In 1962 the world came closer to nuclear war than ever before or since, as the United States and the Soviet Union confronted each other over the presence of Soviet missiles on the island of Cuba.In a series tracing decisive moments in the ear

The Berlin Wall Crisis

Jul 21st, 2016 13m 42s

As part of her series tracing the crucial turning-points of the early Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the crisis that led up to the building of the Berlin Wall.By 1961, so many were fleeing communist East Germany that the country

The Congo Coup

Jul 20th, 2016 13m 53s

In a series tracing decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall hears the story of the independence struggle in the Congo in the words of people who were there.Featuring Jacques Brassinne, Onadikondo Wung'a Lomami and

The Hungarian Revolution

Jul 19th, 2016 13m 48s

In October 1956, Hungarians marched peacefully in support of reform. Within hours, the protests had become a revolution. Soviet tanks were sent in, but when they withdrew Hungarians appeared to have triumphed - until the tanks came back.Bridg

Khrushchev's Thaw

Jul 18th, 2016 13m 58s

In a series exploring decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall brings to life the personal recollections of those who were there when the death of Stalin in 1953 dramatically changed life in Soviet Russia and ushered

The Iran Coup

Jul 15th, 2016 13m 56s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall hears from three people who witnessed the fall of Mohammad Mossadegh in Iran in 1953.Featuring Farhad Diba, Stephen Langlie and Homa SarsharProduce

The East German Uprising

Jul 14th, 2016 13m 36s

On June 17 1953, East German workers went on strike and demanded free elections. Within hours, Moscow ordered its tanks to crush the rebellion.Bridget hears the story of that day, as experienced by a teenage boy, a young worker, a trainee law

The H-Bomb

Jul 13th, 2016 13m 49s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the development of the hydrogen bomb.Featuring Kenneth Ford, Sergei Khrushchev and Matashichi Oishi.Readings by Sadao Ueda.Pro

McCarthyism

Jul 12th, 2016 13m 50s

As part of her series tracing the crucial turning-points of the early Cold War, Bridget Kendall explores the personal impact of the McCarthyite Red Scare in the America of the 1950s.As she finds, the Cold War fear of 'Reds' was driven not jus

The Korean War

Jul 11th, 2016 13m 50s

As part of her series tracing the crucial turning-points of the early Cold War, Bridget Kendall revisits the Korean War. This was the moment the Cold War turned hot, and brought fears of a new global conflict.But in this programme Bridget foc

The Fall of Shanghai

Jul 8th, 2016 13m 57s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the fall of Shanghai in 1949, a pivotal event which helped pave the way for the emergence of a new Communist power in Asia - the Peo

The Berlin Blockade

Jul 7th, 2016 13m 50s

As part of her series tracing the crucial turning-points of the early Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the Berlin Blockade - with the help of three people who were lived under the Blockade for a year.In 1948, Stalin was alarmed an

The 1948 Election in Italy

Jul 6th, 2016 13m 46s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the divisive 1948 general election in Italy.Featuring Giorgio Napolitano, Sergio Romano and Aldo Tortorella.Readings by George R

The Czech Coup

Jul 5th, 2016 13m 48s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948 - and hears from three people who lived through it.At the beginning of 1948 Czech

The Greek Civil War

Jul 4th, 2016 13m 47s

In a series tracing the decisive moments in the early years of the Cold War, Bridget Kendall tells the story of the Greek Civil War - and hears from three people who were caught up in it.In 1944 Greece was liberated from Nazi occupation. But

Rate