Growing up in the Stasi town (278)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

History, Society & Culture, Documentary

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2023

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Dirk lived in the town of Bernau about 15 miles from East Berlin. Just outside Bernau was Wandlitz the residential estate of the East German leadership. As a result, Bernau had one of the highest densities of Stasi facilities in East Germany. Dirk shares details of his childhood growing up in a Plattenbau block of flats where his school friends were children of NVA officers, Stasi officers, and Soviet Army officers. He shares some fascinating details of school life and visits the homes of his school friends in Bernau. However, his parents clashed with his school teachers as they bullied Dirk for wearing western clothing. We also hear how his parent's anti-soviet view originated with his grandparents fleeing the World War 2 Soviet invasion of East Prussia and an Uncle who was arrested and disappeared in Berlin in 1945. 0:00 Introduction and Dirk's early life in East Germany 8:45 Impact of the Berlin Wall on Dirk's family and visits from West German relatives 16:22 Confrontations with teachers over Western influences and passive resistance to East German authorities 22:36 Discretion about Western influences and maintaining friendships with children of East German and Soviet army officers 27:38 Visiting the homes of Russian friends and experiences with Russian conscripts 35:21 Treatment of Soviet conscripts as observed by British troops and daily life amidst the Soviet and East German armies 41:09 Hidden bunkers, bases in East Germany, and Stasi surveillance of Dirk's family 45:01 Discussion about escaping East Germany and family visits to West Germany 47:06 Preview of Dirk's story in the next episode and acknowledgments Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community 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/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Videos and extra episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode278 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.
0:05.9	Timothy Shalame is Bob Dylan and a complete unknown.
0:09.4	If anyone who's going to hold your attention on the state, you have to kind of be a freak.
0:13.9	Critics agree it's outstanding on every level. Five stars.
0:19.1	Shalemay is a revelation.
0:20.8	What do you want to be?
0:21.9	Whatever it is, they don't want me to be.
0:23.8	Now nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor, Edward Norton.
0:29.4	A complete unknown.
0:30.6	Ladies and gentlemen, Bob, Bill!
0:32.5	In cinemas, January 17, rated 15.
0:35.8	The teacher was very strict and her husband was an officer at the Felix Dijunsky
0:43.3	Guards Regiment which is Stasi's personal guards and she was really socialist. This is Cold War Conversations.
0:56.5	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War
1:01.1	history accounts.
1:02.9	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at coldwarconversations.com.
1:12.4	Dirk lived in the town of Bernou, about 15 miles from the centre of East Berlin.
1:18.3	Just outside Bernal was von der Leitz, the residential estate of the East German leadership.
1:24.0	As a result, Bernou had one of the highest densities of Stasi facilities in East Germany.
1:30.9	Dirk shares the details of his childhood growing up in a Plattenbow block of flats where his
1:36.4	school friends were children of East German army officers, Stasi officers and Soviet army officers.
1:43.6	He shares some fascinating details of school life
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ian Sanders, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ian Sanders and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.