Cold War Conversations
- Folgen
- 485
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- wöchentlich
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- 14. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
"Listening to even one episode of "Cold War Conversations" will make this sprawling, potentially intimidating period of history feel vivid and compelling." The New York Times Experience the Cold War like never before with Cold War Conversations — an award-winning podcast. Each week, host Ian Sanders brings you raw, firsthand accounts from the people who lived through one of history’s most tense and transformative eras — soldiers, spies, civilians, and more. These aren’t stories from textbooks. They’re unfiltered voices from the frontlines of history — emotional, gripping, and deeply human. This is Cold War history, told from the inside out.
Folgen 485
Beyond the “Evil Empire”: Inside the Soviet Union in 1983 (482)
In the summer of 1983, an American student stepped behind the Iron Curtain—and found a Soviet Union nothing like the enemy portrayed at home. Loring Hinds recalls travelling to Moscow and Leningrad at the …
Shownotes
In the summer of 1983, an American student stepped behind the Iron Curtain—and found a Soviet Union nothing like the enemy portrayed at home.
Loring Hinds recalls travelling to Moscow and Leningrad at the height of Cold War tension, shortly after Ronald Reagan’s “evil empire” speech. Studying Russian at Leningrad State University, he encountered surveillance, empty shops, endless queues and the contradictions of a system that appeared controlled yet allowed students remarkable freedom.
He describes black-market encounters, an unexpected Soviet wedding, nights exploring the city, and conversations with people eager to understand life in the West. When a train breaks down outside Leningrad, Loring meets two Soviet tank soldiers returning from Afghanistan—and hears the grim truth concealed by propaganda.
This vivid eyewitness account reveals the warmth, pride and generosity of citizens living within a faltering system, and the journey that inspired Loring to become a US Army officer.
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode482
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in thewarm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode474
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Suez 1956: The Secret War That Broke British Power (481)
In 1956, Britain and France launched a secret war to bring down Egypt’s President Nasser. Instead, they exposed the limits of their own power. When Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, Britain and …
Shownotes
In 1956, Britain and France launched a secret war to bring down Egypt’s President Nasser. Instead, they exposed the limits of their own power.
When Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, Britain and France secretly joined Israel in a plan to invade Egypt, seize the canal and destroy Nasser’s influence. On the battlefield, the operation was succeeding. Politically, it became a catastrophe.
This episode tells the dramatic story of the Suez Crisis: the secret Protocol of Sèvres, Israel’s invasion of Sinai, British and French attacks on Egypt, brutal fighting around Port Said, and the extraordinary pressure from President Eisenhower that forced the invasion to stop.
It’s a story of Cold War rivalry, collapsing empires, deception, nationalism and civilians caught in the fighting — and the moment Britain discovered that military power no longer guaranteed political power.
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode481/
- Listen to our episode "Hungary 1956: Twelve Days That Shook the Soviet Empire" here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode479
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues, and with a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to keep it alive. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and 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 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/
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Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod
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London In Person Listener Meetup 12th Nov
Join me & fellow Cold War Conversations fans for our first London listener meetup in Islington on Thursday 12th November 2026. We’ll be meeting at The Bull Pub, 100 Upper Street, Islington, from 6-9 pm. It …
Shownotes
Join me & fellow Cold War Conversations fans for our first London listener meetup in Islington on Thursday 12th November 2026.
We’ll be meeting at The Bull Pub, 100 Upper Street, Islington, from 6-9 pm. It would be great to see you there.
Follow this link https://coldwarconversations.com/meetup/ for more info, or email me at ian "at" coldwarconversations.com
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Me and Honest John - The Nuclear Secret Rich Kept for 60 Years (480)
At twenty-one, Rich was trusted with a nuclear-capable rocket—but forbidden to tell even his family what he did. Then one failed to launch, and he was ordered to approach it alone. Drafted from Chicago into the …
Shownotes
At twenty-one, Rich was trusted with a nuclear-capable rocket—but forbidden to tell even his family what he did. Then one failed to launch, and he was ordered to approach it alone.
Drafted from Chicago into the US Army as the Vietnam War escalates, Rich is transformed from a civilian into a sergeant entrusted with a formidable Cold War weapon. He recalls training, gaining a secret clearance and discovering that the unguided Honest John rocket could carry a nuclear warhead more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Rich also describes watching an entire neighbouring unit vanish overnight for Vietnam, concealing his secret work from his family and returning home to hostility rather than gratitude. Nearly six decades later, he reveals the fear, responsibility, and memories he kept silent and explains why Cold War veterans' stories must be preserved.
Rich's veterans website https://veteranvisitor.com/
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://link.amazon/B06BUgIlm
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode480
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation.
You’ll join our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of helping preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hungary 1956: Twelve Days That Shook the Soviet Empire (479)
At 5:20 on the morning of 4 November 1956, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy went on the radio with a desperate announcement: Soviet forces were attacking Budapest. Within hours, tanks and artillery would …
Shownotes
At 5:20 on the morning of 4 November 1956, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy went on the radio with a desperate announcement: Soviet forces were attacking Budapest. Within hours, tanks and artillery would crush one of the most dramatic uprisings of the Cold War.
But how had a student demonstration just twelve days earlier grown into a national revolution that brought Hungary’s Stalinist regime to the brink of collapse?
In this episode, we follow the extraordinary story of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956: from political terror and secret police repression to the demonstrations of 23 October, street battles against Soviet tanks, workers’ councils, Imre Nagy’s remarkable return to power and Hungary’s attempt to break free from Moscow.
We also examine why the Kremlin briefly considered withdrawing its forces, why it changed its mind, and why the West watched as Soviet armour returned to Budapest.
For twelve extraordinary days, freedom suddenly seemed possible.
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode479
- Listen to our episode “A freedom fighter in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution” here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode159/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode474
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What did Jacqueline Kennedy privately believe about the JFK Assassination? (478)
What did Jacqueline Kennedy privately believe happened in Dallas on 22 November 1963? In the second part of Peter Lamas’s extraordinary story, he recalls the trust he developed with the former First Lady while …
Shownotes
What did Jacqueline Kennedy privately believe happened in Dallas on 22 November 1963?
In the second part of Peter Lamas’s extraordinary story, he recalls the trust he developed with the former First Lady while working as her personal hairstylist.
During preparations for an event marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Peter says Jackie spoke candidly about the shooting, her desperate movements across the presidential limousine and her fear that she might be killed next.
She also shared her doubts about the official account and her belief that Lee Harvey Oswald had not acted alone. Peter then recounts the controversial allegations he later heard from Marita Lorenz and others concerning the CIA, anti-Castro Cubans, organised crime and figures connected to Dallas.
These claims remain disputed, but together they offer a remarkable insight into the suspicions, trauma and unanswered questions that continued to surround Kennedy’s assassination decades later.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4xKDoGE
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode478
Listen to our episode “The JFK Assassination: The human stories behind one of history’s most scrutinised events” here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode454/Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in thewarm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode474
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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My Cuban Encounters with Hemingway, Batista, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro (477)
What happens when a Cuban teenager who has lost his homeland finds himself sitting across the lunch table from Fidel Castro? Peter Lamas recalls an extraordinary childhood in pre-revolutionary Havana and a life …
Shownotes
What happens when a Cuban teenager who has lost his homeland finds himself sitting across the lunch table from Fidel Castro?
Peter Lamas recalls an extraordinary childhood in pre-revolutionary Havana and a life touched by history. He describes meeting Ernest Hemingway, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.
Political upheaval forced his family to flee Cuba, leaving everything behind. Beginning again in New York with little money and no English, Peter found kindness in unexpected places—before a remarkable invitation brought him face-to-face with Castro, the man he blamed for uprooting his family, in an unforgettable and deeply painful encounter.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4xKDoGE
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode477
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in thewarm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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From Mao's Red Guard to conscription into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (476)
At twelve years old, Bing became a Red Guard—and for a few intoxicating months, he felt invincible. Growing up in Mao’s Beijing, Bing was taught to worship Chairman Mao, recite the Little Red Book and attack …
Shownotes
At twelve years old, Bing became a Red Guard—and for a few intoxicating months, he felt invincible.
Growing up in Mao’s Beijing, Bing was taught to worship Chairman Mao, recite the Little Red Book and attack the old order. But the Cultural Revolution soon turned against his own family.
His parents were condemned & sent to labour in the countryside, his grandmother was driven from Beijing, and Bing was left to care for his nine-year-old sister after she suffered a devastating injury during a Red Guard raid.
Later conscripted into the People’s Liberation Army, Bing endured brutal conditions in Manchuria while preparing for a possible Soviet invasion just twenty miles from the border.
His extraordinary journey would eventually take him from an oilfield and a reopened Chinese university to America—where he fulfilled his grandmother’s dying wish by reuniting a family divided by the Chinese Civil War decades earlier.
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode476
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
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The Birth of Poland's Free Trade Union Solidarity (475)
One morning in August 1980, the noise of 10,000 shipyard workers suddenly stopped. Something extraordinary was happening. As a young shipbuilding student, Bogdan finds himself inside Gdańsk’s Lenin Shipyard as …
Shownotes
One morning in August 1980, the noise of 10,000 shipyard workers suddenly stopped. Something extraordinary was happening.
As a young shipbuilding student, Bogdan finds himself inside Gdańsk’s Lenin Shipyard as workers down tools and the movement that will become Solidarity begins to take shape. What follows is a remarkable journey through the final decade of communist Poland.
Bogdan recalls student occupation strikes, the shock of martial law, encounters with riot police, and his unconventional escape from military conscription by becoming a teacher. He describes his first intoxicating glimpse of the West in Vienna and West Berlin, where two worlds exist just metres apart across the Berlin Wall.
Then, in the summer of 1989, Bogdan and his wife board a flight for Canada with borrowed money, a few possessions and no certainty about what comes next.
This is a deeply personal story of resistance, freedom and starting again.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4y3dlLC
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode475
Bogdan's website & other book purchase options https://www.bogdanmarzewski.com/book
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
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Growing Up Under Communism on Cold War Poland’s Baltic Coast (474)
Bogdan was born just a month before the Berlin Wall went up—and left communist Poland a month before it came down. In between lay a childhood shaped by shortages, censorship, compulsory conformity and a growing …
Shownotes
Bogdan was born just a month before the Berlin Wall went up—and left communist Poland a month before it came down. In between lay a childhood shaped by shortages, censorship, compulsory conformity and a growing determination to escape.
Raised in Słupsk, a formerly German city near the Baltic coast, Bogdan remembers crowded post-war housing, Saturday school, packed Catholic churches and a world where bananas, meat and even bicycles depended on contacts and barter. His family carried deeper scars: wartime forced labour, a father shot while fleeing captivity, and an uncle whose unexpected return from Britain reunited relatives separated for decades.
Yet everyday life also brought football, music lessons, Western films and quiet mockery of a system few truly believed. Convinced that shipbuilding offered a route abroad, Bogdan entered university—and found himself at the Gdańsk shipyard in August 1980, just as Lech Wałęsa and Solidarity changed Poland forever before his eyes.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4y3dlLC
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode474
Bogdan's website & other book purchase options https://www.bogdanmarzewski.com/book
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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If the Soviets Invaded : Sweden's Secret Underground Resistance Plan (473)
For decades, ordinary Swedes secretly prepared for the day Soviet forces might occupy their country. Farmers, factory workers, gamekeepers and travelling salesmen were recruited into a clandestine resistance …
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For decades, ordinary Swedes secretly prepared for the day Soviet forces might occupy their country. Farmers, factory workers, gamekeepers and travelling salesmen were recruited into a clandestine resistance network, trained to operate radios, use dead drops, scout escape routes and, if necessary, sabotage an invading army.
Historian Johan Wennström joins me to reveal the extraordinary story behind Sweden’s Stay Behind organisation. He explains why officially neutral Sweden quietly collaborated with MI6, the CIA and NATO, how the organisation preserved its secrecy, and why the royal family and government might have fled to Britain. We hear of mysterious Sunday walks, ammunition delivered to railway stations, aerial “elk surveys” concealing reconnaissance missions and the cyanide capsules for use if an operative was captured.
It is a gripping account of patriotism, secrecy and sacrifice—and of hundreds of volunteers who carried the burden of a war that, thankfully, never came to Sweden.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4gJADz2
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode473/
Swedish Fighter pilot episode https://coldwarconversations.com/episode386/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
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o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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Bandit Country - The IRA and South Armagh (472)
During the Cold War, British soldiers fought a Provisional IRA insurgency in Northern Ireland. Probably the toughest location was South Armagh, where they had to travel by helicopter, while watchtowers scanned …
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During the Cold War, British soldiers fought a Provisional IRA insurgency in Northern Ireland. Probably the toughest location was South Armagh, where they had to travel by helicopter, while watchtowers scanned the fields, and an IRA sniper could strike without warning.
In this episode, journalist and Royal Navy officer Toby Harnden takes us inside his book “Bandit Country”, which describes the borderland of South Armagh where the Provisional IRA fought one of its most formidable campaigns.
Harnden recalls arriving during the uneasy peace of 1996, meeting IRA members and security personnel, and learning how family ties, local knowledge and the Irish border made the South Armagh Brigade unusually effective.
We explore its sniper teams, homemade mortars, intelligence networks, the massive London & Manchester attacks, Libyan weapons and attempts to bring down British helicopters. Harnden also examines the Kingsmill massacre, the devastating 1979 Warrenpoint ambush, alleged Garda collusion, and the British Army’s deployment of the SAS.
Finally, he reveals the brigade’s scepticism towards the Good Friday Agreement—and asks whether the old republican flame still burns beneath South Armagh’s landscape today.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/45GF60h
Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode472/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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A Czech Border Guard’s Daring Escape to the West (471)
What happens when the man guarding the Iron Curtain decides to escape through it himself? In 1975, Jiří Barteček was a Czechoslovak border guard, trained to track fugitives with a German shepherd and ordered to …
Shownotes
What happens when the man guarding the Iron Curtain decides to escape through it himself?
In 1975, Jiří Barteček was a Czechoslovak border guard, trained to track fugitives with a German shepherd and ordered to stop anyone attempting to reach Austria. Yet Jiří had no intention of defending the communist system. Haunted by the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 and determined never to shoot an innocent person, he secretly studied the border’s weaknesses and planned an audacious escape.
One night, accompanied by two friends and carrying his AK-47, he disabled the alarm, slipped beneath the wire and plunged into a river crossing. His ordeal did not end in the West. After days hiding around Vienna, Jiří entered an Austrian refugee camp—where an unknown gunman twice tried to kill him.
This is a story of courage, chance and survival, told by the border guard who turned the Iron Curtain against itself.
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode471
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
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o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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Twenty-Six Years Apart: A Family Reunited Behind the Iron Curtain (470)
For twenty-six years, war, exile and the Iron Curtain kept one Polish family apart. Torn from his homeland and sent into Stalin’s labour camp system, Aleksander Jablonski survived hunger, forced labour and a …
Shownotes
For twenty-six years, war, exile and the Iron Curtain kept one Polish family apart. Torn from his homeland and sent into Stalin’s labour camp system, Aleksander Jablonski survived hunger, forced labour and a wartime journey through Russia, Iran and Italy before fighting at Monte Cassino.
When the war ended, returning to communist Poland was impossible. He built a new life in Britain, but the family he had left behind remained painfully out of reach. Then, after more than a quarter of a century, came the chance to cross back behind the Iron Curtain.
In this moving episode, his daughters tell a story of separation, survival and a reunion in communist Poland. It is also the story of a Polish community in Britain, the children who inherited its memories, and the enduring pull of a homeland that distance, politics and time could never entirely erase.
Additional thanks to Stefan Hales-Józefczyk and the Leek Polish Connection for welcoming me into their group and allowing me to record this story.
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode470
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/
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Announcing Cold War Conversations History Tours
I’m delighted to tell you about Cold War Conversations History Tours I'm exploring the idea of hosting a Cold War history tour via a specialist tour company, and I'd like your help working out what it should …
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I’m delighted to tell you about Cold War Conversations History Tours
I'm exploring the idea of hosting a Cold War history tour via a specialist tour company, and I'd like your help working out what it should be.
There are several directions it could take, and your answers will shape the plan. There’s a short survey which should take about 5 minutes.
Here's the link https://survey.chasehistorytours.com/coldwar
As a thank you, those who complete the survey will be eligible for a discount if a tour is announced (please provide your email at the end).
Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast.
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Between Two Air Forces: From East German Officer to German Captain (469)
After German reunification, former East German Air Force officer Roland faced an extraordinary transformation: joining the military alliance he had once been trained to fight. Roland recounts his difficult …
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After German reunification, former East German Air Force officer Roland faced an extraordinary transformation: joining the military alliance he had once been trained to fight.
Roland recounts his difficult passage from the East German military into the Bundeswehr. His experience, qualifications and years of service suddenly counted for less.
Having been a member of the Communist Party, he endured intensive screening, as well as a reduction in rank, lower pay than western colleagues and long separations from his family. Some new comrades welcomed him; others regarded him with suspicion, prejudice and open hostility.
Yet Roland was determined to prove that professionalism could survive the collapse of the country he had served. From working with Mi-8 helicopters to supporting Germany’s inherited MiG-29 fleet, he rebuilt his career inside a radically different military culture.
This is a revealing story of reunification from inside the armed forces—and of one former “enemy” confronting divided loyalties, institutional mistrust and the challenge of beginning again.
Special thanks to Witali Gerber, military historian and curator at the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, for his assistance in arranging this interview.
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode469/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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MiGs, Helicopters and Ideology: Life as an East German Air Force Officer (468)
What did it mean to train as an officer in the East German Air Force, where technical skill, military discipline and socialist ideology were inseparable? Roland recalls his journey into the air arm of the …
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What did it mean to train as an officer in the East German Air Force, where technical skill, military discipline and socialist ideology were inseparable?
Roland recalls his journey into the air arm of the Nationale Volksarmee, from dreams of flying MiG fighters to the demanding realities of officer training and service with Mi-8 helicopters. He describes the long days, intensive political instruction and constant expectation that war with NATO could erupt at any moment.
Behind the impressive aircraft and tightly controlled military routines lay a system shaped by loyalty, surveillance and pressure to conform. Yet everyday life also depended on friendship, professionalism and the determination to keep complex Soviet-built machines flying.
Roland offers a rare first-hand view inside one of the Warsaw Pact’s most secretive forces, revealing how young East Germans were prepared to defend the GDR—and what happened when Gorbachev’s reforms and growing unrest began to challenge everything they had been taught.
You’ll have to tune in next week for Roland’s experiences as East Germany implodes and his subsequent service in the Bundeswehr. Special thanks to Witali Gerber, military historian and curator at the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, for his assistance in arranging this interview.
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode468/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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Growing Up Grey: Childhood in Cold War Romania (467)
Romania in the 1980s was a country of empty shops, power cuts, rationing and fear—but for one little girl it was also home. In this episode, author Oana Aristide shares the remarkable childhood experiences that …
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Romania in the 1980s was a country of empty shops, power cuts, rationing and fear—but for one little girl it was also home. In this episode, author Oana Aristide shares the remarkable childhood experiences that inspired her novel Astronaut.
From writing an anti-Ceaușescu protest demanding more cartoons to surviving freezing winters, queuing for food and learning not to trust the wrong people, her memories bring Cold War Romania vividly to life.
Oana explains how children experienced dictatorship differently from adults, revealing a world where imagination flourished despite repression. Rich with humour, warmth and poignant reflection, this conversation offers a unique perspective on life behind the Iron Curtain.
Enter the book giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode466/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips 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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Defection, Spies and the Shadow of Georgi Markov (466)
In 1986, Oggy Boytchev made a split-second decision that would change his life forever. Sent to Egypt by a Bulgarian shipping company, he seized an unexpected opportunity to escape communist Bulgaria, boarding …
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In 1986, Oggy Boytchev made a split-second decision that would change his life forever. Sent to Egypt by a Bulgarian shipping company, he seized an unexpected opportunity to escape communist Bulgaria, boarding a flight to London and claiming political asylum at Heathrow.
In this 2nd episode with Oggy, he recounts details of his extraordinary escape to becoming a broadcaster with the BBC World Service. He describes the emotional impact of leaving his family behind, the pride his father felt hearing his son’s voice broadcasting back into Bulgaria, and the dramatic events that followed the collapse of communism.
Episode one is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode465/
Oggy also takes us inside the Bulgarian section of the BBC, where the memory of murdered dissident Georgi Markov still lingered. He reveals stories of another mysterious death linked to the section, recalls interviewing KGB defector Oleg Gordievsky about Markov’s assassination, and reflects on later encounters with spies, intelligence chiefs and world leaders during a distinguished BBC career alongside John Simpson.
Oggy’s latest novel, 'The Istanbul Connection ', is a gripping, morally complex thriller that explores the blurred lines between ideology and manipulation
Enter the book giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/
- Check outOggy's books here https://amzn.to/4wyGHjT
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode466/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips 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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My Father - The Enemy of the People: A Bulgarian Family’s Cold War Story (465)
Oggy Boytchev is a former BBC journalist with more than three decades of experience reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. Born in 1955, Oggy grew up …
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Oggy Boytchev is a former BBC journalist with more than three decades of experience reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union.
Born in 1955, Oggy grew up under the shadow of a family secret. His father had been branded an “enemy of the people” and interned without trial in a remote Bulgarian town, where he spent years under police supervision and forced labour. Even after his release, the family lived under the constant fear of surveillance, informers and political persecution.
From secretly listening to the BBC World Service through crackling radio signals to navigating a school system steeped in communist ideology, he shares what it was really like to come of age in one of the Soviet bloc’s most tightly controlled societies. Along the way, he reveals the lasting psychological impact of growing up unable to speak freely, the privileges and pitfalls of studying among the children of communist elites, and the shockwaves caused by the 1978 murder of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in London.
This is a remarkable story of resilience, caution and quiet resistance—offering a deeply personal perspective on everyday life in Cold War Bulgaria
Oggy’s latest novel, 'The Istanbul Connection ', is a gripping, morally complex thriller that explores the blurred lines between ideology and manipulation
Enter the book giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/
- Check outOggy's books here https://amzn.to/4wyGHjT
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode465/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, receive 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.
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Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
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Face to Face with the Srebrenica War Criminals (464)
Richard Lyntton’s life has taken him from Cold War Moscow to the deserts of the Gulf War and the shattered streets of Sarajevo. In this powerful episode, he recalls studying in the Soviet Union during the …
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Richard Lyntton’s life has taken him from Cold War Moscow to the deserts of the Gulf War and the shattered streets of Sarajevo.
In this powerful episode, he recalls studying in the Soviet Union during the hopeful Gorbachev years, travelling across Russia by train, and later serving as a tank commander during the First Gulf War.
At the heart of this conversation is Bosnia, where Richard witnessed the siege of Sarajevo, came face to face with Bosnian Serb war criminal Radovan Karadžić, and narrowly escaped trouble after secretly filming General Ratko Mladić.
Richard also describes documenting the aftermath of ethnic cleansing, filming evidence of war crimes, and later testifying at The Hague.
He shares his extraordinary journey from North London schoolboy and Russian-language student to British Army officer, UN observer, filmmaker, actor and thriller writer. His new book, Crown Deception, is out now.
It is a story of danger, moral complexity and survival — but also of humanity, resilience and the strange absurdities of war.
- Check out Richard's books here https://amzn.to/4vh5fgx
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode464/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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Inside a Cold War USAF Fighter Squadron (463)
Step behind the wire of one of NATO’s most elite tactical fighter squadrons—the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron—during the tense final years of the Cold War and into Operation Desert Storm. Former US Air Force …
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Step behind the wire of one of NATO’s most elite tactical fighter squadrons—the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron—during the tense final years of the Cold War and into Operation Desert Storm.
Former US Air Force officer Michael Makatura’s new book, The Fightin’ Tenth, takes you inside the hardened aircraft shelters of Hahn Air Base and witness life on the front lines of the Cold War. From the heart of West Germany to the skies above Iraq, this gripping episode captures what it means to stand ready for war at a moment’s notice, fly the iconic F-16 Viper, and live among warriors with a shared sense of purpose and brotherhood.
Makatura’s story is filled with grit, fighter-pilot mockery, and raw honesty. Whether it’s enduring the mental gauntlet of Officer Training School, landing in Europe as a wide-eyed second lieutenant, or watching seasoned pilots prep for combat in the Middle East, The Fightin’ Tenth brings to life the unique culture, mission, and mindset of an American fighter squadron in an unforgettable era.
- Buy the book and support the podcast https://amzn.to/4wnzzab
- Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode463
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
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The Cambridge Five - new files reveal untold stories (462)
Antonia Senior’s new book, "Stalin’s Apostles", challenges what you may have believed about the Cambridge Five, a group of British citizens who spied for the Soviet Union. Antonia argues that their actions …
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Antonia Senior’s new book, "Stalin’s Apostles", challenges what you may have believed about the Cambridge Five, a group of British citizens who spied for the Soviet Union.
Antonia argues that their actions during the Cold War have long been romanticised in popular culture., however, the reality is far more complex and tragic.
Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross, were not merely glamorous rogues; their espionage activities had dire consequences for countless individuals in Eastern and Central Europe.
Antonia challenges the traditional narrative that often portrays them as victims of circumstance, highlighting instead the profound impact their betrayals had on nations and individuals who suffered under Stalinist regimes.
Drawing on recently released MI5 documents and various international archives, the episode sheds light on the meticulous research that uncovers the broader implications of the Cambridge Five's actions.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4uTaRxi
Linked Episodes.
- To Catch a Spy – How the Spycatcher Affair Brought MI5 in from the Cold https://coldwarconversations.com/episode361/
- CIA and MI6 Covert Action in Communist Albania at the Dawn of the Cold War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode459/
- Burgess and the Cambridge Five Spy Ring https://coldwarconversations.com/episode148/
- Charlotte Philby talks about her grandfather Soviet spy Kim Philby & her book “Edith & Kim” https://coldwarconversations.com/episode228/
- The Cambridge Five Spy Ring: Philby, Burgess, Maclean, Blunt & Cairncross https://coldwarconversations.com/episode423/
- An evening with Kim Philby https://coldwarconversations.com/episode186/
Curated video extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode462
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
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Malta & West Germany - Memories of an RAF Childhood Abroad (461)
Mark Thompson shares his captivating journey as the child of Royal Air Force personnel during the Cold War. From the moment his parents met in Singapore to their adventures across various military bases, Mark's …
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Mark Thompson shares his captivating journey as the child of Royal Air Force personnel during the Cold War. From the moment his parents met in Singapore to their adventures across various military bases, Mark's stories are filled with nostalgia and insight.
Mark's father, a skilled electrician, joined the Royal Air Force and was posted to different locations, including Malta and Germany. His childhood memories revolve around the vibrant life he experienced on these bases, from playing with friends to witnessing Vulcan bombers flying overhead. He recalls the joy of living in Malta, where he played on building sites and enjoyed family outings to Kalafrana, a recreational area for military personnel.
The conversation takes us to Germany, where Mark shares more about his life at RAF Laarbrück and Bruggen. With his father's work on flight simulators. The camaraderie among RAF families created a unique childhood experience, filled with adventures and the occasional mischief.
Mark’s reflections on his upbringing reveal a deep appreciation for the opportunities he had, despite the challenges of moving frequently and saying goodbye to friends. He candidly shares his thoughts on how military life has shaped his identity.
Curated video extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode461
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
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Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches (460)
The Cold War was a huge battle for hearts and minds — a true “people’s war.” But where did the “people’s game” fit into it? In their new book, Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches, Tony Shaw and Alan …
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The Cold War was a huge battle for hearts and minds — a true “people’s war.” But where did the “people’s game” fit into it?
In their new book, Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches, Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall explore the surprising and fascinating links between football and the global struggle between capitalism and communism. From East Germany’s famous victory over West Germany at the 1974 World Cup to North Korea’s remarkable run in 1966, they show how football became much more than a game.
Tony and Alan reveal how football was used to support democracies, strengthen dictatorships, and win influence in the developing world. These matches gave people a rare glimpse of life on the “other side” of the Iron Curtain — sometimes bringing enemies closer together, and sometimes helping to spark unrest and revolution.
Packed with legendary players, unforgettable goals, and controversies both on and off the pitch, this is a wonderfully rich history of how the Cold War shaped football — and how football, in turn, shaped the Cold War.
Buy the book & support the podcast https://amzn.to/4xu9G9R
Enter the book giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode460
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips 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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CIA and MI6 Covert Action in Communist Albania at the Dawn of the Cold War (459)
In June 1949, the US and British governments secretly agreed to mount a joint covert action operation to overthrow the communist government in Albania. The top-secret plan would use exiled dissidents to conduct …
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In June 1949, the US and British governments secretly agreed to mount a joint covert action operation to overthrow the communist government in Albania. The top-secret plan would use exiled dissidents to conduct subversive intelligence, paramilitary and propaganda operations to foment an uprising against Albania's authoritarian ruler Enver Hoxha.
I speak with Stephen Long, the author of A Rich Harvest of Bitter Fruit: CIA and MI6 Covert Action in Communist Albania at the Dawn of the Cold War. He describes how the Albanian operation is a vital but misunderstood part of Cold War history and the West’s first secret attempt to subvert a communist state behind the Iron Curtain.
While the West ultimately backed away from trying to bring down Hoxha's regime, Albania was the test case of anti-communist covert action where the West served its apprenticeship before rolling out this capability on a global scale.
It’s a tale of subterfuge, secrecy, and skulduggery that is a fascinating examination of one of the most important and least examined major flashpoints of the Cold War.
Buy the book and support the podcast https://amzn.to/43cBbXJ
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode459/
Enter the book Giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
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On the edge of war: A V-Force pilot during the Cuban Missile Crisis (458)
I had the honour of speaking with Tony Dobbie, a former RAF V- Force bomber pilot who joined the RAF in 1960. Tony shares amazing anecdotes from his training, including his experiences flying jets like the …
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I had the honour of speaking with Tony Dobbie, a former RAF V- Force bomber pilot who joined the RAF in 1960.
Tony shares amazing anecdotes from his training, including his experiences flying jets like the Meteor and the Vampire, and the transition to the mighty Victor bomber. He candidly discusses the realities of nuclear missions during the Cold War, revealing the tension and responsibility that came with such roles.
One of the most gripping parts of our conversation revolves around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tony was on QRA on Black Saturday when US forces went to DEFCON Two, one step shy of war and US and British forces prepared for imminent conflict with the Soviet Union .
Tony also recounts a posting to the Bomber Command Operations Centre near High Wycombe in 1965 where a false alarm almost sent the V-Bomber force off to bomb the Soviet Union.
Special thanks to Matthew Dobbie (Tony’s son) for organising the interview and the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, who allowed the episode to be recorded in their BBC Studio.
Episode extras http://www.coldwarconversations.com/episode458
- Tony’s book – Suki, Me & World War 3
- Matthew’s YouTube Channel Air Force Anecdotes
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.
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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
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Conscripted to a West German Nuclear Missile Unit (457)
Kris is a former conscript in the West German Bundeswehr during the Cold War. He shares his experiences from the moment he received his conscription notice at 17, ultimately joining the Luftwaffe, where he …
Shownotes
Kris is a former conscript in the West German Bundeswehr during the Cold War. He shares his experiences from the moment he received his conscription notice at 17, ultimately joining the Luftwaffe, where he served with the Pershing nuclear missile system.
Basic training was a rite of passage filled with challenges. Kris recounts the camaraderie formed with fellow recruits and the harsh realities of military life. Still, it was during this time that he learned valuable lessons about discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
As the conversation unfolds, we explore the operational aspects of the Bundeswehr, including the use by West German troops of nuclear weapons.
Reflecting on his service, he offers a candid assessment of his time in the military. While there were moments of frustration and a sense of wasted time, he ultimately recognises the profound impact that this experience had on his life. The skills he learned and the friendships he forged would shape his future in ways he never anticipated.
Linked episodes
- Defending the Cold War Pershing 2 nuclear missile https://coldwarconversations.com/episode77/
- A 23 year old nuclear missile commander https://coldwarconversations.com/episode122/
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode457
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
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Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Cold War Disinformation Front Line (456)
I delve into the fascinating world of Cold War propaganda with historian Rory Cormac, author of a new book “Fakers - 'A Top Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line'. The episode …
Shownotes
I delve into the fascinating world of Cold War propaganda with historian Rory Cormac, author of a new book “Fakers - 'A Top Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line'. The episode uncovers the clandestine operations carried out by the Information Research Department (IRD), a little-known unit of the British Foreign Office that specialised in covert propaganda during the Cold War.
Rory shares insights into the recent declassification of 8,000 files, which revealed the astonishing operational details of the IRD. From bizarre forgeries to the creation of phantom organisations, the episode highlights the absurdity and complexity of Cold War espionage. As Rory explains, the IRD was not just about planting stories in the press; they were deeply involved in black operations, often working closely with MI6 to achieve their goals.
One of the most striking examples discussed is the IRD's attempts to undermine Egyptian leader Nasser during the Yemen Civil War. Rory illustrates how the British government crafted fake documents and propaganda to expose Nasser's use of chemical weapons, all while navigating the murky waters of international relations and credibility.
The episode also explores the colourful characters that populated the IRD, including journalists, refugees, and writers who brought their unique backgrounds to the table. Rory's anecdotes about their lives and the social dynamics within the department add a rich layer of narrative to the historical context.
As the discussion unfolds, Rory draws parallels between the propaganda tactics of the Cold War and modern-day disinformation strategies. He argues that the principles of intelligence laundering and the manipulation of public perception remain alarmingly relevant today.
Buy the book here and support the podcast https://amzn.to/4nssdPl
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode456
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
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30 Miles from the North Korean Border - A US Military Childhood (455)
Flynn describes life as a US military child just 30 miles from the North Korean Border during the 1970s. The political landscape of the time was tumultuous, marked by significant events such as the …
Shownotes
Flynn describes life as a US military child just 30 miles from the North Korean Border during the 1970s.
The political landscape of the time was tumultuous, marked by significant events such as the assassination of President Park and a number of serious border incursions and incidents. Flynn reflects on how these events affected his understanding of the world around him, even as a child. He recalls the fear instilled by air raid drills and the constant presence of military operations, which painted a stark picture of being within artillery range of North Korea.
Despite the challenges, Flynn cherishes the friendships formed with other military families and the shared experiences that came with living on post. The camaraderie among the children of service members created a sense of belonging, even in a transient lifestyle.
From a young age, Flynn was exposed to the vibrant Korean culture, participating in school field trips and learning the language. These experiences fostered a deep appreciation for the culture and the people of Korea, which he recounts with fondness. The contrast between the carefree moments of childhood and the underlying political climate adds depth to his narrative.
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode455/
Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
o BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social
o Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations
o Twitter/X https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
o Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
o Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
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