In conversation with those that experienced the Cold War and those who are fascinated
Account donated by Giorgio Tassi (1)When I was 12 years old I was 12 years old in 1956 when the revolution in Hungary took place in September. The Hungarians wanted to be free from Soviet domination. At that time – no television yet – we would listen to the radio for the news. We … Read more00 – A western company doing business in East Germany
Todd Anton was arrested by the Stasi while on a day trip to East Berlin and gives a raw and powerful account of his arrest, interrogation and eventual release. If you’d like to support us then from the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us cover our increasing costs and … Read moreEpisode 64 – Arrested by the Stasi on an East Berlin day trip
In this episode we welcome back John Green to talk further about his covert journalism for East Germany. Before we start I’d like to ask you to by leaving a review in Itunes or with your favourite podcast provider. It really helps us get new guests on the show. If you’d like to assist … Read more58 – Red Reporter – Covert Correspondent for East Germany – Part 2
In this episode we hear the third and final part of Torsten Belger’s story as he tells us about his first visit to West Berlin, leaving the East German Army and life after the GDR. Before we start a quick thanks to Skjip1969, Peteyinmontreal & GDR Objectified for leaving reviews in Itunes. … Read more53- East German Army Officer at the Fall of the Wall
Today I speak to 98 year old Gail Halvorsen aka “The Candy Bomber” who flew in the Berlin Airlift in 1948. The Soviets had started a 11-month land blockade against West Berlin. The blockade was broken by a massive U.S.-British airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin. Gail tells an incredible story of an iconic … Read more56 – The Candy Bomber
In this episode we welcome author Paul Grant whose excellent Berlin trilogy is set in Berlin during World War 2 and the Cold War. Before we start I’d like to thank all our Patreons who are supporting the podcast with their monthly donations starting from a £1 or a dollar. Just head over to coldwarconversations.com … Read more46 – The Berlin Trilogy – Author Interview
In this episode we speak to John Green. John Green grew up in Coventry. After abandoning a zoology degree course after his second year at Bristol University, he switched to Drama. In 1964 he made the adventurous move to the German Democratic Republic to study film at the National Film School in Babelsberg, near … Read more47 – Red Reporter – Covert Correspondent for East Germany – Part 1
In this episode we welcome back Torsten Belger a former East German Army Officer. Torsten was part of the 40th Anniversary Parade of the GDR which unknown to him at the time would be its last. He tells of the training for the parade and his meeting with Yasser Arafat, the Head of … Read more45 – An East German Army Officer at the 40th anniversary parade of the GDR
Gillian Cox visited the GDR as a student in October 1989 just before the Wall came down. In this episode you will hear her eyewitness of account of what she saw in East Germany on the cusp of it’s destruction. Before we start the episode I wanted to thanks everyone who is supporting the podcast … Read more42 – Gillian – A US Student visiting the GDR