What was the true nature of Oskar Schindler?

Watch Schindler: The Real Story on BBC Select

Immortalized in the iconic Steven Spielberg film Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler has become a well-known hero of the Second World War.

This compelling, award-winning documentary explores the real, complex figure of Schindler, with incredible archive footage and intimate interviews with Holocaust survivors who knew him.

The vain, womanizing playboy behind the legendary hero is also revealed.

Watch Schindler: The Real Story and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

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The First World War: The Peoples' Story

The First World War: The Peoples' Story

The story of World War I told by the ordinary people at the heart of the conflict.

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Countdown to War

The story of the 3 days between the Nazis invading Poland and the beginning of World War II.

Watch Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley on BBC Select

Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley

Hitler's Terrifying Battle of Britain Bombing. Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley, BBC's leading historian

Stream The Wheelchair President on BBC Select

The Wheelchair President

How did the physical and emotional issues facing FDR shape his approach to WWII?

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Lost Home Movies Of Nazi Germany

What was life really like within Nazi Germany? These amateur home movies reveal all.

Stream World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel on BBC Select

World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel

How influential was Stalin on the defeat of Hitler and eventual outcome of WWII?

Watch the Rise of the Nazis on BBC Select

Rise of the Nazis

How did Hitler seize and retain power in Germany?

Stream Stalin - Inside the Terror on BBC Select

Stalin: Inside the Terror

A man synonymous with bloodshed, murder and hate. What desires drove Joseph Stalin?

Stream The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler - Leading Millions into the Abyss on BBC Select

The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler: Leading Millions into the Abyss

From failure to Fuhrer. How did Adolf Hitler charm the German people?

Stream Auschwitz - The Nazis and the Final Solution on BBC Select

Auschwitz: Nazis & The Final Solution

The story of the concentration camp told by those who were there

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Biographical documentaries

From world leaders to the kings and queens of pop culture, BBC Select tells the true-life stories of some of the most influential people of our time.

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Elton John: Uncensored

Elton John opens up to Graham Norton about his childhood, stardom and addiction battles.

Life in Ten Pictures Freddie Mercury Documentary

A Life in Ten Pictures - Freddie Mercury

The life of Queen's Freddie Mercury told through photographs

Stream Gauguin: The Full Story on BBC Select

Gauguin: The Full Story

Why was the life of influential artist Paul Gauguin mired in controversy and conflict?

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?

Arthur: King of the Britons

Arthur: King of the Britons

Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Turkey: Rise of Erdogans Empire

Turkey: The Rise of Erdogan's Empire

How did Recep Tayyip Erdogan become the most powerful leader in Turkey’s recent history?

Mark Zuckerberg: The Billionaires who made our world

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The story of the boy genius who changed the way we communicate forever.

Europe’s Royals Revealed

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What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

Europe’s Royals Revealed

Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay

What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos: The Billionaires Who Made Our World

The amazing transformation of Jeff Bezos from nerd to one of the world's richest men.

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Daft Punk: Unchained

Just who are Daft Punk and how do they stay so successful while remaining so mysterious?

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The astonishing story of one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s: Roberta Flack.

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Meet Father Yod and his wild 1970s Hollywood commune, rock band and health restaurant.

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The Source Family

The story of Father Yod and his wild 1970s utopian living experiment.

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Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life

The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Billie Jean King

The tennis legend opens up about her incredible life and career

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic discusses his incredible career and events during the pandemic

Before They Were Royals

Before They Were Royal

The story of Prince Philip, Camilla Parker-Bowles and more before they became royal

Princess Diana: A Life After Death

How Princess Diana's tragic death and legacy changed the British monarchy forever.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse

The story of Amy Winehouse told through 10 photos

King Charles III: Born to be King

Born To Be King

What will new British monarch King Charles III bring to the role?

Watch Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique with BBC Select

Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique

Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.

Stream Downfall of the Porn King: The Ron Jeremy Story on BBC Select

Downfall of the Porn King: The Ron Jeremy Story

The rise and fall of porn star, Ron Jeremy.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon

Photographs help to reveal the true nature of music icon and Beatles star John Lennon.

BBC When The Queen Spoke to the Nation

When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

Exploring the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages and other special addresses.

Picturing Elizabeth Her Life in Images

Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures

The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.

Watch A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A look back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali

Ten photographs show a different side of boxer Muhammad Ali

Surviving the Holocaust

Surviving the Holocaust

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Elizabeth Taylor on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Elizabeth Taylor

The life of Elizabeth Taylor told through 10 pictures

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur

The life of Tupac Shakur told through 10 photographs

Watch Napoleon with BBC Select

Napoleon

The story of Napoleon

Stream Rembrandt on BBC Select

Rembrandt

Did scandal and torment drive the artist to even greater creative glories?

Thatcher and Reagan Documentary

Thatcher & Reagan

What was the attraction between these two world leaders and how did it change history?

Watch Elizabeth I & II: Golden Queens on BBC Select

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens

Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

The Duke In His Words Documentary

The Duke in his Own Words

This reflective film remembers The Duke of Edinburgh

My Years with the Queen

What’s it like to be close friends with Queen Elizabeth II? Lady Pamela Hicks reveals all.

Stream Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal? on BBC Select

Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal?

Henry Kissinger: canny political operator or a despicable war criminal?

Watch The Queen Mother on BBC Select

The Queen Mother

The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.

Watch Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing on BBC Select

Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing

How did a scandalous 19th-century countess help create the modern era of computing?

Stream Confucius on BBC Select

Confucius

The remarkable story of a great thinker who helped to form a nation and shape the world.

Watch Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us on BBC Select

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A Bard’s tale. How Shakespeare united the intellectual and populist like no one else.

Watch Zelensky: The Making of a President on BBC Select

Zelensky: The Making of a President

The transformation of Ukraine's President Zelensky from comic to respected world leader.

Watch Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi on BBC Select

Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi

Regime of terror: a horrifying portrait of Libya’s leader from the insiders who made him.

Watch Gandhi on BBC Select

Gandhi

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

Watch In Louboutin’s Shoes on BBC Select

In Louboutin's Shoes

Sole man. Inside the fashion world of footwear designer Christian Louboutin.

Watch Joanna Lumley's Britain on BBC Select

Joanna Lumley’s Britain

Explore Great Britain in this charming travel series

Stream Reclaiming Amy on BBC Select

Reclaiming Amy

The friends and family of Amy Winehouse reveal the truth about the British music icon.

Watch Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards on BBC Select

Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards

What drives the legendary shoe designer and self-confessed 'cobbler' Manolo Blahnik?

Watch David Bowie Finding Fame on BBC Select

David Bowie: Finding Fame

How did humble David Jones become David Bowie - an icon that transformed music forever?

Stream Vincent Van Gogh - The Full Story on BBC Select

Vincent: The Full Story

What do we really know about Vincent van Gogh, arguably the world’s most famous artist?

WW2

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The Lost Heroes

A deep dive into a perilous and mysterious WWII British Navy midget submarine mission.

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

King George VI: Husband Father King

King George VI: Brother, Husband, King

The story of an unlikely King whose closest family relationships shaped him and his reign.

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Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.

Nuremberg: The Nazis Trials on BBC Select

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Nuremburg: The Nazi Trials

Exploring one of history’s most important trials that brought Nazis to justice

Watch Churchill's First World War on BBC Select

Churchill's First World War

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's extraordinary experiences during World War I.

Surviving the Holocaust

Surviving the Holocaust

Watch Death Camp Treblinka on BBC Select

Death Camp Treblinka

Those who survived the Treblinka Nazi extermination camp tell their story

Watch Hiroshima: The Real History on BBC Select

Hiroshima: The Real History

It ended World War II, but at what cost? Hiroshima unraveled.

Stream BBC at War on BBC Select

BBC at War

This enthralling series asks, how much did World War II shape the personality of the BBC?

Watch 1945: The Savage Peace on BBC Select

1945: The Savage Peace

Cruelty towards Germans began to escalate after World War II.

Watch D-Day with BBC Select

D-Day

Explore the story behind the biggest seaborne invasion in history.

Stream Could Hitler Have Been Stopped? on BBC Select

Could Hitler Have Been Stopped?

Leading historians debate whether Adolf Hitler and the Nazis could have been stopped.

Stream Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace on BBC Select

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace

Why was Winston Churchill ousted from power after World War II?

Nuremberg Nazis on Trial Documentary

Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial

Could the Nuremberg trials help shed light on the motivations of leading Nazis?

Stream Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King on BBC Select

Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King

The amazing story of the former British King who may have had Nazi sympathies during WWII.