The Gouzenko Affair - the start of the Cold War (194)

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

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2021

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Igor Gouzenko exposed Soviet intelligence's efforts to steal nuclear secrets as well as the technique of planting sleeper agents. The "Gouzenko Affair" is often credited as a triggering event of the Cold War, with historian Jack Granatstein stating it was "the beginning of the Cold War for public opinion" and journalist Robert Fulford writing he was "absolutely certain the Cold War began in Ottawa". I talk with Andrew Kavchak the author of Remembering Gouzenko: The Struggle to Honour a Cold War Hero and Evy Wilson, the daughter of Igor and Svetlana Gouzenko. If you are enjoying the podcast, you can show your support via a monthly donation of $4, £3 or €3 via Patreon, plus you will get the sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews wherever you listen to us as well as sharing us on social media. It really helps us get new guests on the show. I am delighted to welcome Andrew and Evy to our Cold War conversation… There’s further information on this episode can be found here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode194/ 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. 0:00 Introduction and Background of Igor Gouzenko 2:41 Interview with Andrew Kavchak and Evie Wilson begins 13:55 Aftermath of Gouzenko's Defection and the Following Trials 23:30 Introduction of Evie Wilson, Daughter of Igor Guzenko 33:55 Wilson Family's Relocation and Life in the Greater Toronto Area 43:33 Evie's Discovery of Her Family's Unique Situation and Origin 52:36 The Incident of the Wilsons' Mailbox Getting Blown Up 1:00:22 Evy Wilson's Life and Relatives in the Soviet Union 1:04:26 Andrew Kavchak's Journey to Commemorate the Gouzenko Story Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ 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.
0:05.8	One of the last words my mother asked me, she said, I did I? I did my duty?
0:10.6	Did my? And I said, above and beyond. And I'll never forget those words, she said to me,
0:17.9	because she felt that her life and her main purpose in life was to warn the West.
0:27.9	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:33.3	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
0:39.9	Do make sure that you follow us in your podcast app so that you don't miss out on future episodes.
0:45.7	Igor Guzhenko exposed the Soviet intelligence efforts to steal nuclear secrets as well as the technique of planting sleeper agents.
0:55.8	The Gugenko affair is often credited as a triggering event of the Cold War,
1:02.3	with historian Jack Granite Stein stating that it was the beginning of the Cold War for public opinion,
1:09.5	and journalist Robert Fulford writing that he was absolutely certain the Cold War for public opinion, and journalist Robert Fulford writing that he was
1:12.6	absolutely certain the Cold War began in Ottawa. I talk with Andrew Cavchak, the author of
1:20.2	Remembering Gugchenko, the struggle to honour a Cold War hero, and Evie Wilson, the daughter
1:26.5	of Igor and Svetlana Gugchenko.
1:29.6	There will be further details including a link to Andrew's book in our show notes, which
1:35.0	will be showing as a link in your podcast app.
1:39.9	If you're enjoying the podcast, you can show your support via a monthly donation via Patreon.
1:47.1	Plus, you will get the sought after Cold War Conversations,
1:51.0	drinks coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing
1:55.6	that you are helping to preserve Cold War history.
1:59.5	But don't take my word for it.
2:01.9	Let's hear from Tim Slansky, one of our supporters.
	...

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