Award-winning real stories of the Cold War told by those who were there. Every week we interview an eyewitness of the Cold War.
Across soldiers, spies, civilians, and others, we aim to cover the whole range of Cold War experiences. Hosts Ian Sanders, James Chilcott, and Peter Ryan bring your ears into the heart of the Cold War.
Reading a history book is one thing, but hearing a human voice, with every breath, hesitation and intonation brings a whole new dimension to understanding what it was like to be there.
We cover subjects such as spies, spying, the Iron Curtain, nuclear weapons, warfare, tanks, jet aircraft, fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, aviation, culture, and politics.
We also cover personalities such as Fidel Castro, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Mikhail Gorbachev, Konstantin Chernenko, Margaret Thatcher, John F. Kennedy, Josef Stalin, Richard Nixon, Lech Walesa, General Jaruzelski, Nicolae Ceaușescu.
Other subjects include Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin, West Berlin, East Berlin, Cuban missile Crisis, Berlin Airlift, Bay of Pigs, SALT, Perestroika, Space Race, superpower, USSR, Soviet Union, DDR, GDR, East Germany, SDI, Vietnam War, Korean War, Solidarność, Fall of the Wall, Berliner Mauer, Trabant, Communist, Capitalist, Able Archer, KGB, Stasi, STB, SB, Securitate, CIA, NSA, MI5, MI6, Berlin Wall, escape, defection, Cuba, Albania, football, sport, Bulgaria, Soviet Union, Poland, China, Taiwan, Austria, West Germany, Solidarity, espionage, HUMINT, SIGINT, OSINT, IMINT, GEOINT, RAF, USAF, British Army, US Army, Red Army, Soviet Army, Afghanistan, NVA, East German Army, KAL007, T-72, T-64, Chieftain, M60
The podcast is for military veterans, school teachers, university lecturers, students and those interested in Cold War history, museums, bunkers, weapons, AFVs, wargaming, planes, A Level, GCSE students
Many of Tim’s family had served in WW1 and WW2 and from a young age, he was determined to follow their path.
Overcoming huge competition for places he became a driver of the Leopard AS1 MBT at 1st Armoured Regiment of the Australian Army.
Australia is largely ignored in most Cold War histories, however, we hear how the Australian Army prepared to fight the Musorians, a thinly disguised notional enemy which was obviously the Soviets or one of their satellites in everything but name.
Photos, videos and extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode321/
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 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/
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
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Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod
0:00 Introduction and Tim Whitford’s early life and influences
7:48 Tim’s involvement in the reserves and training details
12:16 Transition to the regular army and experience with basic training
19:41 First encounter with the Leopard tank and training experience
28:42 Comparison of Leopard and Centurion tanks
33:57 Posting to the 1st Armored Regiment and first deployment
43:41 NBC training and river forwarding capabilities of Leopard tanks
51:30 Reaction to the fall of the Berlin Wall and shift in military roles
55:09 Preview of Part 2 and recognizing financial supporters
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Denmark joined NATO as a founding member in 1949. However, it originally laid down limitations to NATO membership, effectively excluding the country from full military integration. The conditions were threefold: no non-Danish bases, no nuclear warheads, and no Allied military activity on Danish territory.
Bo Hermansen served in a conscript reconnaissance platoon of the Danish Jutland Dragoon Regiment during the 1980s. His squadron was part of the divisional reconnaissance for the Danish Jutland division which was tasked to move into the north of West Germany and link up with West German units to stop a Warsaw Pact advance into Jutland.
Bo describes Denmark’s political stance during this period where the election of President Reagan in the US and his policies regarding defence caused some concern in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe. We hear of his unit’s tactics against the Warsaw Pact, the exercises he participated in, the rivalry between units, and why a Danish tank was painted pink!
It’s a fascinating view into the organisation and tactics of one of the lesser-known members of NATO.
Extra episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode315
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 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/
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/
Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations
Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod
0:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Bo Hermansen
7:31 Bo’s decision to join the military and family reactions
12:33 Training, challenges, and transition to a professional soldier
19:46 Role and composition of the 5th Battalion of the Jutland Dragoon Regiment
28:42 Preparations for war: Major exercises and deployment practice
35:16 Relations with the Germans and other international troops during the Cold War
43:45 Importance of history and ethos in the Jutland Dragoons
51:32 Transition to green and black paint for Danish vehicles: Controversies and anecdotes
1:00:09 Escape and survival training in the Danish Army
1:08:06 Dedication to Bo’s platoon and episode extras
1:08:33 Closing remarks
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