- 1 hour 23 minutesA 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 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
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29 August 2026, 6:25 am - 54 minutes 33 secondsTwenty-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 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
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21 August 2026, 11:00 pm - 51 secondsAnnouncing 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 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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19 August 2026, 7:04 am - 50 minutes 3 secondsBetween 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 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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14 August 2026, 11:00 pm - 44 minutes 38 secondsMiGs, 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 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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7 August 2026, 11:00 pm - 42 minutes 3 secondsGrowing 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 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/
CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION
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31 July 2026, 11:00 pm - 41 minutes 35 secondsDefection, 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 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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24 July 2026, 11:00 pm - 59 minutes 1 secondMy 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 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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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off tips via the same link.
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17 July 2026, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 12 minutesFace 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 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.
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/
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10 July 2026, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 9 minutesInside 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 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.
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/
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3 July 2026, 11:00 pm - 1 hour 5 minutesThe 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 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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26 June 2026, 11:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App