In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with intricately planned plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them was the young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking Carlos the Jackal in shades and designer suits, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

United by their hatred of Israel, capitalism and ‘Western imperialism’, they unleashed a series of audacious attacks that brought governments to their knees and glued the world to their televisions in morbid fascination.

Drawing on decades of research, recently declassified government files, secret documents, and original interviews with hijackers, spies, witnesses and victims, I speak with Jason Burke, the author of “The Revolutionists - The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s” takes us into the lives and minds of the perpetrators of these often-deadly operations.

Related episodes:

 * Watching the Jackals: Prague’s Covert Liaisons with Cold War Terrorists and Revolutionaries https://coldwarconversations.com/episode382/
 * Terrorism in the Cold War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode205/

Episode extras ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode437⁠ [%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0https://coldwarconversations.com/episode437%E2%81%A0]



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/⁠⁠ [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/⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/store/]



CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION



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When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s (437)

Andrew was a British modern languages student in 1989. He recounts the serendipitous moment when he stumbled upon an advert for a work and holiday trip to the GDR.

The trip was organized by the Great Britain GDR Society, which allowed participants to experience life behind the Iron Curtain. For just £120, students could immerse themselves in a culture that was vastly different from what they knew. The only requirement was to join the society, which piqued the curiosity of our guest, who had previously visited West Germany but had yet to set foot in the East.



As the group engaged in work on a building site, they encountered East German soldiers and workers, sharing stories and forging unexpected friendships. The camaraderie that developed during these moments highlighted the human connections that transcended political boundaries.

Andrew reflects on the peculiarities of the trip, from the shoddy living conditions to the surreal experience of mingling with locals who had their own dreams and aspirations.

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode436/ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode436]





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.

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When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436)

Keith Longstreth takes us through an extraordinary life shaped by the rhythms and risks of the Cold War. Born into an Air Force family, Keith grew up on bases across the world—from Scotland to Italy to Texas, where he describes a poignant last farewell to President Kennedy before his assassination.



His career in the USAF placed him behind the scenes of America’s most critical aircraft, including time at RAF Upper Heyford during the tense early 1980s. There, he lived through chemical-attack drills, nuclear-strike simulations, and the ever-present pressure of NATO–Soviet confrontation.



Rising to become an astronautical engineer, Keith later worked on GPS satellites and experiments flown on the Space Shuttle.



Episode Extras ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode435/ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode433/]



⁠⁠Help me preserve Cold War history. ⁠⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [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/⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/store/]



CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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Cold War Kid to Space Age Engineer via President Kennedy's last flight alive & RAF Upper Heyford (435)

This is the 2nd part of the story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s.

I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museu [https://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk/]m for highlighting Miles’ story and one of his relatives for putting me in contact with him.

Throughout the episode, our Miles shares captivating anecdotes and the thrill of being part of a light armoured reconnaissance regiment. He vividly recounts the challenges of operating various armoured vehicles, including the Saladin and Saracen, and the responsibilities that came with being on the front lines of military operations.

One of the most intriguing aspects of his service was the border patrols, where he and his comrades would venture into the woods, often encountering their East German counterparts. The tension of those moments, coupled with the knowledge that they were living in a semi-war footing, adds a layer of gravity to his experiences.

⁠Help me preserve Cold War history. ⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

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.

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If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.



Episode Extras ⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode433/]https://coldwarconversations.com/episode434/



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CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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Eyes at the Edge of the Iron Curtain - Life in a 1960s British Reconnaissance Regiment (434)

We hear the fascinating story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s.

I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum [https://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk/] for highlighting Miles’ story and one of his relatives for putting me in contact with him.

Miles shares vivid memories of receiving his call-up papers, the initial medical examination, and the challenges of basic training at Catterick Camp. From the camaraderie formed among recruits to the rigours of physical training and the often humorous anecdotes of army life, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the last days of British conscription.



Help me preserve Cold War history. ⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

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/⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/]

If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.



Episode Extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode433/



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CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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What was Cold War British Army Conscription really like?  (433)

The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War when the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. I speak with Joseph Pearson, the author of “The Airlift Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade.



This is not your standard military history. Drawing on first-hand interviews and untapped sources from both German and Anglo-American archives, Pearson interweaves personal tales into an extraordinary story: an American pilot crashing in Soviet territory; a Jewish photographer struggling to reconcile with the Germans; the 17,000 women who built Tegel Airport; Cambridge University actors performing in the ruins for British intelligence and Hollywood star Montgomery Clift filming at Tempelhof Airport.



Through this deeply human lens, Pearson offers crucial historical insight into how lasting new battlelines were formed. The Berlin Airlift didn’t just supply a city; it wrote the playbook of the Cold War and continues to influence Western thinking and diplomacy with Russia to this day.



Help me preserve Cold War history. ⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

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/⁠⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/]

If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.



Related episodes:

 * Veteran of the Cold War Berlin Airlift – the Candy Bomber ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode56/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode56/]

 * A 98 Year Old USAF Veteran Remembers the Berlin Airlift ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode417/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode417/]

 * A visit to Cold War base RAF Burtonwood ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode74/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode74/]

Book Giveaway ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/]

Episode Extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode432/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode432/]



Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/store/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/store/]



CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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The Berlin Airlift - Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade (432)

This is the largely untold story of Task Force Faith, the U.S. Army soldiers who although outnumbered 8-1 by Chinese troops fought valiantly during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.

Author Steve Fogel has written a new book called A Task Force Called Faith - The Untold Story of the U.S. Army Soldiers Who Fought for Survival at Chosin Reservoir and Honor Back Home [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781493092895]

We discuss the dramatic events that unfolded on the eastern side of Chosin, contrasting the well-documented Marine narrative with the harrowing experiences of the Army unit. Discover the heroism, tragedy, and the long-overdue recognition these soldiers deserve as we delve into this compelling chapter of Cold War military history.

UK Listeners buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781493092895

US listeners but the book here https://bookshop.org/a/92195/9781493092895



Episode extras here ⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode429/]https://coldwarconversations.com/episode431/⁠⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/episode431/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]



Related episodes:

 * Korea: War WIthout End https://coldwarconversations.com/episode412/
 * Surrounded and captured in the Korean War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode374/

Help me preserve Cold War history. [https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0]

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/⁠ [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/⁠ [https://coldwarconversations.com/store/]

CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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Surrounded and outnumbered 8-1 : A forgotten story of the Korean War (431)

Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story.

Among many stories we hear how he had the unique opportunity to meet one of China's most revered leaders, Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China and how he played softball with US and British POWs from the Korea War who had refused to return home.

Bill reflects on the challenges he faced, including moments of cultural misunderstanding and the playful jabs from classmates who labelled him an "American imperialist." These interactions highlight the complexities of identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world.

The narrative takes a poignant turn as he recounts his involvement in the Mississippi Freedom Summer, a significant civil rights initiative aimed at combating racial injustice.

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode430/







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Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430)

Award-winning real stories of the Cold War told by those that 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.

Ian Sanders

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