Cold War Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Assigned to a Cold War Government Nuclear Bunker (107) Feb 08, 2020

Show notes

Regional seats of government or RSGs were a UK solution to disperse the machinery of government into the provinces, where there would be a greater chance of survival after a nuclear attack.

Today we speak to Andrew who was assigned a role in an RSG and details his experiences on a week long training course at the Civil Defence college at Easingwold in Yorkshire during the 1980s. There’s some chilling details of the scenarios they had to prepare for…

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So back to today’s episode, Andrew starts with the surprising circumstances of his first notification of his RSG role.

We welcome Andrew 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/episode107

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The First Western Pilot to Fly the Cold War Soviet MIG 29 Fighter (106) Feb 01, 2020

Show notes

What was it like to be the first western pilot to fly the most advanced Soviet fighter aircraft? At the 1989 Abbotsford Air Show, during the dying days of the Cold War, Canadian CF-18 pilot Major Bob Wade became the first Western pilot to fly a Soviet MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft. This episode tells you how he did it.

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

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Back to today’s episode, Bob and I talk in detail on the circumstances of the flight as well as what it was actually like to fly an aircraft you’ve never flown before with instruments in a language you don’t understand and only 10 minutes of briefing…

We welcome Major Bob Wade 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/episode106/

Bob is RCAF Association Honorary President for the Province of Alberta. He is also on the Board of Directors at the Military Museums RCAF Museum Society of Alberta. Their web site is at: www.rcaf.museum and they have an excellent Cold War Exhibit currently featuring an F86 Sabre, CF104 Starfighter and CF 18 Hornet.

Bob is leading an effort to more than double the size of the display area to include NORAD assigned fighters including the CF100 Cannuck, CF101 Voodoo and a T-33 aircraft. They are in the fundraising phase at the moment and the web site has an option where interested viewers can contribute if they feel inclined. https://www.rcaf.museum/visit/coldwar-museum

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Children of the Cold War Bulgarian Silent Revolution (105) Jan 25, 2020

Show notes

What are your dreams at 18 and what happens in the next 20 years? Children of the Silent Revolution is a documentary film following a tight-knit group of classmates from Bulgaria who reveal their stories over a period of 20 years, spanning the transition from communism to democracy in their country.

It’s a powerful memoir and love letter to the filmmaker’s classmates, as well as a compelling historical document about Bulgaria’s recent history.

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

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Back to today’s episode, we speak with Viktoria Ershova who was born and raised in Kazanlak, Bulgaria until she went to the United States at age 18. Children of the Silent Revolution is her debut feature film.

We welcome Viktoria Ershova 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/episode105

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.

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The Cold War Berlin spy tunnel - Operation Gold (103) Jan 11, 2020

Show notes

Operation Gold (also known as Operation Stopwatch by the British) was a joint operation conducted by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the British MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in the 1950s to tap into landline communication of the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin using a tunnel into the Soviet-occupied zone.

Steve Vogel is a veteran journalist who reported for the Washington Post and the author of Betrayal in Berlin a new book that tells the story of one of the West’s greatest espionage operations of the Cold War.

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Back to today’s episode, Steve’s dogged research unearthed recently declassified documents in U.S., British and German archives, many of them secret for half a century. He interviewed dozens of key participants many of whom had never spoken before about their roles.

We welcome Steve Vogel 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/episode103/

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.

Radio GDR

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

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A British Communist Working in Cold War East Germany (104) Jan 11, 2020

Show notes

John Tarver was born into a middle-class family. He joined the British Communist Party on his 18th birthday in 1948 because he felt the Soviet Union had made the most effective resistance to fascism.

He worked as a party activist in Britain and made several trips to the GDR where he would get a job at Potsdam as head of the final year of studies in the English language.

His 18 years’ work as a Communist party organizer set him apart from other Britons in the GDR and he became an informer for the Stasi.

Now if this podcast was a magazine you wouldn’t mind paying a few quid or dollars a week so I’m asking you to support us for the bargain price of $3 a month. In the last few weeks John Newlove and Mike Hart have joined in helping to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus they’ve got the sought after CWC coaster too.

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

Special thanks to Ian Hawkins who allowed me to use these audio files from his excellent documentary “My DDR T-Shirt” which will feature in the show notes.

John Tarver talks openly about his personal, political and professional life in Britain and East Germany/GDR. He also talks about his commitment to Communism, the work he did as a Stasi agent, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the GDR and his return in recent years to the Catholic faith.

We welcome John Tarver to our Cold War conversation…

There’s the full version of the "My DDR T-Shirt" documentary, further information and links on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode104/

Radio GDR

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

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Working with high security clearance in the Cold War US Navy (102) Jan 04, 2020

Show notes

Jay Lieberman talks about his early childhood memories of the Cold War as well as his long career in the US Navy.

He tells a fascinating story of how he obtained high security clearance in the US Navy and served at a number of classified command facilities including the 2nd Pentagon and the Fleet Ocean Surveillance Information Facility, at Rota, Spain.

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

This conversation was recorded as part of the Imperial War Museum North, Voices of the Wall event commemorating 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Make sure you stay subscribed for future conversations.

Jay talks about his various postings, his security clearance and what it was like to have such a ringside view of the Cold War.

We welcome Jay Lieberman 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/episode102/

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.

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Interview with Ian Sanders the host and producer of Cold War Conversations (101) Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

And now for something completely different... today I’m chatting with listener Peter Ryan who will be turning the tables and questioning me about my Cold War story!

Now, listeners, I can see you are enjoying the podcast by the increasing listener numbers so if you’d like the podcast to continue all I’m asking for a few quid or dollars a month to help keep us on the air plus you become the envy of your friends with that sought after CWC coaster too.

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

If you can’t donate financially then you can also help us by leaving a written review on Apple podcasts or wherever you consume this podcast.

By the way, we’ve opened a Cold War Conversations merchandise store to help support us, just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/

This conversation was recorded at the Barbican Centre in London, so excuse some random noises in the background.

Peter asks me about how the podcast started, what motivates me alongside my recommended Cold War movies.

We welcome Peter Ryan 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/episode101/

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.

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Manuel - Experiences of the Reforger 82 NATO Exercise (100) Dec 28, 2019

Show notes

Manuel Alzaga returns to the podcast after his debut in episode 57 with his experiences as US Army 18-year-old assistant artillery gunner in West Germany. He tells of his first impressions of West Germany, details of the 1982 Reforger exercise (return of forces to Germany) Exercise, as well as the life expectancy of a front line soldier on the East German border, should the Cold War had turned hot.

Now if this podcast was a magazine you wouldn’t mind paying a few quid or dollars a week so I’m asking you to support us for the bargain price of $3 a month.

You join a select band who help cover the show’s increasing costs, keep us on the air and bask in the warm glow of being official supporters of the podcast – they also receive the sought after CWC coaster too.

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

So to today’s episode, Manuel's story starts as he steps off the plane at the Rhein-Main Air Base which was the primary airlift and passenger hub for United States forces in Europe.

We welcome Manuel Alzaga back to our Cold War Conversation...

Don't miss extra videos on our show notes page at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode100

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A Cold War Mystery - Death in Ice Valley (99) Dec 21, 2019

Show notes

There’s an area near Bergen, Norway known as Isdalen (“Ice Valley”), but also nicknamed "Death Valley", due to the area's history of suicides in the Middle Ages, and more recent hiking accidents. In November 1970 a man and his two young daughters noting an unusual burning smell and to their horror discovered the charred body of a woman, located among some scree.

Now if this podcast was a magazine you wouldn’t mind paying a few quid or dollars a week so I’m asking you to support us for the bargain price of $3 a month. In the last few weeks Pete Hobson, Richard Goyette, Hamish Macintyre, Alastair Bassett, David Roberts, James Marks and Richard Harvey have joined in helping to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus they’ve got the sought after CWC coaster too.

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

So back to today’s episode – We speak with Marit Higraff, an investigative reporter for the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, who has investigated this case and is the co-presenter of the Death in Ice Valley podcast.

Welcome Marit to our Cold War conversation

Well I hope that’s whetted your appetite to explore the Death in Ice Valley podcast.

There’s further information and links on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode99/

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.

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Red Elvis, Dean Reed Cold War cowboy and Eastern Bloc Music Star Episode 2 (98) Dec 14, 2019

Show notes

We return to Ramona Reed’s account of her father, Dean Reed who was an American actor, singer, songwriter, director, and Socialist who became a huge star in Latin America and the Eastern Bloc.

Now if you like the podcast you can help to support us for the price of a couple of coffees a month. You’ll be helping to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus you get the sought after CWC coaster too.

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

If that’s not your cup of tea, you can also help us by placing a written review on Itunes. This helps to raise our profile and get new guests on the show.

So back to today’s episode – Ramona continues the story with details of the latter years of her father’s life as well her theories about his death.

We welcome Ramona back to our Cold War conversation…

Episode 1 of this interview is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode97

If you like what you are hearing sign up to our email list at coldwarconversations.com.

We have further photos and information on this episode in our show notes which will show as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode98

Radio GDR

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

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