Cold War Conversations

Latest Episodes:

The Human Factor: Gorbachev, Reagan, and Thatcher, and the End of the Cold War (117) Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

The Cold War got colder in the early 1980s and the relationship between the two military superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union, each of whom had the capacity to annihilate the other, was tense. By the end of the decade, East-West relations had been utterly transformed, with most of the dividing lines -including the division of Europe- removed.

We are here with Archie Brown, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He is the author of numerous books including his latest work , The Human Factor, Gorbachev, Reagan, and Thatcher, and the End of the Cold War arguing the engagement between Gorbachev and Reagan was a crucial part of that process of change. More surprising was Margaret Thatcher's role.

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Back to today’s episode, we start by talking about Archie’s’ time as a British Council exchange scholar at Moscow State University for a year between 1967 and 1968. We welcome Archie Brown to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode117/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

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Thankyou very much for listening. It is really appreciated

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Boarding Soviet Ships with the Cold War Danish Navy (116) Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Lieutenant Commander Jørgen Brandsborg joined the Danish Navy in the 1980s. He met the Soviets up close and personal while serving in the North Atlantic where the Danish Navy acted as a coast guard when on patrol around the Faroe Islands, which meant boarding Soviet vessels for inspection.

He also tells of Danish Navy training, Denmark’s position within NATO, as well as their defence plans, should the Cold War have turned hot.

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Thanks to latest Patreons

Back to today’s episode, Jørgen tells of the close encounters with Volksmarine, The East German Navy including attempting rammings of Danish Naval vessels by the Soviet and East German Navy.

We welcome Jørgen to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode116/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook.

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Taking A Holiday in Cold War Albania (115) Mar 28, 2020

Show notes

In early 1989 attention being paid to Albania in England by the English media because the England football team had recently travelled to Tirana for a World Cup qualifying game.

Looking for somewhere unusual to holiday Mike Innes went on 10 day tour to Albania. Arriving by air he travelled by coach, staying in the hotels which catered to foreigners and favoured party members.

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It costs money and time to produce this podcast so I’m asking listeners to contribute $3 USD per month to help keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you helping preserve Cold War history.

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

Mike provides us with a view of a little known country which although outside the Warsaw Pact adhered to a strict version of Communism and whose Marxist-Leninist government ruled Albania from 1946 to 1992.

We welcome Mike to our Cold War conversation…

** Correction Albania was a founder member of the Warsaw Pact and left in 1968.

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode115/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

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Thankyou very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

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Life as a British Soldier in Cold War West Berlin (114) Mar 21, 2020

Show notes

Anthony enlisted in the British Army in 1987 and after 9 months he was posted to West Berlin.

He tells the story of life as a Private in Berlin from the drinking (and the fighting) to the urban warfare training in Ruhleben & Dough Boy City. We also hear of the reality of knowing that should the Cold War have turned hot his life expectancy would have been in hours.

It’s also a tale of tragedy and the forgotten casualties of the Cold War where injury and death could come even in peacetime. Two of Anthony’s fellow soldiers died during his two-year tour of Berlin and we’d like to dedicate this episode to remembering Lance-Corporal Ian Fleming and Lance-Corporal Mick Quayle. We thank them for their service.

If you are enjoying the podcast please leave a written review in Apple podcasts or share us on social media. By telling your friends you can really help the podcast grow.

If you can spare it I’m asking listeners to contribute $3 USD per month to help keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought-after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you helping preserve Cold War history.

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

Special thanks to all our Patreons

Back to today’s episode, we start with Anthony’s schooldays and end with his experiences in Berlin the night the Wall opened. I found this really entertaining story and I’m sure you will too.

We welcome Anthony to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode114/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook.

Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

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Railway Encounters in Cold War Eastern Europe (113) Mar 14, 2020

Show notes

Charlie Flowers was 18 in 1988. He travelled by train across a divided Eastern Europe that was starting to show signs of the changes that manifested themselves in 1989.

He shares stories of the interesting encounters he had along the way.

Now I’d like to thank some of our recent 5 star reviewers in Apple podcasts. Qwertykevboy, Fizzlepop202, simmovic, Dais28, Tim of Townsville and especially Marrdave who said “This is easily the best historical podcast out there…” I’m not sure I agree, but I’m very flattered.

If you are enjoying the show please leave a written reviews in Apple podcasts or share us on social media. By telling your friends you can really help the podcast grow.

Now for $3 USD per month (larger amounts are welcome too) you will get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast.

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

Thank you so much to our 89 generous supporters who help keep the podcast available for you all to listen to.

In today’s episode, I have a lively conversation with Charlie and don’t miss the show notes where we share many of his photos of Eastern Europe on the cusp of major changes in Europe’s political landscape.

We welcome Charlie to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here .https://coldwarconversations.com/episode113/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

Thankyou very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

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Nuclear War in Cold War Britain (112) Mar 07, 2020

Show notes

For almost five decades, the United Kingdom made plans for a nuclear attack that never came. To help their citizens, civil servants and armed forces prepared those in power a variety of booklets, posters, and how-to guides.

Taras Young is a researcher & writer who has produced a book Nuclear War in the UK detailing much of this Cold War ephemera such as the infamous Protect and Survive guide, as well as fascinating lesser-known materials prepared for the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation and the Royal Observer Corps.

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In today’s episode, we delve into Taras Young’s collection in an eye-opening look at the way Britain's authorities reacted to the Soviet nuclear threat...

We welcome Taras to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here . https://coldwarconversations.com/episode112/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

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

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Serving in the Cold War British Army Intelligence Corps during the 1960s & 70s (111) Feb 29, 2020

Show notes

Harry served as a soldier in the Intelligence Corps in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s.

His role was that of an Intelligence and Security Operator, focused on the identification of foreign and other malign activities which might undermine the effectiveness of the UK's military presence in the country. Accordingly, he had the experience of a range of security investigations and close liaison with the West German civil and military security authorities.

Now I’m sure you are enjoying your weekly dose of Cold War history, and you’d like to continue to do so.

So I’m asking if you wouldn’t mind supporting us by paying at least $3 USD a month – higher amounts are welcome too. It’s very straightforward and you can stop whenever you want. Plus monthly supporters get the sought after CWC coaster too!

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

You can also help the podcast by leaving written reviews in Apple podcasts as well as sharing us on social media.

Back to today’s episode, Harry and I talk in detail about his service using the new wireless microphones kindly paid for by our financial supporters.…

We welcome Harry to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in here your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode111/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group on the following link where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

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Bonus - Dr Strangelove Film Screening in a Nuclear Bunker (110) Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Today is a short bonus episode I recorded at the weekend while at a film showing of Dr Strangelove in a former UK Regional Seat of Government Bunker in Cheshire...

The Hack Green Bunker is my local Cold War museum and a kind financial supporter of the podcast too so if you are ever in the Cheshire area of the UK I highly recommend a visit.

If you are enjoying the podcast please leave a written review in Apple podcasts or share us on social media. By telling your friends you can really help the podcast grow.

In today’s episode, I interview Lucy Siebert the Museum Director and well as some of the audience for the film showing.

We welcome the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app.

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook.

Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

Hack Green Bunker web site https://hackgreen.co.uk/

Hack Green Bunker Facebook page where you can book future film showings https://www.facebook.com/HackGreenSecretNuclearBunker/

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Stasi Infiltration of the Cold War East German Church (109) Feb 22, 2020

Show notes

When the Berlin Wall came down, the files of the East German secret police, the much-dreaded Stasi, were opened and read. And among the shocking stories revealed was that of the Stasi's infiltration of the Church.

The Lutheran Church was the only semi-free space in East Germany, where those who rebelled against the regime could find a way of living at least a little out of the government's grip.

Do you know how much $3 USD is in Pounds? It’s 76 pence which equals about 20p per episode if you sign up as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast.

Higher amounts are welcome too. It’s very straightforward and you can stop whenever you want. Plus monthly supporters get the sought after CWC coaster too!

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

Recent supporters include David Banvery, Daisy Birkenhead, Steve Kerins, Tim Marks and Holly Meade.

If that’s not your cup of tea then leave a written reviews in Apple podcasts or share us on social media. By telling your friends you can really help the podcast grow.

Back to today’s episode, author of the book "God's Spies" Elisabeth Braw tells the real-life cloak-and-dagger story of how the Stasi infiltrated churches in East Germany.

We welcome Elizabeth to our Cold War conversation…

UK Fans can buy the book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/2t2EZxk

US Fans can buy the book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/38Ks2HH

There’s further information on this episode & the opportunity to win a free copy of the book (ends 23rd Feb 2020) in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode109/

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

Thankyou very much for listening.

Radio GDR

If you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.

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The Regimes Museum (108) Feb 15, 2020

Show notes

Our guest today is Marc Voss the Founder and Executive Director of The Regimes Museum which is the culmination of an effort to collect, preserve, and archive material and artifacts from some of the most notorious regimes of the 20th century. It is both a museum and an educational institution that offers resources to scholars and students while applying lessons of the past to the present.

Now I’m sure you are enjoying your weekly dose of Cold War history, and you’d like to continue to do so.

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

You can also help the podcast by leaving written reviews in Apple podcasts as well as sharing us on social media.

Back to today’s episode, Marc & I have a varied chat about the nature of regimes, East German recycling, Romanian tech, Stasi coercion techniques amongst many others.

We welcome Marc Voss to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode108

If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media.

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

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