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Author: Carlo R. Editor: Amazon Year: 2021 Type: paperback Size: 214 pages, >400 hi-res color photos Language: English ISBN: 979-8590081820 |
Paperback available from many national Amazon stores
amazon.com | amazon.de | amazon.co.uk | amazon.it | amazon.fr | amazon.co.jpCheck your national Amazon site for paperback and Kindle versions. |
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| After the end of WWII and the partition of Hitler’s Germany into zones of occupation, a large Soviet military force – the Western Group of Forces – was deployed in the Soviet sector. Even after the foundation of the communist-led German Democratic Republic (GDR), this Soviet force at the orders of Moscow acted independently from the local regular army. Hidden behind the Iron Curtain, this strong force kept direct control of many military facilities in what is today the northeastern part of Federal Germany. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the collapse of the USSR (1991), most of these facilities were abandoned, leaving behind training grounds, entire airports, nuclear bunkers, missile launch pads and ghost towns – where more than 200’000 Soviet-then-Russian troops and their families had been living and operating for many years. This book is the result of the search and exploration of mostly deserted places, to be found in extremely high density on the former territory of the GDR. By means of hundreds of commented, good quality color pictures from former Soviet military installations, it retraces this forgotten chapter of recent German history.Most of these sites are now totally wild and difficult to reach, where a few of them are more easily accessible to the general public. Some are really good examples of Soviet art and craftsmanship, whereas others strike for the size, or simply for the fact that they exist – as is the case for depots of nuclear ordnance, reportedly installed by the Soviets without even notifying the fellow communist government of the GDR. This book may appeal to Cold War historians, curious travelers and Urbex photographers as well. The book is articulated in 18 chapters, dealing with the following contents: Vogelsang, Neuthymen, Fürstenberg, Lychen-II, Wittstock, Lärz, Wünsdorf, Sperenberg, Rangsdorf, Brand, Finsterwalde, Jüterbog & Niedergörsdorf, Stolzenhain, Zeithain & Riesa, Bischofswerda, Forst Zinna, Altenburg, Großenhain, Damgarten, Berlin. The last chapter in particular features aerial pictures taken on a purpose-planned scenic flight over several former Soviet installations in the GDR. |
Second Edition
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Author: Carlo R. Editor: Amazon Year: 2024 Type: paperback Size: 209 pages, 75+ destinations, color pictures & maps throughout Language: English ISBN: 979-8876037916 |
Paperback available from many national Amazon stores
amazon.com | amazon.de | amazon.co.uk | amazon.it | amazon.fr | amazon.co.jpCheck your national Amazon site for paperback and Kindle versions. |
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| The Cold War between the Soviet and NATO opposing blocs has been especially tangible in Germany, split in two for the entire duration of this deadly confrontation, which took around 45 years following the capitulation of Hitler’s Reich. Despite sometimes not much publicized, traces of this central episode in recent history indeed exist, especially in the former communist-led German Democratic Republic (GDR, or DDR in German). The oppressive ministry for state security, the STASI, left massive relics after it was dissolved in 1990. One of the most striking materializations of the Iron Curtain was the German Inner Border, a fortified line running all along the border between the ‘Two Germanies’. Of course, Berlin also was cut by the homonymous wall. One of the most militarized states in the world at that time, the GDR hosted a National army (NVA) and an entire Soviet group of forces – this massive military presence also left traces.
This newly updated guide is a useful companion to set up a trip to Cold-War-themed destinations in the GDR. Prepared by a person who has been on the spot, it features
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Author: Lutz Freundt, Stefan Büttner Editor: AeroLit Verlag Year: 2007 Type: paperback Size: 300 pages, color photos throughout Language: German ISBN: 3935525117 |
Paperback available from Amazon in Germany
amazon.deOut of print, collectible, very rare. |
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| More than just a guide to the Soviet airbases in the GDR, this is the definitive directory on the history of all the airfields in the GDR which fell under the rule of the Soviet military. Each of these airports is described from a technical standpoint, retracing its development (including data on runway lengthening, addition of aircraft shelters and other facilities, etc.) as well as operational history. The latter includes squadrons permanently stationed on a specific airfield, as well as those spending there just a few months. The book is stuffed with interesting historical pictures, most of them in color, documenting both aircraft operations and scenes from ground operation.
The book includes several maps, as well as a directory of aerial/satellite pictures, in some cases taken in different years, thus allowing to analyze the development of the corresponding air bases. Of course, these maps are also extremely useful to prepare explorations. All in all, despite the very high price, this is a must have for everybody interested in the history of Soviet presence in the GDR, as well as for those planning an exploration of these sites. |
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Author: Sébastien Hervouet, Luc et Marc Braeuer Editor: Editions Le Grand Blockhaus Year: 2016 Type: paperback Size: 432 pages, color photos throughout Language: French and English ISBN: 2918505064 |
Paperback available from Amazon.
amazon.frCan be purchased also from the Editor’s website. |
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| This book in double French and English language is a must-have for travelers to Europe looking for traces of WWII, from museums to bunkers, forts, monuments and memorials – everything that is public and open for a visit. The European theater is thoroughly described, country by country, with a stress on France, but with an incredible detail also on all others – from Spain to Finland, from Norway to Greece.
The author of this website has been trying this guide for planning trips since 2016 in at least 12 countries, hardly finding any fault. Totally recommended also for the practical pocket format of the book. You can easily carry it on your trip. |
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Author: Sébastien Hervouet, Luc et Marc Braeuer Editor: Editions Le Grand Blockhaus Year: 2016 Type: paperback Size: 232 pages, color photos throughout Language: French and English ISBN: 2953384189 |
Paperback available from Amazon.
amazon.comCan be purchased also from the Editor’s website. |
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| Similar to the WWII volume (see above), this guide in double French and English language covers hundreds if not thousands locations connected with WWI and today open for a visit. They include museums, trenches, forts, battlefields, memorials, etc., everything that is open to the public. A very complete pocket guide to plan your trip to the focal points of war-battered Europe of the 1910s.
The author of this website has been trying this guide for planning trips since 2016 in France, Belgium, Germany and Italy, hardly finding any fault. Totally recommended also for the practical pocket format of the book. You can easily carry it on your trip. |
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Author: Reiner Helling, Dietmar Steinecker Editor: BücherKammer – Medien Print Web Year: 2018 Type: paperback Size: 160 pages, b/w photographs throughout Language: German |
Paperback available from the Editor’s website
buecherkammer.de |
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| An exceptional resource book on the history of the secret atomic warhead depot Linda/Stolzenhain, codename Objekt 4000, and located about one hour driving south of Berlin. The only remaining of two Monolith-type sites originally built in the former GDR, Stolzenhain was built for and operated exclusively by the Soviet Army, who kept control over a massive nuclear arsenal stored on-site. Warheads were for theater missiles (mostly SCUD) and air-dropped tactical ordnance.
The site was built in the late 1960s, and operated until the late 1980s, when the Soviets started a slow retreat back to their home Country. The site was returned to unified Germany, and fell into private hands. While not open to the public and partly demolished, the core of the site – the bunkers – is still today in good shape. The book tells much about the history of the Stolzenhain site, providing a technical insight, as well as a description of the working routine and way of life of the big Soviet staff once living in a dedicated village nearby, segregated from the German community. One of a few books on the topic, it makes for a nice addition to any collection on the Cold War, GDR history, or nuclear war at large. See pictures from explorations of Stolzenhain in this chapter. |
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Author: Volker Eckart, Uwe Feldmann Editor: Westarp BookOnDemand Year: 2014 Type: paperback Size: 142 pages, many b/w photographs and technical drawings Language: German ISBN: 3863867777 |
Paperback available from Amazon in Germany
amazon.deCan be purchased also from the Editor’s website. |
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| A very nice ancd compact book on the history of the Lychen-2 site – i.e. one of the two Soviet nuclear warhead bunkers for missile warheads in the territory of the GDR, also known as Objekt 4001. The site was built in the late 1960s roughly one hour driving north of Berlin and was close to Fürstenberg on the river Havel. Hidden in the trees, it hosted a couple of Monolith-type bunkers for hundreds of nuclear warheads. A top-secret installation, it was left behind by the withdrawing Soviet Army, who had exclusively managed it for two decades, in the late 1980s, after being emptied of all warheads and transportable technical gear. Back in the days of operations, it was home for hundreds of dedicated military staff, who lived in a secluded village nearby the bunkers.
The site was sadly demolished in the 2000s, and today only a few archaeological remains witness its existence. This book is a nice portrait of the history of the site, with many details, technical information, and historical pictures. One of the very few titles covering this intriguing and almost completely unknown chapter of Cold War history. See this chapter for photographs of the site as it looks like today. |
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Author: Pavel Podvig Editor: The MIT Press Year: 2004 Type: paperback Size: 692 pages, b/w schemes, technical sketches and maps throughout Language: English ISBN: 0 262 66181 0 |
Paperback available from Amazon
amazon.comCollectible, very rare. |
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| A high-profile, authoritative resource on the history, organization, status and development of the Soviet/Russian strategic nuclear forces. This book covers with exceptional detail a vast subject, presenting information with rigor and in order. Covered are many aspects, including strategic missiles, sites of production, strategic bombers, strategic submarines, etc.
Also Soviet anti-ballistic missile defense is included – information used for this chapter on the Skrunda site (Latvia), and this one on the Chernobyl-2 Duga ‘Woodpecker’ radar site (Ukraine). Out of print since long, it is now a collectible item well worth the money for Agencies and Research Centers. |
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Author: David Donald, Daniel J. March Editor: Airtime Publishing Year: 2001 Type: paperback Size: 196 pages, color photographs throughout Language: English ISBN: 1880588420 |
Paperback available from Amazon in the UK
amazon.co.uk |
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| A very compact and easily readable resource on the aircraft carriers of the world. Printed in the same format of the acclaimed (and sadly long defunct) International Air Power Review, it covers with good encyclopedic detail the carriers in service (as of 2001). Older ones are covered at least in listings.
All in all, what you might expect from a good directory, with a quality and clarity of presentation from pre-Internet times, and today really hard to find. Really worth the very affordable price. This was largely used for information reported in this chapter. |
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Author: Dick van der Aart Editor: Airlife Publishing Ltd. Year: 1985 Type: hardback Size: 167 pages, b/w photographs and pictures throughout Language: English ISBN: 0 906393 52 3 |
Hardback available from Amazon in the UK and US
amazon.co.uk | amazon.comOut of print, but can still be found at affordable prices. |
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| The topic of aerial espionage has been covered in several books, either retracing its timeline under a war history perspective, or specifically treating some of the ‘central characters’ or episodes in this fascinating chapter.
The book by the renowned Dutch journalist and author van der Aart represents a mixture of these two approaches, and focuses mainly on the Cold War period – actually, until the date of writing, i.e. 1984 for the Dutch edition. A friendly way of writing allows even non-technicians to delve into the often unsung and extremely risky ‘spy game’ carried out all along the Cold War, primarily aimed at gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union’s military and technical facilities, when borders were really sealed by an impenetrable Iron Curtain. Every chapter covers a specific stage of the Cold War in detail, with pictures, facts and figures, and adopting a clean and easy-to-read style of narration. If on one side the book obviously does not cover the very last chapters of the story, on the other it represents a unique ‘time capsule’ to look at the Cold War espionage matters with the glasses of people who were on the stage when the Iron Curtain was still an everyday reality. Among many aspects of interest, you can can perceive how an open war in Europe was basically given for granted in the early 1980s, in the minds of many military observers in the West. Furthermore, by comparing the information on this book with those made public only after the collapse of the USSR, you may see what fragments of the truth were available to the West and to the public, back in those years. All in all, a fascinating read for everybody with an interest in this centrally aeronautical, little-celebrated chapter of Cold War history. This book inspired trips to Murmansk (see this chapter) and Giebelstadt (see this chapter). |
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Author: Dick van der Aart Editor: Air-Intel Year: 2016 Type: paperback Size: 146 pages, b/w photographs and pictures throughout Language: English ISBN: 9789402153521 |
Paperback available from Amazon in the UK and US
amazon.co.uk | amazon.com
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| The location of the Danish island of Bornholm at a relatively close distance from the coast of Poland meant this island was the target destination for military pilots defecting from the communist world to the West. Actually, the first ever defection of a MiG happened in 1953, when the Polish pilot Franciszek Jarecki successfully landed his MiG-15 in Bornholm.
The man ended up in the US and had a great career in the defense sector. His attempt was followed by others, so that small island of Bornholm became a bit of a problem for the Soviet Union. The famed Dutch journalist van der Aart retraces the complete history of these defections, showing in detail how the complicated diplomatic situation caused by the defection of a pilot together with a property of the Polish government – and of Soviet make – of great interest for the West was dealt with. The chance of inspecting a new technological marvel was of course exploited by NATO forces, through a secret operation and ending up with the return of the aircraft to their East European owners. Thanks to a friendly style, the book is a light and easy read, yet it is possibly the most complete account in English on this very interesting chapter of Cold War history. This book inspired a trip to Bornholm (see this chapter). |