In 1981 Marie-Claude Hawkes was an 18-year-old living in Amiens, France when she embarked on a trip to East Germany looking for adventure… 

Among her experiences was working in a lignite coal mine. Lignite is considered the lowest rank of coal and the most harmful coal to human health but was a major fuel source for East German power stations.

Marie-Claude travelled from Paris to Leipzig on an overnight train, staying at the International Youth Camp in Borna. From there she travelled every day to work in the open lignite mine at Espenhain, about 16 miles from Leipzig. 

She describes working at the mine, weekends off, visits to Leipzig, Magdeburg, Weimar, and a potato peeling factory...!

It’s a fascinating view of East Germany away from the capital Berlin. 

0:00 Introduction and Mary Claude Hawkes' initial experiences in East Germany

2:06 Sponsor: Promotion of Cold War Conversations and listener's testimonial

4:51 Mary Claude Hawkes' journey to East Germany and arrival at the International Youth Camp

13:43 Work and life in the International Youth Camp

22:37 Leisure time: visits to Leipzig and after-work activities

25:51 Travel experiences and evening entertainment in East Germany

29:01 Political experiences and visits to various factories

33:11 Working conditions and run-in with authorities

40:01 Impressions of Magdeburg and East Berlin

44:13 Return to Paris and plans for future visits to Berlin

45:23 Sponsor: Thanks to financial supporters and invitation to join the Facebook Discussion Group

46:19 Closing remarks and mention of the Cold War Conversations store

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Radio GDR

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