Our Project

Our first film is about the Battle of Britain, which started on the 10^th July 1940. It is one of most talked about moments of World War II but never before has social media been used to find forgotten stories and give them new life.

What Do We Want From You?

If you are 72 years old, or older, and remember some events from 1940, we would love to hear from you! We would like to film a short interview with you, talking about your experiences.

If you have a family member or friend, who might have a story from 1940, please ask them to consider sharing it with us.

If you have a story from 1940, please let us know. We're looking for diaries, letters, photos, recordings, or personal accounts written down or told to you. We're looking to hear voices from Britain, from Germany, and from across the world.

We want to turn these stories into a documentary. But it isn't just our documentary, it's yours too.

If you have a question about the Battle of Britain that you'd like answered by someone who was there, or by an historian, please send it in. If you have a suggestion for a story, or an idea you would like to share, get in touch!

How to Contact Us

Please email us: historysweb@gmail.com.
You can also get in touch via Twitter: @historysweb

 

Who We Are

History's Web was started by two friends who met studying History at Oxford University. Their hope is that History's Web will connect as many people as possible with our shared past.

History's Web is made up of:

Naomi Scherbel-Ball, a journalist specialising in foreign news. She has worked for the BBC and Deutsche Welle in France, Germany, and the UK. She speaks fluent French, conversational German, and is learning Arabic. As a journalist and a former student of history, Naomi is interested in forgotten and hidden stories of our past and present. Naomi secretly enjoys listening to French chanson and openly enjoys espresso martinis.

Alwyn Collinson, the creator of RealTimeWWII, a daily "live" chronicle of the Second World War on social media, as seen through the eyes of the people who experienced it. RealTimeWWII (235,000+ Twitter followers) is translated into seven languages and has been featured in the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, & Channel 4 News. Alwyn enjoys scuba diving and jujitsu, although not at the same time.

You, the person reading this, you have a story. So does your family, and so do your friends. Together these stories make up the past we all share. We want to record your story, and bring it to other people around the world, so that they can rediscover that past. Unlike traditional documentaries, we don't just want your story: we also want your ideas, your questions, and your thoughts. It's this conversation that makes up History's Web.