Cold War Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War on Netflix Podcast (337) Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War, is a nine-part documentary series from director Brian Knappenberger, that provides a comprehensive appraisal of the events that led to the Cold War and traces the conflict around the world and through the decades.

While the Cold War ended in 1991, even a casual appraisal of current headlines reveals that relations between the United States and Russia — the one-time centre of the Soviet Union — remain tense, to say the least. The global repercussions of the Cold War continue to ripple through the current geopolitical landscape to this day, but it can be difficult to understand just how a mid-20th century struggle for ideological dominance continues to ensnare countless nations in ongoing unrest.

To tell this story, the series draws on more than 100 interviews with subjects ranging from past and present world leaders (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas) to historians as well as everyday people whose lives were drastically altered by the events of the Cold War. As the history unfolds, each episode considers the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine as an example of how the history being examined is directly tied to the events of today. “Nearly every part of the war in Ukraine is an echo of the Cold War,” Knappenberger explains.

Watch the series here https://www.netflix.com/title/81614129

Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/qHuuLo-CSRo?si=ZaNGZyeP0nZe5Nwp

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00:00 The Chilling Call: A Cold War Nightmare

00:21 Welcome to Cold War Conversations

00:39 Inside 'Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War' Documentary

01:02 The Cold War's Legacy and Today's Nuclear Threats

03:15 The Making of a Cold War Documentary

05:09 Why the Cold War Story Matters Now

06:17 The New Cold War: A Hot and Unstable Conflict

10:24 The Munich Security Conference: A Turning Point

13:32 Crafting the Documentary: Challenges and Insights

15:06 Personal Connections and the Impact of Nuclear Weapons

19:32 The Importance of First-Person Cold War Accounts

19:59 Daniel Ellsberg: A Courageous Insider's Perspective

23:19 Uncovered Stories: The Challenges of Time Constraints

23:46 Exploring Untold Cold War Stories

24:37 The Intriguing Case of the AIDS Misinformation Campaign

28:14 The Ripple Effects of Cold War Decisions

28:45 Project Sapphire: Securing Nuclear Materials Post-Soviet Union

30:47 The Budapest Memorandum and Ukraine's Nuclear Dilemma

34:43 Post-Cold War Transitions and the Rise of Putin

41:18 Reflecting on the Series: Favorite Moments and Missed Opportunities

44:48 Dream Interviews: Cold War Figures Who Left a Mark

49:03 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments

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Sex, spies and scandal : the John Vassall affair (336) Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

Alex Grant’s new book Sex, Spies and Scandal The John Vassall Affair has everything: a honey trap, industrial-scale espionage, journalists jailed for not revealing their sources and the first modern tabloid witch-hunt, which resulted in a ministerial resignation and almost brought down Harold Macmillan’s government.

With access to newly released MI5 files and interviews with people who knew Vassall from the 1950s until he died in 1996, this book sheds new light on a neglected spy scandal. Despite having been drugged and sexually assaulted by the KGB in Moscow, as a gay man John Vassall was shown no mercy by the British press or the courts.

Sentenced to eighteen years in jail, he served ten years, despite telling MI5 everything. Once released, he found that many of his old friends and lovers had been persecuted or dismissed from the civil service in Britain, America and Australia.

Unlike the Cambridge Five, who courted attention, after leaving prison Vassall changed his name to avoid the media and lived quietly in London.

Buy the book and support the podcast here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781785907883

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode336/

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00:00 Introduction to Cold War Conversations and the John Vassal Affair

00:36 Unveiling the John Vassal Spy Scandal

05:49 The Life and Times of John Vassal

16:15 Vassal's Recruitment by Soviet Intelligence

37:08 Vassal's Espionage Activities in London

41:28 The Cold War Thaw and Social Dynamics in Moscow

42:24 Vassal's Entrapment and the Lax Security

43:56 The Discovery of a Spy Within the Admiralty

46:55 The Fallout of Vassal's Capture and Its Impact

48:33 The Dramatic Arrest of John Vassal

49:35 Vassal's Immediate Confession and Relief

53:05 The Aftermath: Legal Proceedings and Public Reaction

01:05:41 Vassal's Life Post-Imprisonment and Legacy

01:09:48 Revisiting the Impact of Vassal's Espionage

01:11:57 Uncovering New Insights from the National Archives

01:16:55 Reflecting on Vassal's Life and the Broader Historical Context

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V-Bombers: Britain's Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War (335) Mar 09, 2024

Show notes

V-Bombers: Britain's Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War is a new book by Dr Tony Redding that takes a deep dive into Britain's V-bomber force's operational nuclear war role.

Tony reveals the intense preparations and the stark realities faced by the aircrews, who lived in a perpetual state of wartime readiness despite being in a country at peace. The narrative intertwines technical analysis and personal accounts, offering a comprehensive view of the crews' complex systems and psychological burdens.

His meticulous research and vivid anecdotes from the veterans themselves paint a fascinating picture of the V force's potential impact in a nuclear war scenario.

It's a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the delicate Cold War balance of deterrence and the harrowing responsibilities entrusted to the men of the V bomber force.

Buy Tony’s book on this link and support the podcast at the same time! https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781911667872

Enter the book giveaway draw here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode335/

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

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00:00 Introduction

00:35 Dr. Tony Redding's Deep Dive into V Bombers

05:59 The V Force: Britain's Nuclear Deterrent in the Cold War

11:22 The Evolution of Nuclear Deterrence: From Bombers to Submarines

24:10 The V Force's Combat Readiness and Training Rigors

34:26 Surviving a Nuclear Strike: The V Force's Strategic Planning

38:57 Airborne vs. Ground Alert: The Strategic Dilemma

40:12 The Impracticality of V Bombers in Nuclear Strikes

40:56 The Struggle for Airborne Endurance and Refueling

41:25 Exploring Overseas Basing and Tanker Fleet Limitations

42:46 Soviet Fears

44:19 Security Measures and Vulnerabilities at RAF Bases

47:46 Humorous and Harrowing Tales from the Aircrew

52:13 The Mental and Emotional Toll on Aircrews

57:31 Vetting and Security Concerns within the V Force

01:00:48 Navigating Soviet Defenses: A Hypothetical Mission

01:05:13 The Unique Challenges and Strategies of V Bombers

01:10:11 Secret Agreements and the Route Over Sweden

01:11:45 The Grim Realities of a Nuclear Mission

01:18:52 Decoy Tactics and Morale Issues

01:21:29 Conclusion and Further Resources

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On the Streets of Cold War Estonia fighting for Independence (334) Mar 02, 2024

Show notes

Timo takes us on a journey through the tumultuous events of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt, as experienced from the streets of the Baltic States.

As the coup unfolds, Timo finds himself in Lithuania, planning to covertly visit the closed city of Kaliningrad. He shares the tension sharing a dining table with a Soviet officer, unknowingly on the eve of the coup.

As the coup escalates, Timo's narrative becomes a vivid street-level account of the Estonian people's defiance. He describes the formation of human walls against Soviet tanks, the strategic significance of the TV tower, and the Estonians' ingenious methods of maintaining communication despite Russian interference.

Timo's reflections on the morality of his curiosity, the fear of violence, and the spirit of resistance that pervaded Estonia during those critical hours are a testament to the resilience of a nation on the brink of reclaiming its freedom.

Timo’s book “Tanks & Roaches” is only currently available in Finnish, Estonian and Slovak and can be purchased on the links here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode334/

Timo can be contacted at timlaine@gmail.com

The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa 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.

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00:00 Introduction

01:38 Timo’s summer in Estonia during the Cold War

09:52 The 1991 Soviet Coup and its impact on Estonia

20:34 Tom joins a demonstration

29:47 The confrontation between Estonian and Russian troops near the occupied TV tower

40:36 Estonians switched off the TV signal to calm down the Russians

41:57 The bravery of the four Estonian men who were locked inside the tv tower during the Soviet invasion

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Borderlands and Battles: A Finnish Town's Cold War Story (333) Feb 24, 2024

Show notes

Timo takes us to the remote Finnish border town of Kuusamo. He paints a vivid picture of a childhood overshadowed by his grandparent’s memories of their home lost during World War II and their proximity to the Soviet Union.

As a child, he was fascinated by the invisible line that marked the end of the world— the heavily guarded border with the USSR. Timo recounts a tense encounter with border guards while visiting his grandparents, and his meeting with a Soviet escaper.

He travels to Moscow and Eastern Europe as a young man which further fuels his curiosity about life on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Timo recalls the austere streets of Prague to the bureaucratic maze in Budapest and a harrowing night at the Romanian border.

Timo’s book “Tanks & Roaches” is only currently available in Finnish, Estonian and Slovak but can be purchased via our episode extras page here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode333/

The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa 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/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

00:00 Intro

01:26 Timo's early life

04:41 Timo's grandparents' experiences of World War II

08:59 Incidents of people coming over the border

08:56 Estonian man's escape

28:32 Timo's trip to Moscow with his father in 1977

32:03 Finns remaining in areas handed over to the Soviet Union

39:34 Visits to Prague, Hungary and Romania

41:34 First Impressions of Prague

43:18 The challenges of Hungarian visitor registration

45:49 Trouble getting into Romania from Hungary

54:37 Polish smugglers on the train

59:04 Timo's fascination with Estonia.

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Australian Cold War Maritime Air Patrols (332) Feb 17, 2024

Show notes

Leigh joined the RAAF in 1978 to train as a pilot but was scrubbed after a few months and transitioned to training as an Air Electronics Officer (AEO) at the RAAF School of Air Navigation.

He flew on the P-3C Orion and was employed in operations across the Indo-Pacific region on maritime patrol surveillance operations in the region - which included both usual surface surveillance of the region and operations alongside the US against Soviet submarines transiting the area.

He also had the opportunity to track Soviet SSBNs in the NE Pacific operating with the US Navy.

He details many incidents during his career including an “archaeological” mission, accidentally causing a diplomatic incident, as well as monitoring the splash-down and recovery of re-entry vehicles used to test the heat tiles for the Soviet Buran space shuttle.

I’m delighted to welcome Leigh Collins to our Cold War Conversation.

Episode extras including book recommendations, videos and photos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode332/

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.

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Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

00:00 Intro

01:49 Early interest in aviation and the military

02:47 Aspirations in the RAAF

04:08 Failure as a pilot

06:43 Length of Orion missions

09:05 Soviet naval activity around Australia in the 1980s

16:52 RAF 617 Squadron held their annual reunion in Australia

20:42 Use of GPS on the Orion

24:23 Use of astral navigation using a Sextant

27:59 Viewing the cockpit of the Vulcan

31:10 Monitoring a Russian diesel submarine

33:13 Soviet trawlers during exercises

34:23 Exercise Silent Pearl

43:49 Soviet Buran Space shuttle test bed recoveries

52:52 Incident just out of Darwin where the crew ditched

56:50 Operation Gateway, Australia's long-standing anti-piracy operation

01:03:39 Threat of China during the cold war

01:07:53 September 1993 deployment as a submarine observer

01:12:23 Leigh worked with Sue Boyd from episode 151

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A traumatic childhood journey from Cold War Poland to the United States (331) Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

In this deeply personal episode, our guest, Norbert, vividly recounts his traumatic childhood journey from Cold War Poland to the United States.

With vivid recollections, he describes the struggles of his parents amid food shortages and the poignant decision of the family to leave everything behind for an uncertain future in the United States.

We also explore the cultural shock and the struggle to find identity in a new world, as Norbert navigates life as a Polish immigrant in 1980s America. From his first bewildering day at an American school to his father's relentless work ethic in pursuit of the American dream, we witness the sacrifices and choices that shape an immigrant's life.

Norbert's narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Cold War, where his family's German heritage in Poland subjected them to suspicion and prejudice. Our episode starts with his Grandfather’s story in World War 2.

Photos and video extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode331/

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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.

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Planning for a Hot War in the Cold War (330) Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

Dan served in the War Plans office of the US Army VII Corps working on counterattack plans and reorganization of the US Army’s General Defence Plan.

He describes the debriefing of a Polish Special Forces operator who had defected to the West and who revealed surprising knowledge of US plans and order of battle.

Dan also details his experiences on the Able Archer 83 exercise and his views about how dangerous that was.

In addition to his work in the War Plans office, we discuss terror attacks on the US Army in West Germany including the bombing of the LaBelle disco in West Berlin where 2 US soldiers and one Turkish woman were killed and 79 wounded.

The terrorist threat to US Forces was significant and this is highlighted by the attempted assassination of General Kroesen commander of United States Army Europe by the Red Army Faction aka The Baader-Meinhof Group. Dan describes his own experiences in the immediate aftermath of the attack., including the issuing of live ammunition to US Forces in the field.

Extra info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode330/

0:00 Introduction

1:32 Dan's Insights in the War Plans Office

10:29 The defector's shocking intel on US plans

18:13 Reflections on Able Archer 83

24:33 Terrorism and the attack on the La Belle disco

33:21 Red Army Faction attempted assassination of General Kroesen

42:20 The impact of these events on US forces

58:41 Dan's views on the sudden changes in Eastern Europe

1:13:38 Podcast extras, appreciation for financial supporters, and closing remarks

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The Picnic That Ripped Open The Iron Curtain (329) Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists did the unthinkable: they entered the forbidden militarised zone of the Iron Curtain - and held a picnic.

Word had spread of what was going to happen. On wisps of rumour, thousands of East German 'holiday-makers' had made their way to the border between Hungary and Austria, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents.

The stage was set for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: that day hundreds would cross from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union - the so-called end of history - all would flow from those dramatic hours.

Drawing on dozens of original interviews with those involved - activists and border guards, escapees and secret police, as well as the last Communist prime minister of Hungary Matthew Longo's book "The Picnic - An Escape to Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain" reconstructs this world-shaping event and its tumultuous aftermath.

Freedom had been won but parents had been abandoned and families divided. Love affairs faltered and new lives had to be built from scratch.

The Picnic is the story of a moment when the tide of history turned. It shows how freedom can be both a dream and disillusionment and how all we take for granted can vanish instantly...

Book giveaway info here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/

Buy the book and support the podcast here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781847927798

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/

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Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

0:00 Introduction to the episode by Ian Sanders

4:47 Discussion on the political situation in Hungary in the late 80s

13:11 Gorbachev's view on Hungary's reforms and changes

23:26 Reaction of Hungarian hardliners to Imre Nagy's reburial

29:41 The tense atmosphere at the Warsaw pact meeting in Bucharest

37:49 The origin of the idea for a European picnic at the border

48:02 The impact on the Berlin Wall

57:23 The fatal shooting of Werner Schultz

1:00:38 The rapid changes that followed the opening of the border

1:07:42 Victor Orban's reimagining of history

1:11:53 Conclusion and promotion of Matthew Longo's book, The Picnic

1:12:33 Acknowledgements and closing remarks

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US Army Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery Command in Cold War West Germany (228) Jan 20, 2024

Show notes

Dan served as a lieutenant and captain in a US Army air defence artillery battalion in West Germany from 1980 until 1985.

He describes details of Soviet overflights deep into West Germany and we discuss how the Warsaw Pact attempted to track their units.

Now who knew that the US Army experimented with geese for perimeter security?! Dan reveals details of this little-known specialist unit.

Dan worked with the improved Hawk anti-aircraft missile system. We talk about its capabilities, the challenges of working with 1980s electronics, its deployment and exercises. He describes a live firing exercise where an errant missile almost wiped out a group of VIPS.

Don’t miss part 2 in a couple of weeks where Dan describes his experiences in the war plans office of the general staff.

Do make sure you check out the episode extras at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode328/

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/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

0:00 Introduction and background of Dan

1:32 The Improved Hawk missile system and its capabilities

10:29 Deployment to field locations and the challenges faced

18:13 Encounters with Soviet aircraft and military liaison missions

24:33 The innovative use of intruder geese for security

33:21 Live firing exercises and the dangers involved

42:20 The deactivation of an air defence unit and its implications

58:41 Reflections on service

1:13:38 Podcast extras, appreciation for financial supporters, and closing remarks

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