When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436)

When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436)

Andrew was a British modern languages student in 1989. He recounts the serendipitous moment when he stumbled upon an advert for a work and holiday trip to the GDR. The trip was organized by the Great Britain GDR Society, which allowed participants to experience life behind the Iron Curtain. For just £120, students could immerse themselves in a culture that was vastly different from what they knew. The only requirement was to join the society, which piqued the curiosity of our guest, who had previously visited West Germany but had yet to set foot in the East. As the group engaged in work on a building site, they encountered East German soldiers and workers, sharing stories and forging unexpected friendships. The camaraderie that developed during these moments highlighted the human connections that transcended political boundaries. Andrew reflects on the peculiarities of the trip, from the shoddy living conditions to the surreal experience of mingling with locals who had their own dreams and aspirations. Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode436/ 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/ CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION Follow us on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social Follow us on Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations 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

Episoder(448)

An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (448)

An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (448)

Ihor reflects on his time serving as an officer in the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Interior troops. After volunteering for military service, he found himself travelling from Lviv to Lithuania to begin ...

21 Mar 48min

Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447)

Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447)

Born in Lviv in Ukraine, in 1958, Ihor grew up in a city where borders shifted, but memories endured. In this episode, he recalls a childhood shaped by silence, censorship, and family stories that cou...

14 Mar 49min

Secret Warriors - British Submarines during the Cold War (446)

Secret Warriors - British Submarines during the Cold War (446)

During the Cold War, some of the most dangerous encounters between East and West took place far beneath the ocean’s surface. I speak with historian Dr. Paul Brown, author of Secret Warriors: British ...

7 Mar 1h 15min

American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF "Red Eagles" MiG Squadron Part 2 (445)

American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF "Red Eagles" MiG Squadron Part 2 (445)

Lt Col Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. He tells the Red Eagles story for the first time through the experiences of a pilot who flew So...

28 Feb 48min

High School Student to the Top Secret USAF Red Eagles  Soviet MIG Squadron Part 1 (444)

High School Student to the Top Secret USAF Red Eagles Soviet MIG Squadron Part 1 (444)

Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. In part one of a two-part episode, he reveals how he made it into this top-secret US operation that w...

21 Feb 50min

The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power (443)

The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power (443)

I speak with Bruce Berglund, the author of The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power, which is a fascinating journey through the world of Soviet sports...

14 Feb 1h 1min

Chasing Rogue Nukes after the Fall of the Soviet Union (442)

Chasing Rogue Nukes after the Fall of the Soviet Union (442)

Susan Miller continues the story of her CIA career, recalling a harrowing experience of the 1991 US embassy fire in Moscow, and the unexpected humanity displayed by a KGB officer who helped save lives...

7 Feb 52min

Dead Drops and Disguises - A Female CIA Officer in 1980s Moscow (441)

Dead Drops and Disguises - A Female CIA Officer in 1980s Moscow (441)

I explore the remarkable journey of a CIA operations officer who transitioned from a quiet childhood in California to the thrilling world of espionage. What began as a joke application to the CIA tu...

31 Jan 49min

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