The Picnic That Ripped Open The Iron Curtain (329)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2024

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists did the unthinkable: they entered the forbidden militarised zone of the Iron Curtain - and held a picnic. Word had spread of what was going to happen. On wisps of rumour, thousands of East German 'holiday-makers' had made their way to the border between Hungary and Austria, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The stage was set for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: that day hundreds would cross from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union - the so-called end of history - all would flow from those dramatic hours. Drawing on dozens of original interviews with those involved - activists and border guards, escapees and secret police, as well as the last Communist prime minister of Hungary Matthew Longo's book "The Picnic - An Escape to Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain" reconstructs this world-shaping event and its tumultuous aftermath. Freedom had been won but parents had been abandoned and families divided. Love affairs faltered and new lives had to be built from scratch. The Picnic is the story of a moment when the tide of history turned. It shows how freedom can be both a dream and disillusionment and how all we take for granted can vanish instantly... Book giveaway info here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ Buy the book and support the podcast here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781847927798 The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, 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 welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod 0:00 Introduction to the episode by Ian Sanders 4:47 Discussion on the political situation in Hungary in the late 80s 13:11 Gorbachev's view on Hungary's reforms and changes 23:26 Reaction of Hungarian hardliners to Imre Nagy's reburial 29:41 The tense atmosphere at the Warsaw pact meeting in Bucharest 37:49 The origin of the idea for a European picnic at the border 48:02 The impact on the Berlin Wall 57:23 The fatal shooting of Werner Schultz 1:00:38 The rapid changes that followed the opening of the border 1:07:42 Victor Orban's reimagining of history 1:11:53 Conclusion and promotion of Matthew Longo's book, The Picnic 1:12:33 Acknowledgements and closing remarks 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.
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0:36.0	He was terrified at how quickly it was moving. He feels he's let the genie out of the bottle.
0:40.8	He had wanted a much slower, more measured reform, but no, it was spiraling under control.
0:48.8	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:52.0	If you're new here, you've come to the right place for first-hand
0:55.4	Cold War history accounts. And thanks to financial supporter Jack Wieselak for providing today's
1:01.2	intro. And make sure you hit that follow button in your podcast app so you don't miss out on
1:07.0	future episodes. In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists did the unthinkable.
1:14.4	They entered the forbidden militarized zone of the Iron Curtain and held a picnic.
1:20.5	Word had spread of what was going to happen.
1:23.2	On wisps of rumour, thousands of East Germans had made their way to the border between Hungary and Austria, awaiting an opportunity fearing prison and surveilled by lurking Stasi agents.
1:35.3	The stage was set for the greatest border breach in Cold War history.
1:39.3	The fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Soviet Union, the so-called end of history.
1:45.7	All would flow from those dramatic hours.
	...

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