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Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

A US Soldier defects to Cold War East Germany – Part 2 (69)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8865 Ratings

🗓️ 28 June 2019

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We continue the story of Victor Grossman the US Army soldier who defected to East Germany. He tells us of his life in the GDR, his close friendship with Dean Reed “The Red Elvis”, of shortages, his views on Egon Krenz and his first trip back to the US in the 1990s. Thanks to our select band of supporters who are helping us financially for the price of a cup of coffee a month to cover our increasing costs and keep us on the air. They are the proud owners of a CWC coaster- don’t you want one too? Click here. Visit the show notes here.   We welcome Victor Grossman back to Cold War Conversations Radio GDR If you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.

0:07.1

I see Crenz every once in a while still at meetings.

0:10.6

I think he was a very integral person.

0:13.3

I think he really believed he was high principles.

0:16.6

He really wanted to save things.

0:18.7

He still wishes he could have saved things today, but he just wasn't up to it.

0:26.0

This is Cold War Conversations.

0:29.5

If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.

0:35.9

Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app

0:38.5

or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.

0:44.8

We continue the story of Victor Grossman,

0:47.6

the US Army soldier who defected to East Germany.

0:51.1

He tells us of his life in the GDR,

0:53.5

his close friendship with Dean Reed, the Red

0:55.8

Elvis, of shortages and his criticism of the regime. He also shares his view on Egon

1:02.1

Crenz and details of his first trip back to the United States in the 1990s. Thanks to our

1:08.9

select band of supporters who are helping us financially for the price of a cup of coffee a month to cover our increasing costs and keepers on the air.

1:18.4

They are the proud owners of a Cold War Conversations coaster.

1:22.8

Don't you want one too?

1:24.2

If you do, then just head over to patreon.com slash Cold War Pod. That's P-A-T-R-E-O-N.com

1:34.3

slash Cold War Pod. We welcome back, Victor Grossman, to Cold War Conversations.

1:42.2

But I was aware in the building where I live, we knew of two men who lived in apartments here.

...

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