A US soldier at Checkpoint Charlie when the Berlin Wall opened (13) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2018 · 1H 16M

A US soldier at Checkpoint Charlie when the Berlin Wall opened (13)

from Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times · host Ian Sanders

Michael Rafferty was posted to Berlin in 1988. He served in the 287th Military Police Company at Checkpoint Charlie and was there through to the historic opening of the Berlin Wall and the removal of the checkpoint in 1990.   I have always been intrigued by a video posted on YouTube filmed in the 1980s by a young US Army soldier documenting his first days in Berlin for his family back at home.   Now I never dreamed that I would find, let alone talk to that soldier, but through the magic of the internet, we got in contact, and Michael Rafferty agreed to give his first interview in 24 years to Cold War Conversations.  His story spans the last days of Checkpoint Charlie, from when the border was the heavily fortified barrier familiar to us from those spy films to the opening of the wall and the unification of Germany.   I am delighted and honoured to welcome Michael Rafferty.  Episode notes & extras here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode13/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Rafferty was posted to Berlin in 1988. He served in the 287th Military Police Company at Checkpoint Charlie and was there through to the historic opening of the Berlin Wall and the removal of the checkpoint in 1990.   I have always been intrigued by a video posted on YouTube filmed in the 1980s by a young US Army soldier documenting his first days in Berlin for his family back at home.   Now I never dreamed that I would find, let alone talk to that soldier, but through the magic of the internet, we got in contact, and Michael Rafferty agreed to give his first interview in 24 years to Cold War Conversations.  His story spans the last days of Checkpoint Charlie, from when the border was the heavily fortified barrier familiar to us from those spy films to the opening of the wall and the unification of Germany.   I am delighted and honoured to welcome Michael Rafferty.  Episode notes & extras here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode13/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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A US soldier at Checkpoint Charlie when the Berlin Wall opened (13)

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This episode is 1 hour and 16 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 9, 2018.

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Michael Rafferty was posted to Berlin in 1988. He served in the 287th Military Police Company at Checkpoint Charlie and was there through to the historic opening of the Berlin Wall and the removal of the checkpoint in 1990.   I have always been...

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