The Cold War Years. A Hot War in reality. Part 10.

My ‘Cold War’ trilogy is complete. I enjoyed writing it and the empty space it has left will be filled with a new set of books, based on the outcome of a strategic nuclear exchange. An Apocalyptic trilogy, survival at its worst.

The Cold War era started very soon after the end of the second world war, when the communist east, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, faced each across what became known as the ‘Iron Curtain’.

The capital of Germany, Berlin, was divided into four Sectors. The consequence being, that the three Western Allied powers now controlled territory deep within the Soviet Union Zone of Germany.

Over time, the tensions between the four Allied powers increased, eventually resulting in the Berlin blockade in 1948, when the Soviets attempted to starve West Berlin into submission and force the other three Allied powers out. This failed and the Soviets eventually relented, but an ever-increasing number of East Germans fled to the West; between 150,000 and 300,000 a year during 1951-1953. As a consequence restrictions were placed on movement between the divided country. From 1961, the border was closed and Berlin completely encircled, first by barbed wire, then bricks and finally a concrete wall, along with the infamous ‘death strip’.

Access was now restricted between Berlin and the West. A wall, 124 mile miles in length, was placed around the three sectors of West Berlin, cutting off the city from the rest of the world.

The famous photograph of the East German soldier making an escape to the West. The soldier in the photograph died recently. – The Cold War had begun.

The four zones of Berlin – 1984

In East Berlin, and other countries under the control of the Soviet Union, the communist state imposed ruthless control over the people of those countries. A section of the cells in the Stasi Prison, East Berlin.

The Soviet Army occupied East Berlin, like they did many countries in Eastern Europe.

First there was World War I

The ‘Little Caterpillar’, the first tracked vehicle bought by the British Army in 1907.

The Mark IV tank, H.M.S Excellent. Entered service in May 1914.

Troops on the march.

Then came World War II, the battle of the giants.

From the famous Panther…

…to the Panzer VI…

…the Tiger II

The Russian famous KVIB

The American Sherman Firefly.

The British Churchill Mark VII

Then there was World War III

“Today, West German imperialism is United States’ chief ally in Europe in aggravating world tension. West Germany is increasingly becoming the seat of the war danger, where revenge-seeking passions are running high… The policy pursued by the Federal Republic of Germany is being increasingly determined by the same monopolies that brought Hitler to power.

The Rhineland politicians fancy that once they get the atomic bomb, frontier posts will topple and they will be able to achieve their cherished desire of carving up the map of Europe again and taking revenge for defeat in the second world war.

One of the most ominous factors endangering peace is the bilateral military alliance that is taking shape between the ruling circles of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. This factor remains an objective of unflagging attention.”

Leonid Brezhnev

23^rd Party Congress

March 1966

The US M-60. They also had the more modern Abrams M1

105mm. Abrams M1

The 120mm, Chieftain main battle tank, the mainstay of the British Army of the Rhine in the 80’s.

During the early-mid 80’s, the Challenger was being introduced as a replacement for the Chieftain.

The German Leopard

The Soviet T-72. This was very much a tank made for Export. The T-64 would have been the mainstay of any Soviet invasion of the West.

Soviet T-64.

The T-80, being introduced into the Soviet elite armies of the Group of Soviet Forces Germany in the 80’s

Soviet Hind-D. The Soviet Army had hundreds of these available in the 80’s. They would have been a major issue for NATO forces.

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my research and experiences with you. This is the first of my new ‘Cold War’ series, supporting the writing of my new ‘Cold War’ series of novels, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany by the Warsaw Pact in the 80’s. ‘The Red Effect’.

The equipment Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black.