From Foe to Friend - the British Army in Cold War Germany (163)

Feb 13, 2021

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Germany has been at the heart of the British Army's story since 1945. After the Second World War, the Army helped rebuild a devastated and divided nation. It provided protection during the Cold War, and later used Germany as a base from which to deploy troops across the world.

Foe to Friend is a major exhibition at The National Army Museum in London that follows the lives of British soldiers in Germany over the past 75 years.

Enjoy an expert visit as Cold War Conversations co-host James takes you on a tour with the lead curator, Dr Peter Johnston

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I am delighted to welcome James and Dr Peter Johnston to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode163/

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0:00 Introduction

3:17 Introduction of James and Dr. Peter Johnston, and overview of the British Army's history in Germany

10:10 Discussion about the BrixMis car and other artifacts on display at the exhibition

16:05 Tales of bravery: Anthony Hall's exploration of a Soviet gunnery range

20:34 Testimonies from Lieutenant Colonel Dan Wilde and Michael Systems on the tense situation in Cold War Germany

25:10 The reality of life for British soldiers: Training, suits, and pamphlets

31:09 Living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall and the British military train

38:00 The evolution of weaponry and the role of the British Army in Germany

43:23 The impact of the Cold War on soldier and family life in Germany

51:25 Changes in Europe: A look at the maps from 1979 and 1991

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