Would anyone out there like to share with me their experiences of the Cold War for a book I am writing?

Question

I'm looking for experiences from anyone who lived through those years, military or not. Any pictures you would be prepared to share would be great. Full credit given, of course. Many thanks

Answer 1

The cold war had begun even before WWII had ended. George Patton got in trouble with Eisenhower for stating, " we got the army here, why not keep going to Moscow". I paraphrase.

The Russians were a bother after WWII, but it wasn't until the Rosenberg's stole atomic bomb secrets from the US, and turned them over to Russia, that things started to heat up. It seems the Russians were always on the opposite side of the US regarding adversarial matters, political matters, etc.

Both country's competed in developing friendships amongst the world community, which spawned some bizarre friendships and mis-calculations. The Malta treaty is the best example of that.
The US, Britain, and Russia agreed to who would control which part of the world following WWII. The US fought to keep western Europe from falling under Russian control, whereas the Russians got control of eastern Europe, uncluding east Berlin. West Berlin and the rest of Western Europe became part of the free world, which Britain and the US oversaw.

The Russians quickly formed a coalition that they controlled, from the larger and pro communist country's in the eastern bloc. Poland, which was the most westernized of the eastern bloc countrry's became part of the Russian satellites. It was not a communist country until forced to become one, once the Soviet Union came to be. Some of the country's in the Soviet Union were reluctant partners. Country's like Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Checkoslavakia, just to name a few.

The problems between the Soviets and the free world really started to heat up in the early sixties, over the Cuban crisis. Following Fidel Castros successful invasion of the island and the US's failure to back up the 'bay of pigs' counter invasion, the Soviets decided to start installing missiles on Cuba, to defend against the US. This is when the US decided to bring in a naval fleet to blockade the Russian ships from enrtering Cuban waters. This became a serious showdown between the Soviets and the Americans, but the Soviets blinked and decided to capitulate. Kruschev, the Soviet leader lost a lot of face over this incident, which eventually caused his removal from power.

During the Vietnam war, the Soviets supplied the Vietnamese with much of the war materials they needed to fight the Americans. In Afghanistan, the Americans supplied the Afghans with war materials and logistics to fight the Soviets.

It was tit for tat between the two parties until, Ronald Reagen came to office, under his watch, the US strategy was to outspend the Soviets into bankruptcy. Between the shortage of cash, protesting in East Berlin and Poland, spurred on by the CIA, I'm sure, the Soviet Union collapsed under it's heavy debt.

Under the next two Russian leaders, some calm prevailed. Russia formed a democracy, and detaunte was the position taken by the Russian and Americans.

The current President Putin seems to have other ideas. A new source of income, and his personal desire to stay in power, could bring us back to the bad old days, as adversaries. Frankly, I didn't believe it ever left. On the surface everything seemed to be hunkie dory between the two, but I believe the leadership in the US, during the ninties, left it's guard down while the Russians were regaining momentum to become a super power, once again.

This is the short version, I'm late for work! Forgive the mis-spelled words, spell check decided not to work, and I'm late.

Answer 2

I spent my early childhood (the son of a military officer) on the West German, East German, Czech tri-border. When I walked to kindergarden (it was safe for a small child in those days, and there plenty of neighborhood adults hanging around) there was a Warsaw Pact guard who would wave to me and I would wave back. I didn't know anything about "bad guys" in those days. I wonder if he had a family?

Just before Christmas I was walking to school and the guard comes running out of his tower and throws a present over the fence. It was wrapped with painted paper (he probably made the wrap himself). Inside was fruit and nuts. My parents said it must have cost a fortune on that side of the border.

But as soon as he threw it, other guards came running out from the tower and nearby towers and beat him. They dragged him away, probably thinking he was passing state secrets or something. I never saw him again. That's when I learned about what it means to be an American and what else is in the world. I probably developed a more conservative and hawkish view of the world based on that, and a greater appreciation of freedom.

Answer 3

I worked as an Intelligence Specialist in the Navy during the 70's.. So many things were going on during that time. I had a great deal of experience in SIOP (Single Integrated Operational Planning) and if you might like to know more about the planning of nuclear strike missions in the U.S.S.R at that time I would be happy to accommodate you. You may contact me by clicking my name here. I seriously doubt anything secret at that time is of any relevance now.

Answer 4

I spent two years freezing my butt of guarding the Fulda Gap,nuclear ammo dumps, and various fun things. One thing we all noticed was that when we were in garrison close to Frankfurt, the German people did not treat you the same as the people that lived close to the border. The border people would do anything for you. I never had to buy beer.

Answer 5

ooh, youre going to love this...my next door neighbour was the chief inspector at the coventry site, he worked on the flying wing project.. cold war enough? he was at whitworth and armstrong siddley man and boy as he says... his name is frank barnett.

if you want an intro, e me privately... hes 84 ish, and loves to chat...

Answer 6

first pay me about the information to be contributed