BRIXMIS and the Secret Cold War - Intelligence Collecting Operations Behind Enemy Lines in East Germany (362)

Cold War Conversations

BRIXMIS and its operations behind enemy lines continue to fascinate the listeners of Cold War Conversations. In August 2024 I was honoured to be invited to the National Army Museum in London to interview Andrew Long, the author of BRIXMIS and the Secret Cold War - Intelligence Collecting Operations Behind Enemy Lines in East Germany.

The National Army Museum is a leading authority on the British Army and its impact on society past and present. It’s well worth a visit, particularly their Foe to Friend exhibition about the British Army in Germany since 1945 which is on until the end of September 2024.

In front of a sellout audience including approximately 50 BRIXMIS veterans and their families, we discuss the role, purpose and achievements of BRIXMIS. The accompanying presentation can be viewed here.

The interview starts with an introduction from former BRIXMIS officer Major General Peter Williams and Chairman of the BRIXMIS Association. I’m delighted to welcome Peter Williams, Andrew Long and a sellout audience at the National Army Museum to our Cold War Conversation.

Buy the book and support the podcast https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781399067843

Linked episodes

• BRIXMIS, the defence of Cold War Berlin & Rudolf Hess https://pod.fo/e/f833
• Pete – a BRIXMIS driver behind enemy lines in East Germany https://pod.fo/e/eeb4c
• Arrested 11 times, plus 3 shooting incidents – a BRIXMIS officer’s diary Pt 1 https://pod.fo/e/13af96
• Imprisoned in a Soviet Military gaol - a BRIXMIS officer's diary Pt 2 https://pod.fo/e/13ca90
• In conversation with 7 BRIXMIS veterans – Part 1 https://pod.fo/e/1599d9
• In conversation with 7 BRIXMIS veterans – Part 2 https://pod.fo/e/15b0ac
• Royal Military Police versus the Soviets (SOXMIS) in Cold War West Germany https://pod.fo/e/12c9d6
• Behind enemy lines in East Germany with a US Military Liaison Mission driver Part 1 https://pod.fo/e/d4229
• Behind enemy lines in East Germany with a US Military Liaison Mission driver Part 2 https://pod.fo/e/d757b
• Soviet and U.S. Military Liaison Missions & US Counterintelligence https://pod.fo/e/e4f55
• Cold War US Army Intelligence Analyst https://pod.fo/e/1f383
• US Army Intelligence gathering in the unified Germany https://pod.fo/e/b2cb3

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode362/

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00:00 Introduction

12:06 Post war Germany was split into four occupation zones

16:35 BRIXMIS offices in Berlin and East Germany

21:06 Contacts between Soviets and British

23:27 The tour role in East Germany

30:16 Exploiting intelligence from Soviet rubbish tips

32:15 Restricted areas in East Germany

35:55 Missions and intelligence scoops

40:04 Descriptions of special equipment

42:05 BRIXMIS Cars

44:01 James Bond switches

47:59 Photography

50:36 Overnighting in East Germany

53:25 There East German and Soviet opposition

56:58 Close scrapes and fatalities

01:02 Where to buy the book

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