Cold War Conversations

A young woman hitchhikes across Poland and other Eastern Bloc countries in the 1960s, encountering friendly locals, border guards, and unexpected love. She shares her experiences hitchhiking in Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, staying in youth hostels and meeting friendly locals who take her to different places. She explores Romania during Ceaușescu's regime, encounters ethnic Germans in Transylvania, and witnesses a socialist festival in Bulgaria. She also reflects on revisiting Cold War era places and documenting her experiences through photography.

Many of Tim’s family had served in WW1 and WW2 and from a young age, he was determined to follow their path. Overcoming huge competition for places he became a driver of the Leopard AS1 MBT at 1st Armoured Regiment of the Australian Army.Australia is largely ignored in most Cold War histories, however, we hear how the Australian Army prepared to fight the Musorians, a thinly disguised notional enemy which was obviously the Soviets or one of their satellites in everything but name. Photos, videos and extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode321/Part two of our chat is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode324/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction and Tim Whitford's early life and influences7:48 Tim's involvement in the reserves and training details12:16 Transition to the regular army and experience with basic training19:41 First encounter with the Leopard tank and training experience28:42 Comparison of Leopard and Centurion tanks33:57 Posting to the 1st Armored Regiment and first deployment43:41 NBC training and river forwarding capabilities of Leopard tanks51:30 Reaction to the fall of the Berlin Wall and shift in military roles55:09 Preview of Part 2 and recognizing financial supportersChapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack Wesolek was born in East Germany in 1966. His grandfather was a member of the Red Orchestra, a Communist Anti-Nazi resistance organisation in Germany during World War 2. He later became Chief of the Signals Service of the Volksmarine, the East German Navy. In the 1980s an East German Army signals regiment was named after him.Jack’s father was an actor and we discuss how accurate the depiction of East German actors is in the film “The Lives of Others”.At age 6 his parents divorce and Jack stays with his father and grandmother in Rostock where he learns more about his grandfather’s story, however, he is separated from his brother who goes to live with his mother.Jack has an Uncle who was captured escaping from East Germany and was bought out by West Germany in the 1970s. At a clandestine meeting in Hungary they hatch a daring plan for Jack to escape across the Inner German Border, the fortified frontier between East and West Germany.  Photos, videos and extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode320/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction and background of Jack Wesolek3:19 Recollections of his father's actor friends5:20 Jack's views on artistic freedom and family's political climate in East Germany18:12 Life with grandmother and school experiences32:20 Military training as part of school curriculum37:48 Relatives in West Germany and uncle's imprisonment for attempted escape41:12 Planning and preparation for escape to West Germany1:00:43 The escape and crossing the border1:04:33 First moments of freedom and reflections on life in East Germany1:07:10 Registering as a refugee and first contact with family in East Germany post-escape1:14:04 Stasi's interrogation and impact of Jack's escape on his family1:20:36 Episode extras and closing remarksChapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 23rd Nov 1963 at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea a detachment of US Air Force B-57 Canberra bombers were parked on an alert pad each with a live nuclear weapon in their bomb bay and ready to fly at a moment’s notice.At 0400 klaxon horns aroused the crews from their slumber and they rushed to their waiting aircraft, for what they likely thought was just one more drill But this morning was different.As the crew strapped themselves into their cockpits, they were told to await a signal to fly their war mission…With targets in North Korea, China, and the Soviet Far East, the aircrews instinctively knew they would be flying one-way missions. But they had no idea as to why they were facing potential oblivion.I talk with US Marine Veteran John F. Davies who has researched the little-known story of the military response to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.Extra episode info including videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode319/Do you have any further information about this episode, contact John via email at JFD3vet "at"protonmail.comThe fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction and background1:34 John Davies' military service and reaction to JFK's assassination6:38 Initial military reaction to JFK's assassination and subsequent actions11:18 Events unfolding in Washington post JFK's assassination and transition of command authority16:13 Dean Rusk's and Admiral Harry D. Felt's response to JFK's assassination20:45 The military response in Europe and Strategic Air Command situation26:21 Exceptions in the military response - Fort Bliss, Texas and Cuba31:46 President Johnson's return to Washington and easing of crisis atmosphere34:09 Changes in command and control post November '63 and handling of information43:41 Reflections on the importance of telling this story and predictions on Kennedy's continued presidency46:29 Acknowledgement of financial supporters and Facebook discussion groupChapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin was born in Wigan in North West England and joined the RAF as an apprentice in 1956 with only 3 O Levels. He came top of his course but was posted into supplies at RAF St Mawgan. However, he quickly became in charge of their clothing stores and via a fortuitous route became a trainee pilot.By May 1963 he joined the RAF V Force as a Vulcan pilot and served with 44 Squadron where Vulcan crews were being converted to low-level flying.He describes the challenges of low-level flying, Vulcan handling, and the immense power of the Vulcan’s engines and training in Canada.We also hear about the different methods of nuclear bomb release, what it was like to be on Quick Reaction Alert, and his targets in the Soviet Union.Kevin also flew a number of the Queen’s birthday flights up the Mall and describes a near collision on one of these events in cloud.He also remembers some of his colleagues who never came back from missions.Extra episode information including videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode318/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction and Background of Kevin3:35 Kevin's Journey from Corporal Supplier to Vulcan Pilot9:49 Kevin's Experiences and Training as a Vulcan pilot18:20 Low-Level Flying, and Navigating23:43 Quick Reaction Alerts and Nuclear Bomb Release29:57 Post-Bomb Release Plans and Popular Media Depictions33:22 Incidents, Implications, and Personal Views on nuclear Weapons37:33 Responsibility of a Vulcan's Crew and recalling past incidents39:17 Kevin's experience with Other V Bombers and survival training42:06 Kevin's participation in Bombing Competitions and Closing RemarksChapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew McNeile decided to travel through Eastern Europe in a yellow MG Midget Sports car, a ​car ​that's ​going ​to ​stand ​out ​no ​matter ​where you are!He recalls his adventures travelling through East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and YugoslaviaHe talks about the warmth and friendliness of people, challenges with petrol quality, and an accidental visit to a nudist beach.Peter Ryan is your host today and I’m delighted to welcome Andrew McNeile to our Cold War Conversation…The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpodEpisode cover photo by kind permission of Oxyman https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MG_Midget_Orange_S.jpg0:00 Introduction and overview of the episode's guest, Andrew Nielle0:31 Andrew's journey through Eastern Europe in a yellow MG midget sports car4:21 Reaction of Andrew's family and friends to his travel plans7:13 Planned itinerary for the journey through Eastern Europe and Turkey10:01 Describing the border crossing experience into the East Bloc from Germany16:05 Reflections on the separation between East and West Germany and the construction of the Berlin Wall24:25 Unexpected nudist beach experience in Romania28:12 The challenges of travelling by car in Eastern Europe32:19 Favourite country visited during the road trip: Czechoslovakia35:57 Relief of returning to the West and impressions on Soviet rule37:11 Closing remarksTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is the 40th anniversary of the Able Archer NATO Exercise where it is reckoned that the Soviet Union and NATO almost started a nuclear war.1990 an investigation by the US President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, culminating in its highly secret report “The Soviet ‘War Scare’” The detailed PFIAB report concluded that the U.S. “may have inadvertently placed our relations with the Soviet Union on a hair trigger”.The following is an audio version of the talk I delivered to the Manchester Military History Society in October 2023. Documents, videos, and other extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode316The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction and overview of the episode1:14 Comparison of the 1983 crisis and the Cuban missile crisis2:38 Detente and the state of US/Soviet relations in the 1970s & early 80s4:24 Introduction Ronald Reagan and his policies5:25 Introduction to Yuri Andropov and his policies8:56 Soviet intelligence Operation Ryan's purpose and indicators12:49 Fleetex 83 US naval exercise appears to confirm Soviet suspicions that US is planning an attack16:33 The downing of Korean Airlines Flight 00722:30 Incidents soon after the Korean Airlines shootdown26:08 Soviet early warning system warns of US missile attack30:06 The US military intervention in Grenada34:21 Brigadier General Leonard H Perroot's role in averting a nuclear war during Able Archer 8341:43 Double agent's contributions to Western intelligence51:26 Controversy about how close we came to nuclear war around Able Archer54:30 Acknowledgement of financial supporters and continuation of Cold War conversation on FacebookTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discussion on Denmark's role in NATO and the conditions for their membership. Insight into the tactics and exercises of a Danish reconnaissance squadron during the Cold War. Highlighting the rivalry between units and why a Danish tank was painted pink. The speaker also touches on the preservation of Cold War stories and the importance of regimental history. Subscribers can enjoy perks and access to squadron training exercises and escape and evasion training.

On 29 August 1949 at 7:00 a.m. the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb. The test stunned the Western powers. American intelligence had estimated that the Soviets would not produce an atomic weapon until 1953, while the British did not expect it until 1954.The speed at which the Soviet Union developed their bomb was due a network of spies from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada who gave the Soviet Union the necessary information to develop an atomic bombThey were motivated by a range of factors. Some, such as ideology or a belief in communism, were committed to advancing the interests of the Soviet Union. Others were motivated by financial gain, while some may have been coerced or blackmailed into spying. I speak with author Andrew Long who has written “Secrets of the Cold War – espionage and intelligence operations from both sides of the Iron Curtain” which covers this story and many others.Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781526790255Book Giveaway info here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/Extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode314/Other episodesInterview with a KGB agent trained by two of the Atomic Spies https://coldwarconversations.com/episode140/The Portland Spies https://coldwarconversations.com/episode138/ & https://coldwarconversations.com/episode139/Ottawa Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko https://coldwarconversations.com/episode194/Ethen Rosenberg https://coldwarconversations.com/episode184/ Guy Burgess & The Cambridge 5 https://coldwarconversations.com/episode148Kim Philby’s granddaughter recollections https://coldwarconversations.com/episode228/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod0:00 Introduction to the podcast and the topic of the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb1:13 The history of atomic physics and the conceptualization of the atomic bomb6:34 Collaboration between the US and the UK on the atomic bomb project and its aftermath11:24 Espionage and the role of spies in the Soviet Union's acquisition of atomic technology20:50 The Cambridge Five and how Cairncross broke the story to the Soviets about the atomic bomb project33:33 The contribution of Ted Hall and George Koval to Soviet Intelligence38:27 British spy Klaus Fuchs's role at Los Alamos and his ideological motivations51:49 Fuchs's contribution to the Los Alamos setup and the plutonium bomb59:12 Post-war movements of the atomic spies and the unraveling of the Soviet Spy network1:10:02 The arrest and conviction of Klaus Fuchs and the Rosenberg case1:15:29 The fate of the spies and the impact of atomic espionage on the Cold War and global power dynamics1:25:14 Introduction to Andrew's book and closing remarks1:26:20 Podcast outro and acknowledgmentsTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the second part of my chat with Thomas who worked in a secret East German radio monitoring base.He describes how a BRIXMIS or another Allied Military Liason Mission vehicle had once got into the base and what the East German Army was told about MLM capabilities.When the officers aren’t around he and his comrades listen to Western radio and watch Western TV.Gorbachev is now in power and liberalisation has now started in the Soviet Union and the East German government worries about contamination. Thomas describes his participation in the Dresden protests and is totally ​shocked ​by ​police brutality against East German citizens.We talk about the opening of the Wall and the decline in NVA discipline as East Germany starts to implode in the march to reunification. We also hear about the surprising contents of his Stasi file. Extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode313/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.0:00 Introduction1:21 Thomas's Stasi file and military liaison mission experiences11:30 Perception of NATO and potential for invasion18:06 Exposure to Western media and culture22:39 Unrest and start of the rebellion in East Germany34:20 Closure of the Czech border49:04 Shared experiences with American and Czech soldiers55:38 Recollection of the day the Berlin Wall came down1:02:55 First experience visiting the West and adapting to Western lifestyle1:12:27 Transitioning back to civilian life and the reunification of Germany1:27:13 Joining the Cold War Conversations Facebook discussion groupTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices