When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436)

Andrew was a British modern languages student in 1989. He recounts the serendipitous moment when he stumbled upon an advert for a work and holiday trip to the GDR. The trip was organized by the Great Britain GDR Society, which allowed participants to experience life behind the Iron Curtain. For just £120, students could immerse themselves in a culture that was vastly different from what they knew. The only requirement was to join the society, which piqued the curiosity of our guest, who had previously visited West Germany but had yet to set foot in the East. As the group engaged in work on a building site, they encountered East German soldiers and workers, sharing stories and forging unexpected friendships. The camaraderie that developed during these moments highlighted the human connections that transcended political boundaries. Andrew reflects on the peculiarities of the trip, from the shoddy living conditions to the surreal experience of mingling with locals who had their own dreams and aspirations. Episode extras 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 If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

You can listen to When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436) is an episode from Cold War Conversations by Ian Sanders.

This episode is 74:59 long.

This episode was published on Dec 27, 2025.

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