The Stasi Poetry Circle (223)

02/19/22 • 67 min

2 Listeners

In 1982 the East German Ministry for State Security is hunting for creative new weapons in the war against the class enemy – and their solution is stranger than fiction. Rather than guns, tanks, or bombs, the Stasi develop a programme to fight capitalism through rhyme and verse, winning the culture war through poetry – and the result is the most bizarre book club in history.

I speak with Philip Oltermann the author of The Stasi Poetry Circle. Philip has used unseen archival material and exclusive interviews with surviving members to tell the incredible hidden story of a unique experiment: weaponising poetry for politics.

Now if you think there is a vast army of research assistants, audio engineers and producers putting together this podcast you’d be wrong. This podcast relies on your support to enable me to continue to capture these incredible stories and make them available to everyone for free.

If you’d like to help to preserve Cold War history and enable me to continue to produce this podcast you can via one off or monthly donations.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ for more details.

Do join our facebook discussion group where the cold war conversation continues between episodes. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

I am delighted to welcome Philip Oltermann to our Cold War conversation...

Book giveaway and further information here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode223/

0:00 Introduction with Philip Oltermann

6:09 Discussion on GDR's policies towards arts and culture

13:22 The Stasi's involvement with writing circles and their shift in approach

21:01 Role of poetry and culture as a weapon in the Cold War

28:37 The story of Annegret Gollin and Stasi's fear of subversive literature

34:57 Stasi's recruitment process and the impact on Annegret Gollin.

39:03 Introduction to Alexander Ruika, a talented poet and spy

44:27 Discussion on the fear of nuclear war in the 1980s

49:39 Introduction to Uwe Berger, the teacher of the Stasi poetry circle

57:43 The decline of the GDR and impact on the writing circle

1:02:13 Book giveaway announcement

1:03:12 Acknowledgement of the podcast's patrons and promotion of the Facebook group

1:06:03 Closing remarks and promotion of the podcast's store

Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨

Radio GDR

If you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

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If you’d like to help to preserve Cold War history and enable me to continue to produce this podcast you can via one off or monthly donations.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ for more details.

Do join our facebook discussion group where the cold war conversation continues between episodes. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

I am delighted to welcome Philip Oltermann to our Cold War conversation...

Book giveaway and further information here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode223/

0:00 Introduction with Philip Oltermann

6:09 Discussion on GDR's policies towards arts and culture

13:22 The Stasi's involvement with writing circles and their shift in approach

21:01 Role of poetry and culture as a weapon in the Cold War

28:37 The story of Annegret Gollin and Stasi's fear of subversive literature

34:57 Stasi's recruitment process and the impact on Annegret Gollin.

39:03 Introduction to Alexander Ruika, a talented poet and spy

44:27 Discussion on the fear of nuclear war in the 1980s

49:39 Introduction to Uwe Berger, the teacher of the Stasi poetry circle

57:43 The decline of the GDR and impact on the writing circle

1:02:13 Book giveaway announcement

1:03:12 Acknowledgement of the podcast's patrons and promotion of the Facebook group

1:06:03 Closing remarks and promotion of the podcast's store

Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨

Radio GDR

If you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

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If you’d like to help to preserve Cold War history and enable me to continue to produce this podcast you can via one off or monthly donations.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ for more details.

Do join our Facebook discussion group where the cold war conversation continues between episodes. Just search Cold War Conversations on Facebook.

0:00 Introduction and Peter Lambourne's background

1:06 Peter's posting to HMS Resolution and nuclear bomb testing on Christmas Island

2:29 Call for podcast support and donations

3:33 Peter's experience in the Cod War with Iceland and posting to Christmas Island

12:10 Witnessing hydrogen bomb detonations on Christmas Island

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21:01 Lack of protective clothing and radiation tracking

24:33 Recreational activities and dynamics of the Navy group on Christmas Island

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34:05 The health effects of radiation exposure and the government's avoidance of liability

38:09 Reflections on Christmas Island as part of Peter's naval career

42:57 Closing remarks and thanks to patrons

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The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) is the Charity for UK Nuclear Veterans https://www.bntva.com/

There’s further information including videos and photos on this episode here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode224

Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

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