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 gamut of the Cold War experience.
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.
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Ian Sanders Host & Producer The Cold War Conversations History Podcast
Incredibly not it would seem. In suburban Ruislip in the 1950s different North American accents would most likely have seemed almost the same. Do check out our other Portland Spy episodes which go onto more detail on this case.
So rare to hear the long term impact on a family caught up in events out of their control but forced to play a central role. I feel Mrs Search was utterly failed by authorities who seemed to offer no support to help her cope long-term, after the arrests were made. Shameful. A great programme which I'll listen to many times, thanks.
Indeed. Thanks for listening. I’ve always been fascinated by the Krogers/Cohens and to be able to speak with someone who was so intimately involved was incredible.
It was just a superb interview. Gay's mother must have been deeply conflicted and on top of that, in the traditional British way, not able to talk about it. Heart breaking. I also felt 'Helen's' reaction in prison at being 'betrayed' by her neighbour was somewhat jaw dropping but typical nonetheless.
Incredibly interesting interview! For anyone interested in this important cold war case it is a goldmine. When I learned years ago thar the daughter became a journalist I always thought it would be so interesting to hear her being interviewed. And now I encountered this gem. Thank you so much! Greetings from Sweden
Thanks for listening. I’ve always been fascinated by the Krogers/Cohens and to be able to speak with someone who was so intimately involved was incredible.
Keep in mind that Roger Hollis and Ursula Kuczynski (Agent Sonya) were in Shanghai at the same time, the 1930s. There are rumours that Hollis protected Agent Sonya while she was running Klaus Fucks and Melita Norwood. Jack the Japan Alps Brit
I have a suggestion, one corner of Cold War history that is rarely mentioned and you could invite the absolute expert in the matter, author of 'Mao's Third Front: The Militarization of Cold War China', Covell F. Meyskens.
It always amuses me that "our sort" are supposed to be better than the rest of us but they are the biggest bunch of degenerates on the planet! Very interesting. Thank you.
When Spycatcher came out in 1987, I was a civil servant, working under the awful Margaret Thatcher, who most of us despised. She banned sale of the book, and I recall bookshops selling a paperclip for 29.95 GBP, with a free copy of spycatcher attached. At that time I would have liked a copy, but my money was being spent elsewhere. I quite forgot about the book until a couple of weeks ago, when I finally got a secondhand copy on amazon. It's quite fascinating.
Excellent interview. The janitor at the KGB Museum at the Lubyanka maintains that it was the Cambridge 20 rather than the Cambridge Five. I agree. British intelligence was throughly penetrated by the Soviets but we must remember that Russia was an ally. This is a fact that is constantly overlooked as it was during this presentation. What is also overlooked is that Russia bore the brunt of Hitler's war for almost its entirety. This is a fact that motivated Russia's British spies from the beginning.
Back in the Cold War I knew I'd suffer the same luck as the dad in Threads who was using the commode during the 4 min warning. However being in the US away from any military targets I would have gotten at least a 30 min warning. Plenty of time for one last movement in 20th cen dignity with a full roll of paper.
Communist or ISLAMIST people only destroy the world. The policies of Russia now and then is against free speech or human rights. I wonder many people since 1917 has been killed directly or indirectly by the ideology of communism.
The 🇺🇸 were no better off during that period with the defection of NSA Mitchell & Martin, 2 cypher specialists who were similar with B&McL in more than mere treason.
Along with the Rhodesian Bush wars, the history of Apartheid in South Africa is currently being sanitised or 'rose tinted' by certain folk who are definitely not Far Right. I lived through this period as an adult in the UK. I was a Tory voter (I voted for Thatcher) at the time and also an infantry soldier in the British Army (Regs). So not exactly a Lefty snowflake. Looking back at those days I can't say everyone in my peer group was against apartheid & minority white rule but we certainly didn't glorify the Rhodesian troopers like happens today. And we watched the (uncensored) actions of the South African police with horror and distaste. Unlike now - then the wearing of Rhodesian camo (on a T-shirt for instance) would have been a taboo and a big negative. It would have been strongly frowned upon. In 1984 I was given a badge (I still have it) which said 'Free Nelson Mandela' and it was bluetacked to my bedside wall in my barrack room. Nobody questioned this. Why would they - the song 'Free Nelson Mandela' (by the Special A.K.A) was a favourite on the NAAFI jukebox at the time! However, It's a free (ish) country - you can choose your own views. All I can tell you is - back then, people with views that are more popular now with certain folk, would not have been tolerated. If they had been expressed out loud in the NAAFI - it may well have gone kinetic so to speak. Some of the best, and tbf the hardest, soldiers in my unit were black by the way. Unlike some - my views have not changed. I will never be a racist.
She should have been exposed a long time ago - the signs were there. You always have to scrutinize the "expert" of a country while working in the intelligence field. They gave her too much leadway in the agency simply because she "looked the part." The same with Aldrich Ames; what GG-13 buys a 700,000 dollar house in cash, new cars, jewelry, new suits, private schools etc - and ZERO income inherited on bank statements??? When they searched her home, they found the commuications gear with the Cubans - how sloppy is an agent to openly keep her materials in her apartment to be easily found?
Collected a vehicle for a client from here, the owner wasn’t around for an hour, so was invited to have a look around for free, enjoyed it so much came back again for a paid visit. Had some very unique vehicles in his hangar next door.
Thanks for an excellent and informative video. I remember that statue from the Museum of Industrial & Economic Achievement in Moscow. I was in the USSR in 1986 and 89, and the people were very friendly and helpful I have to say that both the USA and USSR had the worse leaders for those times. Apart from the officer at the Soviet Missile defences [The man who saved the World]; and of course Oleg Gordievsky, who you mentioned, there was very little to prevent East and West from bumbling into a nuclear war. Gordievsky's role in warning the West to turn down its aggressive stance, was crucial at that time. It was a miracle, and a very clever operation, how he managed to escape to the UK. Again this video Let's hope that we continue to have the right people; in the right places; and at the right times. Another dangerous moment, during the Balkans conflict; when East faced West, at Pristina airport', Orders from the rear of the Western force to attack the Russians, were ignored.
If the Cambridge spies had been ordinary squaddies, they'd have been stuck up against a wall no doubt about that, I don't believe for a second that the whole story has been told about what really went on with the escapes of these traitors
Excellent video, again thanks; very interesting, I recommend the Audible version of 'his Dad's book Operation Overflight' which goes well with this interview.. I must say it must have been terrible to put up with the armchair experts, who criticised his Dad both before and after his release, and return home. All of them safe from torture and worse. But isn't that the way of things. It is also good to hear, that his Dad was recognised with medals for his remarkable story = albeit posthumously. I would love to be able to see some of the museum items mentioned by Gary Jnr. I'd also mention the UK movie- Threads.
I feel like this is one that really would have been better visual, even if that's not the norm. Seeing the place, versus just hearing about it, would have been really cool.
That’s fair comment. There are some photos I took on the main episode page alongside the films and videos mentioned. You can see them here. coldwarconversations.com/episode366/
Here's something this gentleman and those like him failed to consider: Another man has to go fight in YOUR place. I also joined up in 1987 and I couldn't live with myself with that knowledge and I don't understand any able man who could.
To Americans loath communism, the kgb wqs menacing, but the stasi and how they got family, friends and neighbors to inform and spy on others to the point where informers would actually marry a target for no other reason than to compile a dossier on their spouse, was a terrifying idea to us. The stasi in our minds was the worst...an orwellian nightmare made reality. We understood that not even the kgb was so insidious in the records they kept on their people. Nothing is more horrible to us than for a communist secret police to infiltrate every aspect of life and break the bondsnwmn̈n̈ family and trust. Ź
My mother used to call me Nimrod if I was doing or said something stupid. It is completely off-topic, but I couldn't help laughing when I heard that word.
What is hard to fathom are the motivations of many of these traitors. In most cases, financial motives would not seem to be at the root of their treachery, seeing as they were generally recruited from the upper classes and even aristocracy. That leaves either blackmail, which I'm sure explains why some acted as they did, or ideological motivations. It is hard now to fully comprehend how pervasive and convincing communist thoughts and feelings were at the time. The truly fierce anti-communist rhetoric and campaigns aimed at defeating this threat to capitalism and democracy (the McCarthy Red Menace purges springs to mind,) can be understood in light of what we only now are coming to realize was a comprehensive incursion into the highest levels of power and influence in Western governments, agencies and bureacracies. What is to me the most disturbing aspect however, is how determined governments still are to cover up their failings. It highlights, I believe, how corrupt the powerful have always been, and that the instinct the average man on the street has to distrust politicians and the rich is warranted.
That was an incredible evening in may 1980.my 11 year old mind found it hard to comprehend the first minutes of the newsflash when the hooded men appeared on the balcony,then the balcony disappeared and after the smoke cleared two hooded men became four.
I'm an American who was born in 1949. I don't remember hearing about Vassal back then but the news here about the Parfumo Scandal & Christine Keeler saturated the American news for weeks. Looking back now, the news here seemed to savor every salacious detail about Parfumo, et al and seemed quite happy to embellish them. I was 13, and my sister was 12. We joked about SO Much about the Parfumo & Keeler that our father threatened to smack the both of us if we mentioned it again. Looking back, I can understand my father now because the news coverage about Parfumo, et al was really Trashy and it stands out in my memory because of that. It's sad that even in the case of National Security all the newspapers cared about was increasing circulation. 😢
These conversations are very interesting to me as I served in Europe during the cold war. Regarding the Iran hostage rescue mission - I have heard reports that information was leaked regarding the mission by a Pentagon employee. Is there anything known to confirm that report?
