The Keys to Armageddon: A Cold War Nuclear Missile Officer's Story (391)

The Keys to Armageddon: A Cold War Nuclear Missile Officer's Story (391)

Jim is a former Minuteman nuclear missile officer who served in the US Air Force. Throughout the episode, Jim shares first-hand accounts of life in the launch control centre. From evaluations to the strict checklist orientations, every aspect of his training was designed to ensure that he and his crew were prepared for the weighty responsibilities they bore. We also discuss false alarms, intense simulations and emergency procedures, enabling you to gain a profound understanding of the pressure and seriousness of the role. Jim also reflects on the gravity of turning the keys to launch missiles and the sobering reality of what that would mean for humanity. Don’t miss the link to the videos and photos in the episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode391 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 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 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 Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episoder(442)

The Night a Nuclear Missile Exploded: A Firsthand Account of Survival (411)

The Night a Nuclear Missile Exploded: A Firsthand Account of Survival (411)

In this gripping episode, we hear the harrowing account of Greg Devlin, a former US Air Force technician who barely survived a catastrophic explosion at a Titan II nuclear missile silo in 1980. He sh...

11 Jul 20251h 16min

The Cold War Origins of the War in Ukraine (410)

The Cold War Origins of the War in Ukraine (410)

The legacy of the Cold War in Europe continues to impact present day events, most notably in Ukraine. In this episode I speak with author Stephan Kieninger about his new book Securing Peace in Euro...

4 Jul 202555min

The End of  East Germany: A Communist Family’s Journey Through Change (409)

The End of East Germany: A Communist Family’s Journey Through Change (409)

This is the story of a Communist family in East Germany whose world was turned upside down by the implosion of the GDR. The story is told by Katja Hesse, whose father was a Vice Admiral in the Volk...

27 Jun 20251h 4min

The Spy in the KGB  Archive (408)

The Spy in the KGB Archive (408)

The story of how one man—a librarian for the KGB—became a traitor to the intelligence agency, stealing the most prized Soviet-era archives and smuggling them to the West. Historian and journalist Gor...

20 Jun 202557min

Memories of an East German Naval Officer's Family (407)

Memories of an East German Naval Officer's Family (407)

Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides...

13 Jun 20251h 13min

Gorbachev - The Man Who Ended An Empire (406)

Gorbachev - The Man Who Ended An Empire (406)

In the annals of history, few leaders have faced the monumental challenges that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered when he rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985. His ascent came at a time when the na...

6 Jun 20251h 8min

Policing the Berlin Wall with the Royal Military Police (405)

Policing the Berlin Wall with the Royal Military Police (405)

Simon Wood served in the British Army’s Royal Military Police in Berlin during the1980s. He describes the unique challenges he faced patrolling the Berlin Wall and policing British troops in the divid...

30 Mai 20251h 22min

"The aircraft exploded and the cockpit filled with fire" - Korean skies to the brutal Vietnam War (404)

"The aircraft exploded and the cockpit filled with fire" - Korean skies to the brutal Vietnam War (404)

Colonel Robert J. Graham, USAF (Ret.), was more than a fighter pilot—he was a leader, a warrior, and a witness to one of the most complex conflicts in modern history. From the chaotic early days of gu...

23 Mai 20251h 26min

Populært innen Samfunn

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