Military

Cold War Tank Tales from the Land Down Under

Many of Tim’s family had served in WW1 and WW2 and from a young age, he was determined to follow their path. Overcoming huge competition for places he became a driver of the Leopard AS1 MBT at 1st Armoured Regiment of the Australian Army. Australia is largely ignored in most Cold War histories, however, we … Read more

Britain’s first Cold War Nuclear Attack Warning Station at Jodrell Bank

The Jodrell Bank observatory in Cheshire in the UK played a significant secret role during the Cold War. It was established in 1945 by Bernard Lovell, a radio astronomer at the university, to investigate cosmic rays after his work on radar in the Second World War. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome … Read more

Cold War Vienna

    Austria was occupied from 1945 to 1955 by the four victorious powers and like Germany was divided into four occupation zones.  The Soviet , American, British and French occupation zones , divided Austria into four zones. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts Like Berlin, Vienna was located deep in the … Read more

1983 – the year the Cold War almost turned hot

This week is the 40th anniversary of the Able Archer NATO Exercise where it is reckoned that the Soviet Union and NATO almost triggered a nuclear war. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts An investigation by the US President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, culminating in its highly secret 1990 report “The Soviet … Read more

Serving in a Cold War Danish Reconnaissance Squadron

Denmark joined NATO as a founding member in 1949. However, it originally laid down limitations to NATO membership, effectively excluding the country from full military integration. The conditions were threefold: no non-Danish bases, no nuclear warheads, and no Allied military activity on Danish territory. Bo Hermansen served in a conscript reconnaissance platoon of the Danish … Read more

Cold War US Army tank gunner serves with a Bundeswehr Panzer unit

Mark joined the US Army on January 6th, 1981, and went to Ft Knox KY for Basic and Armor training. He graduated in April 1981 and was selected as Instructor Tank commander and trained the next cycle of recruits till August 1981. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google Podcasts Mark was posted to West … Read more

Keeping the British Army on the road during the Cold War

Aged 16 Chris joined the British Army apprentice school in Arborfield, at Princess Marina College. He was trained as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers otherwise known as REME.   Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsBecome a Patron! We talk about life expectancy in war scenarios, experiences with crash … Read more

The lazy schoolboy who became a Cold War Vulcan pilot

Kevin was born in Wigan in North West England and joined the RAF as an apprentice in 1956 with only 3 O Levels. He came top of his course, but was posted into supplies at RAF St Mawgan.  However he quickly became in charge of their clothing stores and by a fortuitous route became a … Read more