Life in the forbidden zone at the East/West German border (249)

<p>A young Claudia Bierschenk lived at the edge of a world called the GDR, in a village surrounded by hills, valleys and thick forests. </p><p>Her great uncle lives in the Forbidden Zone, the area where the East German border is a few metres away from West Germany. This is where the villages are like ghosts towns and inhabitants need special permits to enter.</p><p>Claudia provides a vivid and unique description of entering the Forbidden Zone for the first time after being granted special permits to visit her Great Uncle on his 80th birthday. His house is the last house before the final border fences and Claudia describes  up close to the fences, while her grandfather tells her about “rabbit discos”…</p><p>We also hear more of her life in this isolated area, including strange sports activities and Claudia’s experience of being trained as a 12-year-old Para medic.</p><p>We end the episode talking about how she and her family experienced the momentous events of 1989 when the border opens, and East Germans are free to cross into West Germany. </p><p>Claudia has distilled these stories into a book, Never Mind, Comrade, published by Tangerine Press</p><p>Some of the incidents that the author recounts in this short but beautifully-detailed and personal account give readers insights into what daily life was like on the ‘wrong’ side of the Iron Curtain. But the point is never laboured. Rather, the memoirs act as snapshots or short fragments of daily life. No moment lasts for more than a few pages. This lends ‘Never Mind, Comrade’ authenticity – it reads like memories of childhood: distant, not fully-formed, and yet some details possessing great clarity undimmed by the passage of time.</p><p>Don’t miss our previous episode with Claudia here <a href='https://pod.fo/e/137f1e'>https://pod.fo/e/137f1e</a></p><p><b><em>Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in th