipaquirá Salt Mine in Colombia. The idea came from the miners building makeshift altars in the mine in the 1930s, to pray for their safety befor...

25 Nov 202510min

Toy Story: the first digitally-animated feature film

Toy Story: the first digitally-animated feature film

Released in 1995, this buddy movie about a cowboy doll and a toy astronaut was the first to use entirely computer-generated images. The story, about a group of toys who come alive when humans are not ...

24 Nov 202510min

How the Bosnian war ended

How the Bosnian war ended

The Dayton Peace Accords were signed on the 21 November 1995, ending the three-and-a-half-year war in Bosnia. The war was part of the break-up of Yugoslavia; it is estimated that 100,000 people were k...

21 Nov 202510min

The Spanish king reclaims his throne

The Spanish king reclaims his throne

In 1975, the death of General Francisco Franco was announced in Spain, bringing to an end 36 years of dictatorship.Franco had already chosen his successor: Prince Juan Carlos, grandson of the last mon...

20 Nov 202510min

The death of Franco

The death of Franco

General Francisco Franco died in November 1975, ending 36 years of dictatorship over Spain. The general had been in power since 1939 after winning the country’s bloody civil war, and his death followe...

19 Nov 202510min

Angela Merkel suspends EU asylum rules in 2015

Angela Merkel suspends EU asylum rules in 2015

In the summer of 2015, there was a surge in the number of people from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, seeking asylum in Europe. Social Democrat politician Aydan Özoğuz was Angela Merkel's minister of sta...

18 Nov 202510min

Reagan and Gorbachev: The Geneva Summit

Reagan and Gorbachev: The Geneva Summit

Forty years ago, in November 1985, two of the world’s most powerful leaders met for the first time. With Cold War tensions running high and the nuclear arms race dominating global politics, US Preside...

17 Nov 202510min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
alt-fortalt
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
fladseth
frokostshowet-pa-p5
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
den-politiske-situasjonen
rss-herrepanelet