I was a deep cover KGB spy Part 1 (140)

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

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2020

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you’ve seen the TV drama series, “The Americans” you’ll be fascinated by this episode. Albrecht Dittrich was an East German graduate student and a true believer in the Communist cause when he was recruited by the KGB in 1970. He spent ten years as an undercover KGB agent in the United States. He is the longest surviving known member of the KGB illegals programme that operated during the Cold War. In this episode we talk about his first days his early life in East Germany as well as his recruitment and training in Berlin & Moscow. It’s an amazing insight into the mind and personality of a secret agent and the immense pressures he was under in the 10 years he served his KGB masters. If you can spare it I’m asking listeners to contribute at least $3 USD per month to help keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ I am delighted to welcome Jack Barsky to our Cold War conversation… UK Fans can buy Jack's book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/2FKAbmj US Fans can buy Jack's book here & support the podcast https://amzn.to/3hLQoVs There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode140/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook or click here https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated. 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 0:00 Introduction of Jack Barsky and his relationship with the KGB 1:25 Jack Barsky's recruitment and training by the KGB 2:06 Fundraising request for the podcast 2:36 Jack Barsky's early life and education in East Germany 11:41 Barsky's journey to becoming a KGB agent 36:15 The romanticization of spies and the reality of spy life in East Germany 51:00 The dangers, risks, and impacts of being a spy 37:05 Jack Barsky's belief in the socialist ideal and the tenets of Marxism 40:02 Jack Barsky's training mission to West Berlin and intensive training in Moscow 59:48 Jack Barsky's transition to a new identity in the US 1:00:38 Closing remarks by Ian Sanders and additional content information. Chapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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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,
0:28.0	Edward Norton.
0:29.3	A complete unknown.
0:30.5	Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Bill!
0:32.4	In cinema's January 17, rated 15.
0:35.8	He never introduced himself by name, and then he excused himself, and there I was.
0:41.3	I was now communicating with somebody from the KGB, and this is how our relationship starts.
0:48.8	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
0:58.7	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.
1:07.4	If you've seen the TV drama series, The Americans, you will be fascinated by this episode.
1:13.6	Albrecht Dittrich was an East German graduate student and a true believer in the communist cause
1:21.6	when he was recruited by the KGB in 1970.
1:25.6	He spent 10 years as an undercover agent in the United States.
1:30.3	He is the longest surviving known member of the KGB Illegals program that operated during the Cold War.
1:38.3	In this episode we talk about his early life in East Germany, as well as his recruitment and training
	...

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