Cold War Conversations

Born in 1968 in East Germany Thomas had a "normal socialist" but happy childhood in a small town near Dresden. His family was viewed as exotic at that time as his mother had Hungarian citizenship which allowed her to travel to West Berlin.He was conscripted into the East German Army and signed up for 3 years as an Unteroffizier (NCO) instead of one and a half years of compulsory service.After training he is posted to a radio reconnaissance battalion based on the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere near the inner German border. The unit was tasked with monitoring NATO surface-to-air missile batteries such as Patriots, and Nike Hercules, tracking NATO air traffic in Western Europe, and listening to air-to-ground transmissions.Thomas describes the isolated life on the mountain and harsh winters with lots of snow. The base was protected with a high-voltage double fence and sentries. With good visibility, Thomas could see the enemy on a similar mountaintop monitoring station on the other side of the border.Extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode312/0:00 Introduction and background of Thomas7:21 Thomas' schooling and impact of politics on education16:23 Thomas's decision to join the army and experiences in Hungary24:21 Living close to West Berlin and parents' experiences in West Germany32:35 Experiences at the border and considering escape from East Germany38:16 Thomas' drafting into the East German army44:47 The drafting process and training in East Germany50:42 Life at the outpost and working with the Czech Army1:01:41 Social life, restrictions, and interactions with locals1:09:15 The struggle to access Western media and relationship with officers1:13:15 Acknowledgement of financial supporters1:13:33 Closing remarks and teaser for next week's episodeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨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/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark joined the US Army on January 6th, 1981, and went to Ft Knox KY for Basic and Armor training. He graduated in April 1981 and was selected as Instructor Tank commander and trained the next cycle of recruits till August 1981.Mark was posted to West Germany in September 1981 and was assigned to 1st 37th Armor 1st Armored Div based in Katterbach. When he arrived they were just turning in their M60A2s for the M60A3s. Mark was made a gunner on C-22 as an E-2 private which is rare.He was also picked to serve with a 1st 304th Bundeswehr PZ unit in Leopard 1A4s in 1982 and describes some fascinating details of the differences between the Bundeswehr and the US Army.In 1982 his friend Dean McCoy was killed in a military accident and Mark experienced PTSD for the last 30 years as a result. We dedicate this episode to the memory of Sammy Dean McCoy who died on March 18th 1982 aged 21. 0:00 Introduction and Background of Mark3:11 Mark's experiences in West Germany9:59 Life expectations and preparations in case of a Soviet Invasion14:44 Comparison Between Leopard and M60 A3 Tanks, and German and American Tank Training20:18 Interactions with other national armies and demonstrations of West German firepower25:36 Escape, Evasion, and Gunnery training30:42 Naming of tanks and preparation for chemical Warfare36:24 Differences between Army Life in West Germany and Fort Knox39:15 Memorable and tragic incidents during service in West Germany47:34 Discussion on the Book "Red Army" by Ralph Peters and Mark's PTSD54:12 Podcast Closing RemarksTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨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/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim, a former USAF and NSA officer, talks about his experiences during the Cold War. He discusses topics such as electronic warfare, surveillance efforts, Chernobyl reactor explosion, Solidarity legalization in Poland, unchanged tactics of the Russians, flight patterns, Cold War liaison with British intelligence, and reflections on the Soviet Union.

Aged 16 Chris joined the British Army apprentice school in Arborfield, at Princess Marina College. He was trained as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers otherwise known as REME.We talk about life expectancy in war scenarios, experiences with crash-out exercises, and life as a British soldier in West GermanyChris also served Post-Wall Berlin with the Military Police and describes an interesting “secret” job he was involved in.The episode was recorded at one of the Hack Green Nuclear Bunker Living History Weekends where Chris is one of the re-enactors. His advice has proved valuable to the other re-enactors as he is someone who was there… It’s a great down-to-earth account of a sometimes forgotten part of the British Army, without whose support they wouldn’t have been able to operate. 0:00 Introduction and Chris's early life and decision to join the British army3:05 Life expectancy in war scenarios and crash out exercises4:40 Casualties on exercises and in training9:25 Encounters with Soviet military liaison units and inspections by the Warsaw Pact13:59 Living with the constant threat of conflict and its mental toll15:53 De-escalation of tensions and the opening of the Berlin Wall19:45 Life in Berlin post-Wall20:31 Best aspects of serving in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR)23:57 Differences between the RAF and the Army26:03 Closing remarks Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Extra episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode309/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/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is part two of Henrik’s story. You can hear the first part in episode 307. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode307It’s the late 1980s and Henrik and his friends plan to escape from East Germany via Czechoslovakia.Henrik provides a very vivid account of their discovery by Czechoslovak border guards in a forest near the Austrian border. He describes the moment the guards open fire to get them to stop.Henrik is separated from his friends and held in various Czechoslovak prisons, before being flown back to East Germany. There he is interrogated for a number of months before being placed on trial.After his conviction for Republikflucht or "desertion from the republic" he is held on in a rough criminal prison in Dresden before being moved to a work camp.The prison and work camp has two types of prisoners, politicals and criminals. There he is exposed to the hardcore criminals of the GDR, violent criminals, murderers and neo-Nazis.0:00 Introduction and recap of the previous episode1:31 Interview with Henrik: Early plans and journey to Czechoslovakia7:40 Arrest on the border and early imprisonment experiences17:21 Transfer to Prague and encounter with the East German Stasi28:23 Arrival at the Secret Service prison in Dresden and coping in prison46:59 Interrogations and dealing with the Stasi1:00:18 Family visits, communication in prison, and considering a change of mind1:13:08 Reflections on the Stasi's approach and trial54:36 Life in remand prison and public humiliation during transport to Rakowitz work camp1:00:06 Living conditions, daily life, and experiences in Rakowitz work camp1:10:54 Announcement of amnesty and release from prison1:14:00 Post-release observations on the social climate in East Germany1:23:18 Closing remarks and outroExtra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode308Special thanks to Jonny Whitlam for introducing Henrik to CWC. You can book his excellent Berlin tours here https://www.whitlams-berlin-tours.com/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/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henrik shares his experiences growing up in East Germany, including limited access to Western culture, the role of Western radio and music in shaping his perception of the West, and his desire to escape to the West. The podcast also touches on the challenges and risks of crossing the border between East and West Germany during the Cold War, as well as the impact of family influence and support for their escape plans.

You are listening to part 2 of my chat with Joe who joined the USAF in 1981 and was trained to fly the A10 Warthog a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support to ground forces by attacking tanks, armoured vehicles, and other ground targets. Part 1 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode305/In 1985 Joe is sent to 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters in the UK, just over 50 miles from where his father served in World War 2.His role was to fly the A10 over West Germany and attack Warsaw Pact ground forces should the Cold War turn hot.We hear about the perils of flying the A10 at only 100 feet in mist and rain, whilst navigating with a map on your knee in the days before GPS was available. Joe also recounts visiting the Inner German border and driving to his wartime target sectors to see what they looked like from the ground. He describes how they trained for landing on West German autobahns as well as their tactics against enemy aircraft.Joe also flew the Royal Air Force’s VTOL fighter, the Harrier, and tells of the challenge of managing the controls and his respect for the Royal Air Force.0:00 Introduction and Joe Andrew's deployment to UK1:35 Visiting the inner German border and discussion on potential kill zones3:29 Practice landing on autobahns and durability of A-10's undercarriage6:17 Low-level navigation and situational awareness in Europe10:59 Practice bombing, missile firing, and liaisons with the army15:00 Air to air defense, maneuvering training, and target acquisition17:32 Managing information and plotting targets while flying20:45 Tactics for air-to-air combat and likely survivability rate in conflict27:44 Training for escape and evasion if shot down, and use of countermeasures34:45 Joe Andrew's experiences with combat SAR alert and flying the Harrier44:00 Extras and acknowledgements for the podcast's financial supportersTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Visit the RAF Bentwaters Museum here https://www.bcwm.org.uk/Extra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode306The 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/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/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? Join Intohistory on this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe’s father served in World War 2 in the USAF. His service inspired Joe to try and join the USAF or the Naval Air Force despite having no flying experience.It’s the aftermath of the Vietnam War so forces are being reduced, however with the arrival of a new President, Ronald Reagan, defence spending grows and provides Joe with an opportunity to start pilot training with the USAF.He eventually ends up flying the A10. The A-10 was first in service in 1976 and was designed to provide close air support to ground troops by attacking armoured vehicles, tanks, and other enemy ground forces.Joe describes what makes the A10 special as well as his training and initial deployment in the A10 in Alaska. You get a real pilot’s eye view of flying the plane including navigation techniques and the challenges of flying low level.0:00 Introduction and background of Joe Andrew6:41 Joe's completion of officer training school and becoming a second lieutenant9:47 The decision of what to fly at the end of training15:01 Description of the A 10 and its capabilities28:19 First flight experience in the A-1032:17 Joe's first operational station and flying experience in Alaska37:56 Journey to Bentwaters and first impressions of the UK41:40 Meeting and marrying future wife in the UK44:13 Undergoing advisory training course for UK weather conditions48:05 Wrap up and preview of next week's episodeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Part two is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode306/ where Joe is sent to 92nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters in the UK, just over 50 miles from where his father served in World War 2.Visit the RAF Bentwaters Museum here https://www.bcwm.org.uk/Extra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode305Rick Shreve's F111 episode https://coldwarconversations.com/episode193/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/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/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? Join Intohistory on this link Cold War Conversations – Into History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom lived in western Poland in an area that had been part of Germany until the end of World War 2. He describes how his grandmother settled in this area and the strangeness of taking over formerly German houses and apartments.Tom’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a Communist activist who worked for the Polish security services which created some tension as Tom’s father dodged the draft into the Polish Army.Tom describes his childhood in some detail, highlighting the contrasts of life in Cold War Poland versus some of the Warsaw Pact countries such as how the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church managed to co-exist with the Communist government.He is 11 years old when the free trade union Solidarity is made illegal and martial law is declared by the Polish Communist authorities. Tom describes how life changes under martial law and the suppression of Solidarity demonstrations.We end with the poignant story of his Grandmother’s experiences as a forced labourer in Germany during World War 2. 0:00 Introduction and background of Tom's family history in Cold War Poland9:06 Tom's family members and their roles during the Cold War20:38 Tom's parents' professions and their impact on his upbringing26:15 Living conditions in the 70s in Poland and Tom's school life experiences41:56 The role of the Scouts movement and the state in shaping youth ideology48:59 Declaration of martial law and its immediate impact1:02:19 Witnessing solidarity demonstrations and restrictions on travel1:11:39 Visit to Dresden and grandmother's experience as a forced laborer1:22:00 Communicating with the locals in Dresden and Grandma's vivid recount1:24:15 Podcast extras and thanking financial supporters1:24:43 Closing remarks and teaser for next week's episodeExtra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode304The 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/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/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? Join Intohistory on this link Cold War Conversations – Into History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 1 July 1960, a United States RB-47H reconnaissance plane was shot down by the Soviet Air Defence Forces while performing signals intelligence in the Barents Sea, near the Kola Peninsula, off the Arctic coast of the Soviet Union. Four of the six crew members died. The shootdown occurred exactly two months after the far better-known U-2 shootdown involving Francis Gary Powers and added to the tensions created by that incident. Gary Power and the U2 incident https://coldwarconversations.com/episode23/ I speak with John Mollison, an aviation artist, writer, and award-winning filmmaker. Do check out his website at https://www.johnmollison.com/ John interviewed Captain "Bruce" Olmstead who was co-pilot of the RB47.As a result of his involvement in the incident, Olmstead received the POW medal in 1996 and Silver Star medals in 2004, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross.His Silver Star Citation reads “For 208 days, Colonel Olmstead was interrogated and harassed at length on a continuous basis by numerous top Soviet Secret Police interrogating teams. Although greatly weakened physically by the lack of food, denial of sleep, and the mental rigors of constant interrogation, Colonel Olmstead steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Colonel Olmstead has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”Bruce died in October 2016.0:00 Introduction and background of the RB47 incident 6:30 The shift from RB47 to U2 missions and importance of signals intelligence12:00 Description of the RB47's engagement and defensive armament17:00 Context of the times, the Gary Powers shoot down, and implications of SIOP20:00 The tracking, interception, and attack on the RB 4726:00 Communication between the Ravens and the cockpit, aftermath of the crash and capture33:00 The American reaction to the loss of the RB 47 and negotiations with the Soviets36:00 The duration of captivity, trial, and release of the crew38:00 Meeting with President Kennedy and the zeitgeist of the times40:00 Importance of the shoot down in Cold War history and other related incidents43:00 Podcast extras, acknowledgements, and closing remarksExtra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode303 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/Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/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? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices