Special Forces Berlin - Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956-1990 (120)

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

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2020

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

James Stejskal served for 23 years with US Special Forces, including two tours in Berlin. Special Forces Berlin was a small detachment of 100 highly trained soldiers who, should hostilities break out, were to wreak havoc behind Warsaw Pact lines. The US government only acknowledged its existence in 2014 and John has written an incredible story of how these unsung heroes would have fought and died on what was effectively a one way mission. If you are enjoying the podcast please leave a written reviews in Apple podcasts or share us on social media. By telling your friends you can really help the podcast grow. If you can spare it I’m asking listeners to contribute $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 helping preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Thanks to latest Patreons Ian Crangle, Steve Minegar, Ryan King, Claudia Morgenstern, Mike Cser, Graham Randall, Iain Mckay Dall, Mike Chapman, Michael ODonnell, Robert Krom, & Jeffrey Jones. Don’t forget we have a book giveaway of Special Forces Berlin, so make sure you listen through to the end for details of how to enter. Back to today’s episode, the story starts with James’ initial recruitment into the US Army. We welcome James to our Cold War conversation… There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode120/ If you like what you are hearing, please leave reviews in Apple podcasts and share us on social media. 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. Thankyou 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 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, Edward Norton.
0:29.3	A complete unknown.
0:30.5	Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Bill!
0:32.4	In Cinemas, January 17, rated 15.
0:36.0	The Supreme Allied Commander visited us at one time, and he basically said, what you guys are there for is to buy me time to give the allies in Western Europe the time to set up to meet and engage the enemy.
0:56.5	This is Cold War Conversations.
1:00.1	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
1:06.5	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.
1:15.4	James Staisal served for 23 years with US Special Forces, including two tours in Berlin.
1:23.0	Special Forces Berlin was a small detachment of 100 highly trained soldiers who, should hostilities break out, were to wreak havoc behind Warsaw Pact lines.
1:34.3	The US government only acknowledged its existence in 2014, and James has written an incredible story of how these unsung heroes would have fought and died on what was effectively
1:45.9	a one-way mission.
1:48.2	Now, if you can spare it, I'm asking listeners to contribute at least three US dollars per month
1:55.0	to help keep us on the air.
1:57.5	Plus, you get a sought-after Cold War Conversations coaster as a monthly financial supporter of the podcast.
	...

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