They are the tragic stories at the heart of some of history’s defining moments. Tales of hatred and obsession, fanaticism, and a burning desire to achieve fame at the cost of another’s life.

Trace the incredible chain of events following the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which led to the outbreak of World War I. See how India lost three leaders in a century, including the feted Mohandas Gandhi, to religious fanatics who took matters into their own hands. Explore the tragic story of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated in an attempt to derail the Middle East peace process, and consider how history might have played out had some of these incidents ended differently.

Delve into the psyche of the assassin in an attempt to explain what drives these individuals to their extreme actions. Are they motivated by a radical political agenda, or are they simply outcasts – lonely individuals hoping to achieve fame or notoriety by killing a public figure? This extraordinary DVD from HISTORY™ takes the viewer on a fascinating journey through time to examine the famous assassinations and assassination attempts that have left their mark on the world, with extensive interviews, archival footage and expert commentary.