Cold War Conversations Ian Sanders

In a riveting episode that peels back the layers of Cold War espionage, we sit down with Burt, an artist who unwittingly befriended a man better known as Colonel Abel, the infamous Bridge of Spies Spy who was exchanged for shot down US U2 pilot Gary Powers.
Burt knew Abel as Emil Goldfuss but his real name was Willie Fisher from Newcastle Upon Tyne in England. Fisher was a Soviet agent deeply embedded in the fabric of New York City's bustling art scene.
Burt's tale unfolds in a studio building exclusively for artists, where he first crossed paths with Fisher in an old-fashioned elevator—an encounter that would mark the beginning of an unexpected friendship.
Burt reminisces about their shared moments, from the peculiar request for a cup of turpentine to late-night discussions surrounded by the haze of cigarette smoke. He reflects on the nuances of their bond, the fatherly figure he saw in Fisher, and the mutual need for companionship that transcended the spy's professional obligations.
Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode341/
Don’t miss part two of this amazing conversation next week…
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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Valeriy was a Soviet Navy diver sapper and was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. I have used a human translator for this episode so the main voice you will hear is my translator Galina Ryabova who was kindly funded by one of my financial supporters
Valeriy opens up about his childhood, the impact of the Great Patriotic War on his family, and his mother's resilience in raising him after his father's untimely death. He shares insights into his schooling, where history and geography sparked his curiosity, and his early military training which set the stage for his specialised role in the Soviet Navy.
Valeriy offers a rare glimpse into the life of a Soviet Navy diver sapper, trained in both underwater firearms and explosives, tasked with clearing mines to pave the way for naval infantry. He provides revealing insights into underwater warfare during the 1980s.
His unit was stationed near Kaliningrad, where he describes his equipment and the day-to-day life that included guarding, surveillance, and rigorous half-yearly military exercises.
Reflecting on the broader scope of the Cold War, Valeri discusses his perceptions of the US and NATO, the political climate under Gorbachev, and the aftermath of the USSR's dissolution.
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
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Sirka offers a comprehensive exploration of life in East Germany, detailing the experiences of growing up in Neubrandenburg, the influence of the East German state and the Stasi, and the societal impacts of Mikhail Gorbachev's policies leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
She also talks of her intensive gymnastics training and being given pills by her trainer...
Sirka also describes the transition to reunification, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a new economic system and the mixed feelings toward sudden exposure to Western consumer culture.
Additionally, it includes a reflective conversation on post-reunification life in Germany, discussing Sirka's and her family's adjustment to the changes, including the effects on employment, homeownership, and personal political histories.
Video and photo extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode339
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.
Connect with us on social media for more Cold War content:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
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YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
For the perfect gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life, visit our store at https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
If you love history, check out Into History at https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

00:00 Preview
00:22 Welcome to Cold War Conversations
00:36 Life in East Germany: An Insider's Perspective
01:50 Circa's Childhood and Family Life in Neubrandenburg
03:33 The Impact of World War II on Family Histories
05:42 Navigating Post-War East Germany
07:53 The East German Regime Through a Family's Eyes
10:31 Cultural and Educational Experiences in East Germany
23:23 The Challenges of Consumer Goods and Entertainment
25:39 School Life and Education in East Germany
34:17 Extracurricular Activities: Singing Club and Gymnastics
44:58 The Intensity of Gymnastics Training in East Germany
46:15 The Secret Gymnastics Pills
48:14 The Grueling Training Regime and Its Impact
49:46 The Power of Music and Discipline in a Regimented Society
50:38 The Harsh Realities of Military-Style Training
51:39 Life Under an Autocratic System: Acceptance and Adaptation
55:26 The Transition to College and the End of Gymnastics
55:56 Exploring Moscow: A Glimpse into the Space Race
01:03:37 Witnessing the Winds of Change: The Fall of the Berlin Wall
01:14:21 Navigating the New World: Post-Wall Challenges and Reflections
01:25:05 A Journey Back in Time: Revisiting Memories and the Stasi Files
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The Soviet-Afghan War lasted ten years between 1979-1989 and led to the deaths of between 500k and 2m Afghan civilians.
I speak with Nick Geering a Russian history and language teacher. From his memories of the haunting sight of uniformed amputees in St Petersburg to the complex origins of the conflict, we explore the intricacies of a war that was both an accident and a tragedy.
Our conversation traverses the murky politics that led to the Soviet invasion, the unpreparedness of the conscript-heavy Soviet army, and the brutal reality of life for soldiers caught in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. We also discuss the question of international support for the Mujahideen and the controversial impact of Western-supplied weaponry.
The episode also shines a light on the deeply entrenched hierarchy within the Soviet military, harrowing drug abuse among troops, and the chilling treatment of prisoners of war on both sides. As we approach the subject of the Soviet withdrawal, we reflect on the war's enduring scars, the fate of the communist Afghan government, and how the conflict is remembered today in Russia.
Video and photo extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode338
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history.
You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.
 
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
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Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod
00:00 Introduction to the Complexity of the Soviet-Afghan War
00:26 Diving Deep into the Soviet-Afghan War with Nick Gearing
01:38 Nick Gearing's Personal Journey and Initial Exposure to War Veterans
03:13 Exploring the Intricacies and Origins of the Soviet-Afghan War
16:17 The Soviet Military's Challenges and Adaptations in Afghanistan
28:52 Evaluating the Soviet Strategy and Its Impact on the War
32:51 Unveiling the Truth: The Soviet Union's Hidden War
33:44 Gorbachev's Legacy and the Path to Peace
34:27 Glasnost and the Afghan War: A Shift in Soviet Media
37:19 The Impact of Western Weapons on the Afghan Battlefield
39:31 The Unseen Side of War: Defections and Captivity
44:24 The Brutal Reality of Conscript Life in the Soviet Army
48:46 Drug Abuse Among Soviet Soldiers in Afghanistan
50:47 The Endgame: Soviet Withdrawal and the Geneva Accords
53:22 Najibullah's Struggle and the Fate of the Communist Government
54:46 Revisiting the Afghan War: Memory and Media in Russia
57:51 Exploring the Soviet-Afghan War Through Books, Films, and Music
01:03:17 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments
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Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War, is a nine-part documentary series from director Brian Knappenberger, that provides a comprehensive appraisal of the events that led to the Cold War and traces the conflict around the world and through the decades.
While the Cold War ended in 1991, even a casual appraisal of current headlines reveals that relations between the United States and Russia — the one-time centre of the Soviet Union — remain tense, to say the least. The global repercussions of the Cold War continue to ripple through the current geopolitical landscape to this day, but it can be difficult to understand just how a mid-20th century struggle for ideological dominance continues to ensnare countless nations in ongoing unrest.
To tell this story, the series draws on more than 100 interviews with subjects ranging from past and present world leaders (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas) to historians as well as everyday people whose lives were drastically altered by the events of the Cold War. As the history unfolds, each episode considers the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine as an example of how the history being examined is directly tied to the events of today. “Nearly every part of the war in Ukraine is an echo of the Cold War,” Knappenberger explains.
Watch the series here https://www.netflix.com/title/81614129
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/qHuuLo-CSRo?si=ZaNGZyeP0nZe5Nwp
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/
If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.
 
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
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Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

00:00 The Chilling Call: A Cold War Nightmare
00:21 Welcome to Cold War Conversations
00:39 Inside 'Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War' Documentary
01:02 The Cold War's Legacy and Today's Nuclear Threats
03:15 The Making of a Cold War Documentary
05:09 Why the Cold War Story Matters Now
06:17 The New Cold War: A Hot and Unstable Conflict
10:24 The Munich Security Conference: A Turning Point
13:32 Crafting the Documentary: Challenges and Insights
15:06 Personal Connections and the Impact of Nuclear Weapons
19:32 The Importance of First-Person Cold War Accounts
19:59 Daniel Ellsberg: A Courageous Insider's Perspective
23:19 Uncovered Stories: The Challenges of Time Constraints
23:46 Exploring Untold Cold War Stories
24:37 The Intriguing Case of the AIDS Misinformation Campaign
28:14 The Ripple Effects of Cold War Decisions
28:45 Project Sapphire: Securing Nuclear Materials Post-Soviet Union
30:47 The Budapest Memorandum and Ukraine's Nuclear Dilemma
34:43 Post-Cold War Transitions and the Rise of Putin
41:18 Reflecting on the Series: Favorite Moments and Missed Opportunities
44:48 Dream Interviews: Cold War Figures Who Left a Mark
49:03 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments
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Alex Grant’s new book Sex, Spies and Scandal The John Vassall Affair has everything: a honey trap, industrial-scale espionage, journalists jailed for not revealing their sources and the first modern tabloid witch-hunt, which resulted in a ministerial resignation and almost brought down Harold Macmillan’s government.
With access to newly released MI5 files and interviews with people who knew Vassall from the 1950s until he died in 1996, this book sheds new light on a neglected spy scandal. Despite having been drugged and sexually assaulted by the KGB in Moscow, as a gay man John Vassall was shown no mercy by the British press or the courts.
Sentenced to eighteen years in jail, he served ten years, despite telling MI5 everything. Once released, he found that many of his old friends and lovers had been persecuted or dismissed from the civil service in Britain, America and Australia.
Unlike the Cambridge Five, who courted attention, after leaving prison Vassall changed his name to avoid the media and lived quietly in London.
Buy the book and support the podcast here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781785907883
Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode336/
The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/I
f a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.
 
Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

00:00 Introduction to Cold War Conversations and the John Vassal Affair
00:36 Unveiling the John Vassal Spy Scandal
05:49 The Life and Times of John Vassal
16:15 Vassal's Recruitment by Soviet Intelligence
37:08 Vassal's Espionage Activities in London
41:28 The Cold War Thaw and Social Dynamics in Moscow
42:24 Vassal's Entrapment and the Lax Security
43:56 The Discovery of a Spy Within the Admiralty
46:55 The Fallout of Vassal's Capture and Its Impact
48:33 The Dramatic Arrest of John Vassal
49:35 Vassal's Immediate Confession and Relief
53:05 The Aftermath: Legal Proceedings and Public Reaction
01:05:41 Vassal's Life Post-Imprisonment and Legacy
01:09:48 Revisiting the Impact of Vassal's Espionage
01:11:57 Uncovering New Insights from the National Archives
01:16:55 Reflecting on Vassal's Life and the Broader Historical Context
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