A Cold War US Soldier defects to East Germany (61)

A Cold War US Soldier defects to East Germany (61)

What could make a privileged 24-year-old American serving in the US Army in Germany in 1952 to swim across the Danube River to what was then the Soviet Zone? Victor Grossman who was born Stephen Wechsler but changed his name after defecting to the GDR. A child of the Depression, Grossman grew up in an environment that nurtured a commitment to left-wing causes. He continued his involvement with Communist activities as a student at Harvard in the late 1940s and after graduation, when he took jobs in factories in Buffalo, New York and tried to organize their workers. After being drafted into the US Army and fearful of his discovery as a communist Grossman ended up in GDR with other Western defectors, He was able to establish himself as a freelance journalist, lecturer and author. Travelling through East Germany he saw the failures as well as the successes of the GDR's "socialist experiment". While some of you will disagree with Victor's views, his first-hand account of his experiences is an important part of Cold War history. We start my Cold War Conversation with Victor telling us about this early life in the United States. Episode 2 is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode69/ Radio GDR If 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/ColdWarPod Facebook 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

Jaksot(449)

“Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you” - The NATO Russian confrontation in 1999 at Pristina Airport (402)

“Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you” - The NATO Russian confrontation in 1999 at Pristina Airport (402)

In this gripping episode, we hear a detailed account from an eyewitness right at the heart of the tense NATO and Russian confrontation in Kosovo in 1999 at Pristina Airport. NATO General Wesley Clark...

9 Touko 20251h 33min

“Houston, we’ve had a problem” interview with Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut (401)

“Houston, we’ve had a problem” interview with Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut (401)

This is a repeat of an episode published in September 2022. 55 years ago last month Fred Haise was one of the three astronauts on the ill-fated Moon mission when a design fault caused an oxygen tank...

2 Touko 20251h 30min

Doped, Abused and Abandoned: Growing Up in East Germany’s Sports System (400)

Doped, Abused and Abandoned: Growing Up in East Germany’s Sports System (400)

This episode covers themes of physical and emotional abuse as well as suicide. If you need support please follow the links below. UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ ...

25 Huhti 20251h 14min

Whispers of Freedom: Portraying the Story of the last person shot at the Berlin Wall (399)

Whispers of Freedom: Portraying the Story of the last person shot at the Berlin Wall (399)

Chris Gueffroy, was the last person to be shot dead at the Berlin Wall and a new short film called “Whispers of Freedom” portrays his story. I speak with the film’s director Brandon Ashplant who sha...

22 Huhti 202548min

 Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War (398)

Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War (398)

Former US Navy Commander Henry Rausch is the author of Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War. Henry shares his experiences from training to life aboard a submari...

18 Huhti 20251h 3min

Deep Cover Cold War Spies: How Russia’s Illegal Agents Penetrated the West (397)

Deep Cover Cold War Spies: How Russia’s Illegal Agents Penetrated the West (397)

In 2010, two decades after the Cold War had ended, ten Russian spies were arrested in America, having hidden their true identities from their friends, neighbours and even their children. They were p...

11 Huhti 20251h 9min

A Black US Basketball  Virtuoso in Cold War Poland (396)

A Black US Basketball Virtuoso in Cold War Poland (396)

The Communist Polish press called it "Kentomania!"—the excitement surrounding a 23 year old, called Kent Washington who made history as the first American—and the first Black American—to sign a profes...

4 Huhti 20251h 23min

Agent Zo - From War Hero to Enemy:  When Cold War Poland  Turned on Its Own (395)

Agent Zo - From War Hero to Enemy: When Cold War Poland Turned on Its Own (395)

In a world where history often overlooks the contributions of women, ​the story of ​Agent ​Zo stands out as a beacon of bravery and resilience. ​I spoke with ​Claire ​Mulley about her book ​Agent ​Zo:...

29 Maalis 20251h

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