Eyewitness to the 1991 Soviet Coup with Brett Elliott (214)

Eyewitness to the 1991 Soviet Coup with Brett Elliott (214)

Today’s episode is different. Brett Elliott died earlier this year and I was contacted by his ex-wife Polly who offered me a cassette tape. Polly and Brett had met in college and got to know each other in Russian Club at Oklahoma State. In the summer of 1991, they went to Moscow to pursue Polly’s goal of being a reporter in Russia and Brett’s goal of further studying Russia. They both worked together covering the Bush Gorbachev summit, with Polly as a reporter and Brett as an interpreter. Polly left Russia early, but Brett stayed a few weeks more and witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union, August 19-21, 1991. During a rare phone call, Polly begged him to be careful, and he famously said she was worse than the coup leaders if she wanted to deny him getting out to witness history… Polly's book is available on the links below US Listeners https://amzn.to/3mEuPMa UK listeners https://amzn.to/3CLuHjy We have photos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode214/ This podcast relies on listener support to enable me to continue to capture these incredible stories and make them available for free. You can support my work and help to preserve Cold War history via one-off or monthly donations Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ for more details. Do join our Facebook discussion group where the cold war conversation continues between episodes. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook. This episode is the audio from the cassette of Brett describing his experiences just two weeks after the coup. Being on cassette the sound quality is not great, but I am delighted and honoured to welcome Brett Elliott to our Cold War conversation… 0:00 Introduction and appeal for donations 1:47 Brett and Polly's experience in Russia 5:55 Brett's account before and during the coup 14:09 Brett's analysis of the coup leaders' strategy 16:03 Reaction to the arrival of armored vehicles in Moscow 21:23 Protestors' response to the show of military force 28:45 The march towards the Russian Federation building 31:01 Day 2: Speeches and continued protests 35:07 Brett's journey back home through Yugoslavia 44:22 Brett's reflection on the changes since the uprising 46:00 Ian Sanders: Closing remarks and thanks to patrons 47:13 Ian Sanders: Postscript and store promotion Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ 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

Episoder(442)

Eyes at the Edge of the Iron Curtain - Life in a 1960s British Reconnaissance Regiment (434)

Eyes at the Edge of the Iron Curtain - Life in a 1960s British Reconnaissance Regiment (434)

This is the 2nd part of the story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s. I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum for highli...

13 Des 20251h 3min

What was Cold War British Army Conscription really like?  (433)

What was Cold War British Army Conscription really like? (433)

We hear the fascinating story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s. I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum for highlighti...

6 Des 202559min

The Berlin Airlift - Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade (432)

The Berlin Airlift - Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade (432)

The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War when the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Wes...

27 Nov 20251h 8min

Surrounded and outnumbered 8-1 : A forgotten story of the Korean War (431)

Surrounded and outnumbered 8-1 : A forgotten story of the Korean War (431)

This is the largely untold story of Task Force Faith, the U.S. Army soldiers who although outnumbered 8-1 by Chinese troops fought valiantly during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. ...

22 Nov 202559min

Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430)

Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430)

Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story. Among many stories we hear how he had the unique opportunity to meet one of China's mo...

15 Nov 202554min

An American Childhood in 1950s Revolutionary China (429)

An American Childhood in 1950s Revolutionary China (429)

Bill Hodes was a red diaper baby, a baby born to Communist parents. Bill shares stories about his parents, Bob and Jane Hodes, both convinced communists who were active in civil rights movements durin...

8 Nov 202557min

The German Democratic Republic The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State (428)

The German Democratic Republic The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State (428)

Ned Richardson- Little has written a new book titled The German Democratic Republic: The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State. It offers a differentiated picture of the communist state with a sophistica...

1 Nov 20251h 11min

Trust but Verify: When the Soviets Came to South Dakota (427)

Trust but Verify: When the Soviets Came to South Dakota (427)

I continue chatting with Dennis Greene about his incredible journey from a challenging childhood in segregated Savannah, Georgia to a distinguished military career. Dennis is made Senior Flight Comma...

24 Okt 20251h 3min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
alt-fortalt
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
synnve-og-vanessa
fladseth
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten