Cold War Conversations

Marie-Claude Hawkes continues her story with her return to Berlin in 1985 as a French teaching assistant at the Havel School RAF Gatow, teaching French and taking part in school activities in West and East Berlin.Between September 86 and August 87 Marie-Claude was employed as a cartoonist for the Berlin Bulletin, the weekly magazine for the British Forces in Berlin.Marie Claude describes her experiences as a French citizen working for the British Army as well as the challenges of being a French civilian in Berlin marrying a British citizen. In February 1988 Marie-Claude started work as the Director of Extra-Mural Studies at 46 AEC (Army Education Corps), Smuts Barracks in Spandau. While organising various classes for service men/women and their ‘dependents’, she also provided interpreting and trips to East Berlin for various purposes, one illegal…It’s a fascinating view of Cold War Berlin from a perspective not heard before. 7:14 Marie-Claude Hawkes' experiences in Berlin and role at the Harvard School14:39 Marie-Claude Hawkes' post-marriage life and career in the Army Education Corps17:28 Life in Berlin, cultural barriers, and infamous locations20:49 Marie-Claude Hawkes' role in the Education Center and adventures in East Berlin30:06 Unique rules and regulations of living in Berlin: 'Berlinology'33:37 Discussions on Berlin defense and encounters with Soviet officers38:53 Marie-Claude Hawkes' wedding and experience on the French military train46:26 Inquiry about Stasi files and reflections on being a part of history48:16 Sponsor: Episode extras and gratitude to financial supporters48:50 Closing remarks and preview of next episodeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Episodes mentioned:The Defence of RAF Gatow https://coldwarconversations.com/episode257/Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Extra info including photos, and videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode272/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1981 Marie-Claude Hawkes was an 18-year-old living in Amiens, France when she embarked on a trip to East Germany looking for adventure… Among her experiences was working in a lignite coal mine. Lignite is considered the lowest rank of coal and the most harmful coal to human health but was a major fuel source for East German power stations.Marie-Claude travelled from Paris to Leipzig on an overnight train, staying at the International Youth Camp in Borna. From there she travelled every day to work in the open lignite mine at Espenhain, about 16 miles from Leipzig. She describes working at the mine, weekends off, visits to Leipzig, Magdeburg, Weimar, and a potato peeling factory...!It’s a fascinating view of East Germany away from the capital Berlin. 0:00 Introduction and Mary Claude Hawkes' initial experiences in East Germany2:06 Sponsor: Promotion of Cold War Conversations and listener's testimonial4:51 Mary Claude Hawkes' journey to East Germany and arrival at the International Youth Camp13:43 Work and life in the International Youth Camp22:37 Leisure time: visits to Leipzig and after-work activities25:51 Travel experiences and evening entertainment in East Germany29:01 Political experiences and visits to various factories33:11 Working conditions and run-in with authorities40:01 Impressions of Magdeburg and East Berlin44:13 Return to Paris and plans for future visits to Berlin45:23 Sponsor: Thanks to financial supporters and invitation to join the Facebook Discussion Group46:19 Closing remarks and mention of the Cold War Conversations storeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Check out the episode related photos and videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode271/Radio GDRIf you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2, of a two part recording.Part 1 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode268In October of 2022, I was asked by the West Pennines Military Vehicle Trust to moderate a Q&A session with a number of BRIXMIS veterans.Attending were Drivers Neil Walton, Pete Curran, Dave Collins and Kev Smith, plus Sandy Saxton-Warne (Joint operations & weapons) , Mike Hill (Tour officer), Mike Corcoran (Weapons), and Dave Butler (Senior Non Commissioned Officer, Tourer).It was an amazing afternoon of reminiscing about their experiences and viewing the amazing collections they had from that time. My good friend Colin Dyter was a massive help with the recording, but a quick note that the audio is not up to the usual quality of Cold War Conversations, due to background noise, but I think the events and activities described definitely make it worth listening to.0:00 Introduction and background on the episode's guests2:15 BRIXMIS veterans and their stories6:44 Importance of safeguarding sensitive equipment and intelligence gathering14:52 Identifying and tracking Soviet equipment24:06 Scavenging procedures and notable discoveries30:22 Operation Tomahawk and the risks of tour driving39:35 Confrontations with Russians and successful escapes46:17 Use of maps and marking points of interest in the Cold War58:10 Collecting memorabilia and living conditions in the DDR1:02:14 Closing remarks and episode extrasTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode270Support the showSupport 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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1986 Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev said “Never perhaps, in the post-war decades has the situation in the world been explosive and hence more difficult and unfavourable as in the first half of the 1980s. “He was referring to a period of immense tension between the Soviet Union and NATO when in 1983 a NATO exercise called Able Archer was believed to have almost accidentally started World War 3. We delve into the Able Archer archives to talk about the most recent documents with Francesca Akhtar, a researcher whose main research interests are US Cold War foreign policy, intelligence history and defence. Francesca has written a dissertation entitled “The most dangerous Soviet-American confrontation since the Cuban Missile Crisis?” An analysis of the origins, nature, and impact of the Able Archer 83 incident.0:00 Introduction and context about Able Archer1:07 Overview of Able Archer and its potential to start World War 32:15 Sponsor message and call for donations3:19 The changes in Able Archer in 1983 and misconceptions6:51 Context of shooting down of Korean airliner in 1983 and comparison with the Cuba missile crisis10:31 Status of UK archives on Able Archer and challenges in obtaining information14:11 Discussion on the cancellation of Able Archer in 1990 and continuation despite potential misunderstandings21:11 Introduction to the revealing documents in the February state department release and discussion on Perroots' letter32:11 The letter that sparked an investigation and possible preemptive strike35:03 Post-exercise NSA message, Soviet readiness, and criticism of US intelligence41:17 Soviet side and access to information and concluding remarks on the Cold War scare47:16 Acknowledgement of the episode extras and appreciation of financial supporters48:30 Closing remarks and promotion of the Cold War Conversations storeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Regular listeners will remember that Francesca talked about Able Archer 83 previously in Episode 19.The battle to preserve Cold War history is ongoing and your support can provide me with the ammunition to continue to keep this podcast on the air. Via a simple monthly donation, you’ll become part of our community 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.View the actual Able Archer intelligence briefing documents here as well as videos, and extra information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode269/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In October of 2022, I was asked by the West Pennines Military Vehicle Trust to moderate a Q&A session with a number of BRIXMIS veterans.Part 2 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode270Attending were Drivers Neil Walton, Pete Curran, Dave Collins and Kev Smith, plus Sandy Saxton-Warne (Joint operations & weapons) , Mike Hill (Tour officer), Mike Corcoran (Weapons), and Dave Butler (Senior Non Commissioned Officer, Tourer). It was an amazing afternoon of reminiscing about their experiences and viewing the amazing collections they had from that time. Don’t miss part 2 which follows next week. My good friend Colin Dyter was a massive help with the recording, but a quick note that the audio is not up to the usual quality of Cold War Conversations, due to background noise, but I think the events and activities described definitely make it worth listening to.0:00 Introduction and story from Dave Collins5:25 Dave Collins recounts the night the wall came down8:47 Neil Walton talks about their communication system and shares stories of challenging situations15:41 Monitoring equipment and weapon remnants in East Germany21:21 An encounter with the MFS during a tour28:20 Discussion about different units and experiences in the army39:04 Understanding 'tarpology' and recognizing Soviet equipment44:35 Special permits and fast driving experiences54:04 Using thermal imaging in the Cold War1:01:14 Cliffhanger - The discovery about the missile1:01:42 Acknowledgement of financial supporters and call for donationsTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Episode notes herehttps://coldwarconversations.com/episode268Support 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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Kelly is the author of Home Bases: Memories & Stories of US Military Bases Around London which for the first time, puts the spotlight on the history of many of the US Military’s lesser-known command and support bases that were located either in or close to London.The bases (often known as ‘Little Americas’) are furthermore brought to life in a series of ‘snapshot’ memories. We hear about the heroism of US personnel who were awarded the George Medal for bravery in rescuing people caught in the great floods of 1953 as well as including actor Larry Hagman who played JR Ewing in the TV series Dallas.  We talk about the memories of bases further afield such as Upper Heyford, Greenham Common, Sculthorpe, and Burtonwood.0:00 Introduction and background of Sean Kelly1:59 Sponsor: Call for donations2:23 Guest Introduction: Sean Kelly7:38 Sean Kelly's book "Home Bases" and the history of US military bases in London15:20 Personal stories from US military bases28:31 Transformation and current state of Greenham Common34:11 Personal anecdotes from those who served on the bases48:54 The peak of the Cold War in the UK and discussion about the Burtonwood base58:24 The special relationship between the UK and the US and the importance of personal stories in understanding history1:02:30 Where to Find Sean Kelly's Book and Contact Information1:06:22 Podcast Extras and Support InformationTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Buy the book here https://amzn.to/3V8959oThe battle to preserve Cold War history is ongoing and your support can provide me with the ammunition to continue to keep this podcast on the air. Via a simple monthly donation, you’ll become part of our community 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.I am delighted to welcome Sean Kelly to our Cold War conversation…Sean's websitesHome Bases https://www.facebook.com/ushomebases7 North Audley https://www.facebook.com/7NorthAudleyEpisodes referred to:Greenham Common https://coldwarconversations.com/episode18/Burtonwood https://coldwarconversations.com/episode74/Upper Heyford https://coldwarconversations.com/episode65/Further episode notes here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode267/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re back with Alan Hodges, a Royal Tank Regiment Chieftain tank commander, and Mick Hadfield who was his 17-year-old gunner. In this episode we talk in detail about their deployment within a kilometer of the East German border and their tasks should H Hour have come as well as emergency deployment from barracks.There is no affection for their main training area at Soltau described as “the moon with a few trees and also in less polite terms. However, these training periods are made better by the regular appearance of Wolfgang, a German entrepreneur and British Army legend who was uncannily able to place his snack vans whenever the British Army deployed. We also hear how the crew was also trained on how to evacuate the tank if it was hit as well as how to evade capture and resist interrogation.It’s anecdotes galore again including a visit from a Swedish Major who unwisely was given the chance to drive Chieftain. There’s also sadness as we remember those that never came back from exercises due to accidents. It’s the continuing story of the close bond that soldiers forge that still lasts to this day. 0:00 Introduction 2:37 Discussion of training procedures and deployment strategies6:20 Recollection of training exercises and potential war scenarios12:39 Experiences and preparations for potential emergency situations19:17 Experiences with escape and evasion exercises23:50 Reflections on Exercise Lionheart and Soltau training area29:51 Discussion of casualties of Cold War training exercises34:48 Reflections on the seriousness of training and camaraderie developed during service44:47 Maintaining focus and motivation during training and visits to both sides of Berlin49:17 Discussion about Cold War literature and potential film creation51:14 Reality of military life and benefits of being stationed in Germany54:02 Social activities in Germany and episode wrap-upTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Extra videos and photos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode266/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Hodges was a Royal Tank Regiment Chieftain tank commander and troop SGT in West Germany. Mick Hadfield was his 17-year-old gunner. The affection between the two is still apparent even today and Mick still calls Al his army Dad.Mick met Al in 1987 straight out of his armoured corp gunnery training at Catterick. They served for 3 years together in 1st Royal Tank Regiment in Hildesheim from August 87 to December 90. They share detailed insights into the operations of the Chieftain, the training, the camaraderie of a crew as well as important details like how you go the loo in a tank..As part of 1st Royal Tank Regiment they were at the time (the most forward-facing Tank unit in BAOR and given a 2-hour life expectancy. They were told that if the Soviet 3rd Shock army crossed the border, each Chieftain would have to knock out a minimum of 10 Soviet tanks before they got overrun.0:00 Introduction 4:07 Mick's journey into the army and Al's family military background10:04 Experiences with the Chieftain Mark 2 tank and its components16:40 Structure of the tank regiment and regional recruitment23:59 Training process for the Chieftain crew and simulation experiences34:06 Cold War threat discussion and ammunition types42:49 Physical experience of being in a tank and recalling incidents47:25 Reality of fighting in AFVs and potential for motion sickness in a tank57:04 Relationship between a crew and their tank, tuning for performance1:02:40 Knowledge of the battleground and teaser for the next episode1:03:30 Closing remarks and invitation to the Facebook discussion groupTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Extra videos and photos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode265/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early 1970s, the athletes of East Germany started to achieve incredible sports results, winning medals and setting new world records with astonishing frequency. For many years, their sporting supremacy was hailed as a triumph of the socialist government's commitment to scientific research and innovative training methods.However, after the Cold War ended, the Stasi archives revealed a sinister secret behind the successes: a perverse doping system imposed by the government itself. Drugs were administered to young athletes, often without their consent, and the price their bodies are now paying is very high, both physically and mentally. I talk with Joseph Tudor, whose new book Synthetic Medals reveals the events that led to the discovery of the state-doping system and the subsequent trial. It also explores the state's motives for this crime against its own people.0:00 Introduction and Joseph Tudor's perspective on East German doping2:04 Sponsor: Call to support the Cold War Conversations podcast4:12 East Germany's adoption of artificial methods to enhance athletes' performance10:43 Unveiling the East German 'athlete machine'17:47 The International Olympic Committee's suspicions about East Germany's success21:44 Prevalence and detection of doping in East German sports26:05 Resistance and consequences against Stasi's involvement in sports31:49 Discovery of State Plan 14.25, East Germany's state doping program34:03 Legal challenges surrounding East Germany's doping program38:39 The devastating side effects of doping drugs on athletes45:30 Legacy of East German athletic success and the role of doping52:37 Athletes returning their medals due to guilt of doping56:13 Sponsor: Promotion of the book 'Synthetic Medals: East German Athlete's Journey to Hell'57:05 Closing remarks and promotion of the Cold War Conversations storeTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Extra episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode264/Buy the book here https://amzn.to/3gVZbtI and support the podcast.==========================================================Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.==========================================================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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the moment East Germany was formed in 1949, many of its citizens chose to leave to start a new life in the West. By the mid-1950s, the trickle had turned into a flood as large numbers rejected Walter Ulbricht’s Communist paradise. His ‘Workers’ & Peasants’ State’ could not afford to lose the skills and productivity of these key workers, so he proposed a radical solution - to physically fence in the whole population. I speak with Andrew Long, the author of a series of books about Cold War Berlin as we explore the background and build-up to the building of the Berlin Wall, from the closing of the Inner German border to the momentous events of August 1961.We examine in detail how Operation Rose, the operation to close the border between East and West Berlin, was planned and executed and look at how the West reacted.0:00 Introduction1:04 Formation and Exodus of East Germany7:51 Dissent and Exodus in East Germany15:39 The Unique Situation in Berlin and the Establishment of Air Corridors18:11 Khrushchev's Ultimatum and the Role of Nuclear Deterrence24:16 Arrival of JFK and the Renewed Ultimatum33:27 Operation Rose and the Planning for the Berlin Wall47:08 Situation at Checkpoint Charlie and Allies' Response56:43 Propaganda and Defection Post-Border Closure1:07:30 Rules of Engagement and Fortification of the Berlin Wall1:11:23 Acknowledgement of Financial Supporters and Donation Call to ActionTable of contents powered by PodcastAI✨Extra episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode263/Buy Andrew's books here https://amzn.to/3hI6N2Y and support the podcast.Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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.Photos and video extra here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode263/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/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices