In this gripping episode, we hear the harrowing account of Greg Devlin, a former US Air Force technician who barely survived a catastrophic explosion at a Titan II nuclear missile silo in 1980.

He shares his journey from enlisting in the Air Force, the challenges he faced, and the fateful night that changed his life forever.

Greg vividly describes how he and his colleagues struggle to contain a potentially cataclysmic situation. With gripping detail, he shares the moment the explosion occurred, the physical and emotional toll it took on him, and the surreal experiences that followed.

Greg's story is one of survival against all odds. He reflects on the aftermath of the explosion and his long road to recovery, which included numerous surgeries and the enduring effects of the hazardous materials he was exposed to.

Greg’s account highlights the dangers of military service and the importance of remembering those who served during the Cold War. It’s a powerful narrative of survival, sacrifice, and resilience.

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode411/

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The legacy of the Cold War in Europe continues to impact present day events, most notably in Ukraine.

In this episode I speak with author Stephan Kieninger about his new book Securing Peace in Europe - Strobe Talbott, NATO, and Russia After the Cold War. Talbott was a key figure in US President Clinton’s administration playing a pivotal role in shaping US foreign policy,

We talk about the NATO negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev, his successor Boris Yeltsin and subsequently Vladimir Putin. The discussion delves into NATO's expansion and Russia's desire for a seat at the table in the new European security framework.

Also covered are Russia's objectives and the misunderstandings that arose as NATO began to expand, often leading to tensions between the West and Russia. The episode also addresses the critical issue of nuclear proliferation, particularly concerning Ukraine, and the challenges faced in negotiating security guarantees that ultimately proved insufficient to deter Russia.

Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9780231217712

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode410/

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This is the story of a Communist family in East Germany whose world was turned upside down by the implosion of the GDR.

The story is told by Katja Hesse, whose father was a Vice Admiral in the Volksmarine, the East German Navy. We start the episode with Katja crossing into West Berlin on the night of 9th November 1989 and journey through the emotional landscape of certainties overturned by the opening of the Berlin Wall.

Using her father’s diaries Katja shares in detail her memories and reflections. From her father’s shock upon learning she crossed into West Berlin, to the complexities of navigating a new reality in a reunified Germany. It’s an intimate glimpse into the struggles of her family as she recounts the legacy of the GDR and the profound impact it had on her upbringing and identity.

Buy Katja's book here https://www.engelsdorfer-verlag.de/Belletristik/Romanhafte-Biografien/Ostprinzessinnen-tragen-keine-Krone::7605.html

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode409/

Part one is here https://pod.fo/e/2f0ace

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The story of how one man—a librarian for the KGB—became a traitor to the intelligence agency, stealing the most prized Soviet-era archives and smuggling them to the West.

Historian and journalist Gordon Corera whose new book “The Spy in the Archive” tells the remarkable story of how Vasili Mitrokhin—an introverted archivist who loved nothing more than dusty archives—ended up changing the world.

As the in-house archivist for the KGB, the secrets he was exposed to inside its walls turned him first into a dissident and then a spy; a traitor to his country but a man determined to expose the truth about the dark forces that had subverted Russia, forces still at work in the country today.

Related episodes

Episode extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode408/⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain.

In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides rare insights into life in the GDR as the child of a high-ranking officer— from an idyllic childhood in privileged housing to working at the Grand Hotel Berlin.

She recounts her father’s harrowing World War 2 escape from the Sudetenland, her experiences of political indoctrination in school and life within a family loyal to the East German government. Katja also describes her work at guest houses for East Germany’s elite , where she served dignitaries including Erich Honecker and Egon Krenz.

This is a moving and revealing glimpse into a unique Cold War upbringing— and into the personal costs of German reunification for families like Katja’s.

Buy Katja's book here https://www.engelsdorfer-verlag.de/Belletristik/Romanhafte-Biografien/Ostprinzessinnen-tragen-keine-Krone::7605.html

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode407/

Part two is here ⁠https://pod.fo/e/2e5327

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the annals of history, few leaders have faced the monumental challenges that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered when he rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985.

His ascent came at a time when the nation was grappling with stagnation, disillusionment, and an economy on the brink of collapse. Gorbachev, the youngest General Secretary in Soviet history, was thrust into a leadership role that demanded not only a vision for reform but also the courage to confront an entrenched bureaucracy resistant to change.

In a new format I explore the life of Mikhail Gorbachev without a guest.

Recommended episodes

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode406/

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠

00:00:00 Introduction

0:01:10 The Man from Stavropol

0:06:35 Acceleration and the Mirage of Momentum

0:13:15 The Opening to the West

0:20:26 Opening the Gates

0:28:08 Signing Away the Missiles

0:34:37 Nations within a Nation

0:40:36 The Centre Cannot Hold

0:46:51 The Coup that Failed

0:58:00 The Weight of Legacy

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Simon Wood served in the British Army’s Royal Military Police in Berlin during the1980s. He describes the unique challenges he faced patrolling the Berlin Wall and policing British troops in the divided city.

Discover the political tensions, the camaraderie with fellow soldiers, and the surreal moments such as being present at the post-mortem of Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess.

We also hear about life at Checkpoints Charlie and Bravo, interactions with East German forces, and taking part in Flag Tours in East Berlin which resulted in various confrontations with Soviet troops.

Episode extras ⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode405/⁠⁠⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colonel Robert J. Graham, USAF (Ret.), was more than a fighter pilot—he was a leader, a warrior, and a witness to one of the most complex conflicts in modern history. From the chaotic early days of guerrilla warfare in Vietnam to the bureaucratic maze that engulfed the later years, Colonel Graham's four combat tours reveal the triumphs and tragedies of a war that reshaped his world and his nation.

With vivid detail, he takes you into the cockpit of supersonic jets, the gritty realities of jungle warfare, and the tense moments of life-or-death decision-making. From earning the prestigious Silver Star to commanding the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron through the final stages of U.S. involvement, Graham's stories balance fearless heroism with unflinching honesty.

Feel the adrenaline of battle. Experience the camaraderie of brothers-in-arms. Witness the sacrifices—and the cost—of duty. Through his eyes, discover not just the war, but the humanity within it.

Buy Col Graham’s book here ⁠"One of the Few: A True Account of Courage and Stepping into the Fight" and support the podcast.

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/⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Traian grew up in Romania during the tumultuous 1980s under the shadow of the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

We learn about the harsh realities of life under communism, where shortages of basic goods were commonplace. He shares the clever tactics he and his family employed to navigate these challenges, including trading items with tourists and listening to forbidden radio stations like Radio Free Europe for music and news. These experiences shaped his understanding of the world outside Romania, igniting a desire for freedom and change.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn as the Romanian revolution unfolds in December 1989. Traian recounts the fear and uncertainty that gripped the nation as protests erupted, leading to the eventual overthrow of Ceaușescu. He vividly describes his school trip during this pivotal moment and the surreal experience of returning home to a city forever changed by the events of those days.

Further info and videos⁠ https://coldwarconversations.com/episode403/⁠

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/⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this gripping episode, we hear a detailed account from an eyewitness right at the heart of the tense NATO and Russian confrontation in Kosovo in 1999 at Pristina Airport.

NATO General Wesley Clark had ordered the British to use force to remove Russian forces, however British General Mike Jackson refused with the immortal words “Sir, I’m not going to start World War Three for you”.

Former BRIXMIS officer Stephen Harrison was a British Army liaison officer to the Russians and the translator at the complex and fraught negotiations at the airport. He provides a blow-by-blow account from the detailed notes he took at the time.

Further info and videos https://coldwarconversations.com/episode402/

Stephen's previous episodes:

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/⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices