Wolfgang Vogel, East German spy swapper, dies at 82

Thanks, Kai-Petri, A little more news, about the start of it all .
After the end of WW2, in 1945, German pow's having been sent to Canada, and the U.S.A. had to been returned to
Gt. Britain, to be re-educated, and de- nazified. This process would take two or three years. They would be put to
work, producing bricks to rebuild buildings destroyed by Luftwaffe bombings, and V1 and V2 rocket attacks. Other
work would be on farms, producing food for a population recovering from the war. and working in tyre factories.
From the end of January 1944, German and Italian pow's were flowing into Great Britain for interrogation before
having to be incarcerated in pow camps. Whereas the Italians were of no great threat, the Germans fell into three
categories considered to be Black = Hard line nazis, Grey = Accepting of the principals of nazism and White =
Non Nazi, and disapproving of the nazis. This normally could be assessed during their interrogation in Southern
England. Many of the Italians were sent to pow camps in Great Britain, where they would be released during the
day to work on farms. especially in Yorkshire. Many would remain in Yorkshire after the war. The German pow's
were under different rules. The British, fearing, a German invasion could result in German pow's in a British pow
camp could be freed, and they prove a threat to the security of Great Britain. There was an agreement with Canada,
that they would build pow camps, at the expense of Great Britain, and the camps would be split into categories of
Black, Grey, and White. The prisoners, if low risk, would be put to work in "Lumbering" By February 1944, the
Canadian camps were getting full, and the USA expressed a desire to take the interrogated Germans in their camps,
especially in Southern States, working in cotton fields I have written about this topic on the WW11 forum website
under "Scharnhorst survivors", with accounts and timelines of pow's by pow.s I have had contact with.

Because of the rehabilitation of the German pow's in Britain until 1948, causing the population not to be complete,
in Germany. It was not until 14th. August 1949 that the first elections since 1933 took place, however it was not
until 1952-1953 that 8 seats, then a further 11 seats were added. Konrad Adenauer, age 73, and former Mayor of
Cologne was to become the first post war Chancellor. The Yalta conference of Feb.1945 in Yalta, Crimea, S. Union,
was a meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin,to discuss the re-organisation of post war Europe. It resulted
in the German civilians and pow's would be punished for the war , through forced labour, to repair the damage to
their country and others. A further conference in Potsdam, at the Cecilienhof Country House from 17th July to
2nd. Aug. 1945, with Harry Truman, (Roosevelt had passed away} Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, and Josef Stalin.
The conference resulted in the West wanting to revive the German economy and combine the three western zones,
(British, American, and French) into one area. The Soviets feared this union, because it gave more power compared
to their Soviet zone. On Jun. 5th. 1947, American George Marshall called for American assistance for restoring the
infrastructure of Europe.The Soviets refused any assistance from a capitalist America. On June 23rd The Western
Powers introduced a new form of currency, which a day later, started the Soviets, Blockade This was to restrict the
ability of the U.S. France and G. Britain to travel to their sectors. of Berlin, which lay within the Soviet occupied, East
Germany. (only exception was the border between East and West Berlin) . The blockade lasted from June 24th 1948,
to May 12th. 1949. This shut down all road and rail links from the Western Germany to West Berlin. The only way to
get to West Berlin was by air. Only aircraft registered in France, Gt. Britain, and U.S. (plus LOT, the Polish Airline)
were permitted to use the " Berlin Air Corridor " from Frankfurt , Hanover, and Hamburg to West Berlin. Pan-Am was
given the operational rights for the U.S.A. British European Airways (for whom I worked) flew for the British, and Air
France for the French. Charter airlines were given traffic rights at the same time. Dan Air from Britain, and Air Berlin
(registered in Orlando Florida) from the U.S.A. These three corridors lasted until the downfall of the wall.
The Corridor was 20 miles wide, and had a maximum height of 10,000 feet. The 10,000 feet was set, so unpressurised
aircraft could fly the route. As jets, such as Pan Am's Boeing 727, and B.E.A.'s BAC S 1-11 were introduced, the 10,000
ft. flight level remained, making the half hour flying uneconomical. Straying from the corridor, would result in being shot
down, which happened to a French aircraft, and a private Cessna 310 aircraft belonging to Canadian T.V. personality
Hughie Green. The aircraft was hit several times, but managed to reach West Berlin. He had the aircraft repaired, but
had problems with the Soviets allowing him to fly it back to Britain. He replaced his repaired Cessna 310, with a Cessna
337 ("Push Pull") which I was licenced to fly, but never did.. Green was a ferry pilot during WW2. He owned his aircraft
with fellow British T.V. personality, Michael Miles. The aircraft were registered to G.and M. air Interests. Pan Am with
financial problems, sold the Inner German services to Delta, and BEA BAC S1-11 division, (a.k.a. BEA / IGS) became
part of British Airways. After re-unification Lufthansa and German registered aircraft were once again ,allowed to fly
the corridor.
West Germany (FRG) or BRD was established May 1949.
East Germany(GDR) or DDR was established Oct. 1949.

Lance Shippey

 

Wolfgang Vogel. and the Stasi.
The Stasi would eventually amass between 91,000 and 102,000 employees, depending on which
given figure is correct. There were 170,000 unofficial informers. It was formed on 8th. Feb. 1950.
The employment of its staff terminated on 17th,Nov. 1989. The Informants were compensated with
gifts, better jobs, better appartments, and in some cases, "Fast Track" to buy cars. The average
waiting time for a Trabant was 10 -11 years, and for the larger Wartburg metal car 13-14 years.
By the 1980's there was a demand by East German sports people competing in International events,
(such as the Olympics, World Athletics meetings, and Ice skating) to be rewarded with the possibility,
or driving an imported car. They, apart from competing, would have to remember silent , with regard
to taking blue pills It is alleged that 10,000 athletes were being given oral "Turinbol" This was a
steroidal compound. They were 30 deaths of young athletes from 1981 until 1984. The pill taking
started in 1960. Two years ago, In a Hamburg hotel bar, I chatted with a former East German
swimmer. He told me of knowing he had been taking enhancing substances, they were added to a
fizzy drink, and didn't taste bad. I asked him what car he had driven, he replied "Golf". They was
a system controlled by the Stasi, where his neighbours and his address would be given "Lottery
Tickets". The winner would be able to buy an imported car, such as a Golf. The draw of the lottery
would be fixed, so that the sportsperson would have the winning ticket. From around 10,000 athletes,
1000 of them were invited to testify having been forced to take pills of substances, 300 agreed to
go ahead.. Western pharmaceutical companies had also an interest in East German hospitals, where
their new drugs could be trialled.

WW2. The Gestapo had 40,000 officials, watching a country of 80 million people.
The Stasi had 102,000 employed to watch 17 million people,

It was believed that Chris Gueffroy was the last person to die trying to escape, however Chris was
the last person to be shot trying to escape. On the night of 5th. Feb. 1989, He and a work friend,
Christian Gaudian attempted to escape at the Berlin wall. Christian Guardian was also shot, but
survived, Chris, was shot twice in the chest, and died. The four commando guards involved were
given a prize of 150 Omk. each. Chris Gueffroy had gymnastic talent and attended S.C. Dynamo
School in Berlin. He refused a career as officer in the National People Army., so was prevented
from going to University. His dream was to become an actor or pilot. In 1985, he was to become
apprentice at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport as waiter. He met close friend Christian Gaudian whilst
here. Dismayed with the corruption at the restaurant, he wanted no more, and decided to attempt
to Escape. The restaurant at Schoenefeld was "No-Stranger" to waiters trying to escape the GDR.
In late 1987, two of my friends who had worked at the restaurant, had left. One to do his national
service in the Peoples Volkarmee", the other, downgraded to pot washer, due to his refusal to work
for the Stasi as unofficial informer tried to flee. Both were caught. and both ended up in Jail, with
the office of Wolfgang Vogel being involved in "Freikauf". Mario, had attempted to escape from
Hungary into Yugoslavia, caught, he tried to bribe the man who caught him. however this was not
to help. He was taken back to Budapest, and faced interrogation at a prison, near the Budapest
Hilton. A personal TU134 aircraft used by Erich Honecker would take him, and two other failed
escapees back to East Berlin. for a jail sentence at Hohenschoenhausen, Today, both live in
what was West Germany. The Last death before the wall fell was Winfried Freundenberg, He
died when falling from an improvised gas balloon on March 8th, 1989.

A job as waiter in a hotel which had Western clients, or at Schoenefeld Airport in East Berlin, had
financial advantages. Tips from Westerners were high, and usually in hard currency. In an good
week, many of the waiters were making more than a "Politburo" office worker. After using up my
25Dmk, / per day compulsory exchange, I would simply ask my friends to pay in Ost Marks, and
I would given them the money in Dmk, at 1 Ostmark for 1 Dmk. Therefore they would have a fair
amount of hard currency, should they be successful in escaping. The real value of Ostmark was
4 Ostmark = 1 Dmk.

In the early 1980's, the East German airline, INTERFLUG, was awarded routes to Western holiday
destinations, and had signed up West German tour operators to buy the seats at very low prices.
The GDR dictatorship had a special border crossing at Waltersdorfer Chaussee , Special busses
would cross after picking up Westerners in West Berlin and transferring them to Schoenefeld. They
had a dedicated part of the terminal to board their Interflug flight. This was an attempt to bring in more
hard currency to the almost bankrupt Country. U.S. Airline Pan Am from their base at Tegel, in West
Berlin, were suffering because of this unfair competition, and their pilots were considering working
without pay on their weekend Tegel to Greece holiday flight to compete with Interflug.

Erich Honecker had a dedicated aircraft. First, was a twin engine IL14, then four engine turboprop IL18.
replaced with jets TU134, TU154, and a large Ilyushin IL62. He had a security officer, Lothar Herzog,
who would be with him at his home at Waldlitz, and wearing an Interflug uniform on the aircraft during
foreign visits. Honecker would eventually fire him, as Lothar could get on with Honecker's dog.
There was also a bodyguard called Bernd Brueckner. The four engine Ilyushin turboprop IL18, is now
a luxury hotel suite in the Netherlands. at Teuge Airport, near Apeldorn. The aircraft DDR-STD is
parked opposite an excellent restaurant and bar. and costs at the moment, Euro365-395 dependant
on the day. The aircraft was built in 1960, but has been converted into a very luxurious accommodation.
Foreign visits would often require two aircraft being used, as one would carry food for the visit, and to
be used at embassy parties given by Honecker. This would save them money abroad, and also be
"Safe" food. Many foreign leaders, and former head's of state, insist on food testers, and tasters, when
receiving food that had not been brought in by their "Own People" .After re-unification, one of Honecker's
Chef's was to find new work on an Elbe river cruise boat. I was part of a group on board the vessel from
Prague to Potsdam. The menu described " Variation of Salad," and Variation of Soup" The quality was
comparable to a michelin stared restaurant. I think that any excellent food, would have been wasted on
the dictator. He was very much a "Wurst" lover. and rabbit's he had slaughtered himself. Slaughter appears
to have been very popular in he GDR, (in many ways)

Lance Shippey

 

Wofgang Vogel
American document approved for release 2003/1/29. C.I.A
NBC BRIEFING
EAST GERMANY.

Exerpt :

27 JUNE 1955.

The East German people appear convinced that their regime is almost totally bankrupt pollitically and
economically, according to the OST-BURO of the SPD,

The Public mood has shifted from repressed desire for violent measures, to a readiness to indulge in
all forms of passive resistance, localised strikes, and refusal to implement government decrees.
East Germans are believed to be pinning their hopes for improved internal conditions, and even the
possible reunification of Germany, on the results of the summit meeting , and the Adenauer visit to
Moscow.

A similar wave of hope, was reported before the Berlin Conference in the sping of 1954.

Passive resistance, accompanied by a "wait and see" attitude. probably will continue at least until
after the Summit Conference and Adenauer visit to Moscow.

The public mood, may, however, become more violent if the rergime should attempt to enforce conscription ,
increased oppressive measures, greater restrictions on freedom of movement, or if the poor food and consumer
goods situation grows worse

The East German regime continues to demonstrate nervousness at the popular restiveness, however,
and would impose such unpopular measure only with the approval of the greatest ???????????? unreadable

Lance shippey

 

Wolfgang Vogel.

"Prussian Blue VOLVO'S"

In September 1977, 1000 Volvo's were ordered through Intrac Trading Company AHB. The order was
for a number of different models, some 140's and some 160's but to be ready in December 1979 were
"Specially for the Scialist Brotherland" the Volvo 244 DLS. which was a 240 with the front of a 264.This
was a limited edition for the GDR and a price of Omk.42,000. The cars were built with a PRV-6 Engine.
Volvo sent the raw bodies to Bertone in Italy to be stretched, where a further 70 cms was added, so the
car could take an extra row of folding seats in the back, The T.E. stood for "Top Executive" There were
a total of 300 built, and the some of the later builds were stretched in Sweden at Kalmar, on the Baltic.
This was due to a quality issue with Bertone in Italy. East Germany possibly received half of all built.
The production only lasted from 1972 to 1974. GDR had specified velour seats in blue of black and no
leather.

The Volvo 245 T was also delivered, this was a station wagon, the "T" was again a Special, had a stretch.
These were used as airport taxis, as they could carry a lot of luggage.

7 of the Stretched limos used by the "Politburo" were put up for sale in 2003, they had been untouched
for 13 year, and had a price of Euro80,000 for the combined fleet. They were in "Prussian Blue" colour.
the same that is used for the Dutch Government, and Dutch Royal family. The GDR vehicle were fairly
basic inside, with no minibar, no bullet proof glass, and no tinted windows. (I travelled a couple of times
in one of these model, when 3 or 4 turned up with a limo service operating from the Sacher Hotel in
Vienna. I was not a fan of the car, and found it inferior to a Mercedes regular taxi. The Fat-Cats of
Volvograd (Waldlitz) had curtains fitted to the back windows, keeping prying eyes out.

Also for sale in 2003, with the Dictatorship Transport department was a Russian ZIL, which was used
for the Gorbachev visit to East Germany. and a customised Range Rover.
Honecker thought the Citroen GS, was the most comfortable.
Why was the Volvo chosen ? Sweden was a neutral land, a socialist state, and neutral in WW2.
one of the factories was on the Baltic, as was East Germany, so cars could be delivered by sea.
The SAAB 96 was also a consideration, but Saab produced aircraft for the military, so was ruled out.


Lance Shippey

 

The USSR took as much as possible of the Food from the Eastern bloc countries, or so I have believed. One of the reason why the USSR collapsed as the countries started getting independent and refused to give their Food.

 

We have Many eastern bloc jokes:

The DDR female swimming Team was singing in their room. The other teams wondered the very low tone.

The answer was: we are here to swim, not sing.

 

Wolfgang Vogel.

Dear Kai-Petri,

Some stats supplied to Washington from the EU files of 1971.

Food Only
Food Exported from Ost-Bloc to USSR Food Exported from USSR to Ost-Bloc
1958 $340,327,000 $350,070,000
1960 $291,591,000 $488,758,000
1962 $463,638,000 $620,583,000
1964 $507,153,000 $369,144,000
1965 $643,674,000 $400,919,000
1966 $541,311,000 $463,095,000
1967 $632,534,000 $585,661,000
1968 $509,439,000 $588,688,000
1969 $473,183,000 $555,067,000
1970 $707,911,000 $568,491,000

Food exported from GDR to USSR Food Exported from USSR to GDR.
1958 $159,000,000 $157,518,000
1959 $173,000,000 $251,487,000
1960 $972,000,000 $194,000,000
1962 $313,000,000 $264,414,000
1964 $780,000,000 $121,779,000
1965 $670,000,000 $107,263,000
1966 ========== $139,000,000
1967 ========== $137,537,578
1968 ========== $147,065,965
1969 ========== $132,510,000
1970 ========== $142,611,000

Later, Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev had squandered the profits from a 20 year Oil
boom on an arms race with the U.S.A. He was replaced by Yuri Andropov, Afterwards,
Andropov, Konstantin Chemenko, then Anrei Gromyko, before Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mikhail Gorbachev announced in December 1988, that the USSR would loosen Military
control on Wawsaw Pact countries. Gorbachev became Leader in 1985. In 1991 on
Christmas day, he announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
1917 - 1991 Leaders of the Soviet Union
1991 - Present. President of the Russian Republic. (Yeltsin) (Putin) (Medvedev)(Putin)

It could have been, when Gorbachev loosened some of their military hold on the Ost bloc,
the countries showed a little more strength individually, against the demands of the Kremlin.
including some of it's own export tactics. From Jan. 1983, I spent some time in the Soviet Union, due
to my work. I had to visit 10 of the original states. from Murmansk in the Kola Peninsular, to the
"Apple" state of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. I found no food shortages within the tourist hotels.
The one problem was the quality of some of the food. Intourist would sell Western Tour Operators
different standards of Hotel, and food plan. I remember a complaint from a client with a Deluxe
American agency about the food, which was passed on to Intourist. Their reply was, quote " We
don't have deluxe food, only larger portions of our food".. The big problem was that the meals were
calculated financially per item on the plate, down to a sugar cube, or tomato. A group from
a Deluxe operator that had to pay in advance for the services, On some occasions, the hotel
restaurant staff would take some of the extra quantity of food, and resell it to local restaurant
diners, The inventory would be correct in the kitchen, but the result was, that some of the food
would be sold twice..I would continue to visit the USSR before the end of the end of communism,
and then a couple of times after. Prices of food "Sky Rocketed". McDonald's and Subway were
opening, and very popular. I remember though, paying $40.00 for a hamburger, from a "Swanky"
Moscow restaurant. I did see the few local stores running out of certain food items during the
mid eighties

I remember In East Germany in the 80's imported tinned orange juice from Cuba.and Sekt,
(Sparkling wine) from the Soviet Union, called "Krimlsekt" which came in red, as well as clear.
The relationship of the GDR with Cuba was very good, Fidel Castro made a state visit to the GDR
in 1972, and presented his East German comrades with a gift. This was an Island 15kms. Long
and 500 metres wide, off the coast of Cuba and called" Cayo Ernesto", renamed "Ernst Thaelmann
Island." Ernst Thaelmann was the leader of the German communist party during the Weimar republic,
(1919-1933) Thaelmann was arrested in 1933, and put to death in 1944. Some privileged East
Germans, and also West Germans would be part of a winter armada to Cuba. Separated by hotels,
they would be able to enjoy Sun, Sex, and Sand. After reunification, the ownership of Ernst Thaelmann
Island became a little delicate. The German foreign ministry maintained that the "Gift" had only been
"symbolic", and it was not a gift, but a change of name.

Lance Shippey


1991 - Present.

 

Cheers Lance,

the food and cloth problem was very huge in the USSR and other eastern bloc countries. We had so called "wine-trips" to the USSR and Estonia as the Finns changed shirts, jeans,panties etc to champagne/vodka and sometimes money, but rubles were pretty useless 1970-1989. There were cleaning ladies in hotels who entered the room by knocking and especially jeans/panties were top priority. Finns ate caviar and drank champagne in exchange. People lived like kings.

I visitied Bratislava in 1988 during inter-rail and for 5 Deutchh marks ate and drank like king while the locals next in the table had really bad looking stakes instead. The chap checking who gets in was given one Deutsch mark ( some 1/2 euros or 1/3 dollars) or so and we got past the queue. Not bad.

 

Dear Kai-Petri,
Lovely hearing about your story about "wine trips" to the USSR. All of my trips to the USSR starting in Helsinki,
(Except my Leningrad / Murmansk / Moscow trip in 1983 which was from London Gatwick, with a specially chartered
British, Britannia airways B737) from LGW/LED, and MOS/LGW. The MOS/ Murmansk / was with Aeroflot }.
I took remember stocking up in Helsinki, on packs of nylons, chocolates, and Marlboro cigarettes. The cigarettes
would also be used as bribes. I remember one of my guides in Leningrad being given cigarettes, (They had to be
Marlboro) ) she paid for tickets required for a group of 20 Americans on the hydrofoil from the Winter Palace, back
to Leningrad. The cash she had been given for the tickets by her agency, could then go into their own pockets.
The one "Incentive" which I found, the best value, was a "Stange" or block of 10 packs of Marlboro ,I exchanged
for a visit to the flight deck, on an Aeroflot TU154 aircraft from Tibilisi in Geogia to Leningrad. The flight had started
out, with some "odd" movements, slight deviations to the left, then the right, then straight ahead again. Being a
former pilot, I was a little curious why this was happening. The captain, some 2 hours into the flight, walked through
the cabin, and saw the large pack of cigarettes over my head (no hand baggage lockers then), He appeared interested
in the Marlboro cigarettes which I had purchased at Tibilisi airport, prior to departure in the "hard currency" shop
I followed him to the mid galley, and asked if he spoke English, or any western language, as my Russian was just the
basics. He replied "German," he had been to some German airports. I asked if I could visit the cockpit, and I would
give him the whole pack of cigarettes. He agreed, The cockpit was fairly large, and the instruments were all set in
"Lime Green "metal. This was the case for all USSR built aircraft (Green has a calming effect on the brain)
The most alarming part of my visit was his son, sitting in the P1, or Pilot in charge seat. The P2. or co-pilot was
in the right hand seat, as normal. behind them was a flight engineer, and a woman with a child in a stroller. eating
rice from a tin foil package. I asked the Captain who had brought me onto the flight deck, if the aircraft was on
autopilot. The said to his 13 year old son," Show him Igor", Igor then touched the autopilot switch, and became in charge
of the three engine jet. This explained the movements earlier in the flight.Dad had been giving his 13 year old son
a "Go" at the controls. The aircraft had a " go-around, " (aborted landing) at Leningrad, due another aircraft being on
the runway. The second attempt was successful, but "Heavy" with 5 of the 6 tyres on the left undercarriage bursting,
and catching fire. On disembarking the aircraft the tyres were still burning, A fireman arrived, on a bicycle, pulling two
largish fire extinguishers to put the flames out. The aircraft had been fully ladened, including a larger large woman,
who had been located in the forward WC for take of and landing. I guessed, they lived by different rules.

Some of the Soviet built aircraft were copies of British or American aircraft. The Ilyushin IL14, (also built in the GDR,
at its Dresden plant) was a copy of the DC3 Dakota, but with a nose wheel, rather than tail wheel as on the DC3.
The Ilyushin IL18, was a copy of the Vickers Vanguard or Lockheed Electra The IL62, a copy of the Vickers VC10.
Tupolev however, used original plans, with a design which used "Anhedral" wings. (Wings that slope down) for
their TU104, TU124, TU134, (All twin engine jets|) and the TU154 3 engine jet, built to compete with the H.S. Trident
and Boeing 727.in the West. The Antanov AN24 ,twin engine high wing turboprop, carrying 44 passengers was a
copy of a Fokker F27, or F50. I fell in love with this aircraft. and also was able to blag my way onto the flight deck
on a flight from Tashkent to Urgench, when there was a medical emergency onboard, and I needed to ask the captain
to make a diversion to the nearest airport. The stewardess was not trained in using emergency oxygen equipment,
required by an American doctor, who had suffered a stroke on the flight. Not being able to divert, the captain increased
speed, and at my request, made a "Flapless" landing at Urgench. The Doctor survived,

The Soviets also produced the TU144, supersonic airlines. They flew their SST before the Anglo French Concorde.
which is where spy Greville Wynne possibly becomes involved. His release managed by Wolfgang Vogel. It was
alleged that "Doctored" blue prints for the Concorde,also the engines of Concorde, had been passed via an East
German "Double Agent " by Greville Wynne. to the Soviets. They had possibly used some of the Concorde changes
on their TU144 Concordsky, This could have played a part in the fatal crash of the TU144 at the Paris air show on
3rd. 1973. This ended any hopes of the Soviets using the aircraft on passenger revenue flights.. There is another
explanation to the crash, which was that a French Mirage fighter jet was sent to take photographs of the aircraft,
unknown to the Soviet pilot, and having seen the French aircraft, had attempted to avoid a possible collision by
climbing steeply. In one report, which must have been complied by a "None Flyer" referred to the Engines having
"Stalled". This statement , used quite often, and is totally wrong. It is impossible to stall an aircraft engine. A engine
either "Fails," or is "Shut Down". It is the wing that stalls. Both wings and a "Flat Stall". One wing, and the aircraft
could enter a spin. As a teenager, I witnessed two aircraft crashes which were concerning "Stalls" One a large
Vickers Viscount, and the other, a Druine Turbulent.. These two crashes had a great impact on the length of time
it took me to be issued with a pilots licence in Australia in the 70's. Stories of the two accidents can be accessed
can be seen by searching" Lance Shippey G-AVJA" for the Viscount and "Lance Shippey G-ASDB" for the Druine.

In the late 60's and early 70's I spent a lot of time in Amsterdam, and Helsinki, A love of these two capitals, I still
have today. Friends would ask me in the 80's and 90's "What is the best part of the Soviet Union" ? My answer ,
always the same... "The flight back to Helsinki". The meaning of communism for me was "Having nothing, and
expecting everyone else to share in the misery" except of course, the "Fat-Cats" who were getting rich, and
planning their personal empires. I would have liked to have seen the communists fat cats "Beaten so hard, that
pain became their only true friend".

Lance Shippey.

 

Dear Kai Petri.

Hyvaa Iltappaivaa, unohdin mainita.
Good afternoon again, Forgot to mention.

When I first visited Trier, I was shocked to hear that Karl Marx, was not one of the Marx Brothers. !
and, I was surprised to learn that Friedrich Engels, was known in Britain as "Fred Engels" due to
his being sent to the family business interest they had in Britain called "Ermen and Engels".
Their cotton mill was in the Weeste / Seedley area of Salford and known as , "Victoria Mills"It was
situated a minute or two from St. Luke's Church, where in 1879, Emmeline Pankhurst, of the
Women's Suffrage Movement was married.Engels was 22 years old when he arrived at the mill in
1942. Marx and Engels were friends, Engels was wealthy, Marx was not, and Engels gave Marx
as annual grant of £350. It is said that part of "Das Kapital " has its roots in Manchester. (Salford
in now a City, but part of Greater Manchester, England) . Marx is buried at Highgate cemetery in
London. The Engels "Victoria Mill" was eventually to become Winterbottom's biscuits, before
being pulled down..

Lance Shippey.

 

Cheers Lance

Any place in Helsinki you liked or busy flying away to another location?

 

Hi, Kai-Petri.
I loved Helsinki, In the late 60's early 70's I stayed at the Vaakuna hotel, which was under Soko's
department store. I remember I always had a smell of smoke, and books of matches in the room.
I think they may have had a fire there later on. I was in Helsinki, when the Intercontinental opened,
and liked that hotel, but in the 80's and 90's stayed at the Hesperia, which was next to the Intercont.
I liked looking around the "Marimekko" store, At night would usually go to a bar / restaurant called
I think, "The Charles Dickens" possibly in the Hotel Torni, which was very old fashioned, but had
good food, and excellent "Koff" beer. The Intercont. and Hesperia were very close to the Finnair
office, It was convenient, as all the late 80's 90's trips to Leningrad and back from Moscow had to
start and end with a couple of days in Helsinki and only use Finnair. In the 00's I would use Frankfurt
and Lufthansa.
I spent a week in Helsinki from March 7th to March 14th for the World Skating Championships, known
as "Worlds" Scott Hamilton won singles men for the USA. Torville and Dean won Ice dance for the U.K.
Valova and Vasiliev won pairs for the USSR. Canadian singles. Brian Orser won bronze for Canada.
These yearly competitions were of great interest for the USA, Canada, and G.B. it was one of the
few areas that the Soviets, and Ost Bloc could acquire "Prestige" , and also, they thought," Respect.",
by winning. The 15 or so Soviet spectators were sitting in one area at the end of the rink, It was known
by the Americans, and Canadians sitting in my seating area as "Rent a Crowd" It would be these
people, probably from the Soviet Embassy in Helsinki, that would get up, before the Soviet skaters
had finished their performance, and through bunches of flowers on the rink.The flowers would be
recycled for the next Soviets.
I also spent a little time on occasions in Turku, and had a close friend from Jyvaskyla. He worked
for Lufthansa in Hamburg, then Frankfurt, thereafter for Finnair in Frankfurt, Los Angeles, and
Helsinki. He retired a couple of years ago..

Lance.

 

Wow Lance.

That is a lot known about Helsinki.

Usually the Russians love andfill the ice rinks but maybe they knew no gold today.

 

Hi again Kai-Petri.
Yes, I guess it's different nowadays, when Russians are living all over the World.
One other thing of interest regarding Finnair. The Soviet Union banned photocopiers
during the Cold War years, however Finnair in Moscow, and Leningrad were allowed
to have one. The Finnish staff would work 2 weeks in the Soviet Union, and then 2
weeks back in Finland. They had Western newspapers, which were also banned in
the USSR. I would you to chat with them, and they would make me coffee, whilst I
had access to the real news from their papers. They also had a SITA telex link..
Before we had Faxes, and Internet communications, World airlines used a system
called SITA. This used a telex machine, and connections Worldwide using 7 letters.
firstly the destination city, or airport e.g. LHR for London, JFK for New York, FRA for
Frankfurt, Then the next the department of the airline, such as TO for Town office,
or FF for Cargo. the final 2 letters were for the airline. DL = Delta, BA = British Airways.
KL = KLM, Finnair = AY. Czechoslovakian Airlines = OK.

On the night of 20th / 21st August the Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and the
GDR. were ordered to invade, and suppress an uprising for reform in Czechoslovakia.
Romania, and Albania refused to take part in the invasion, Just before the invasion,
Moscow told the East Germans, just before the invasion, to send only specialists in.
A total of 250,000 "Warsaw Pact" troops attacked Czechoslovakia. All communications
had been cut. No radio, T.V.. The Czechoslovakian Airline CSA, had its SITA link in
tact. and they sent a message from PRG??OK (The airlines code) to airlines all over
the World. The system allows the airline to send to hundreds of airlines immediately.
The message more or less said," We are being invaded, and need your help," Please
support us". Unfortunately, the plea had little effect, and 137 civilians were killed, with
500 people being seriously injured.

Lance Shippey

 

Interesting details again Lance!

 

Wolfgang Vogel. Reparation Payments from the GDR for WW2.
The original reparations agreement was signed in 1952. The FRG (West Germany)
refused to pay East Germany's obligation. The debt of the former GDR to Israel is an
estimated $19, Billion. It is known as "The Missing Third." West Germany had already
paid $37. Billion in reparations to Israel. Jewish organisations, and Individual Jewish
claimants.
East Germany had long refused to accept responsibility for the crimes of Nazis against
the Jews, After Erich Honecker had been ousted, Egon Krenz was appointed as replacement.
(Leader of the SED). This decision was against the wishes of Mikhail Gorbachev, who wanted
Honecker's replacement to be Hans Modrow. Modrow instead became "Chairman of the Council
of Ministers" which lasted only a short period, 13th November 1989 to 12th April 1990.
Modrow sent a letter to Edgar M. Bronfman Snr. who was president of the World Jewish Congress,
at his office in Manhattan. Modrow's statement stated that his government recognised
"the responsibility of the entire German people for the past." and stood ready to "provide
material support" for those who were persecuted. Modrow thought that showing a willingness
of East Germany to negotiate would open the way for East Germany to establish relations with
Israel.
It was unclear however, how East Germany could afford to pay for the reparations. The Modrow
letter, probably wanted to show that his interim government was dealing with the subject, before
it was replaced in March / April 1990. Modrow was NOT the first, that had been involved in
the story. Edgar Bronfman snr., praised Honecker for his sympathy toward the Jews. and had
a "face to Face" conversation with Honecker, in October 1988, when being invited to the GDR.
Reports, suggest that East Germany is seeking to aid the World Jewish Congress to improve
its trade relations with the United States. East German would like to receive most favoured
nation trade status. and seeks an invitayion for Honecker to visit Washington. which was thought
to bring East German prestige to the West.

Honecker, wanted his dictatorship , somehow be given respectability. and acceptance.. A State
visit to the Netherlands in June 1987, would be highlighted by a meeting with Dutch royalty.
The visit would last several days, and included visits to The Hague, and Delft. His daughter from
his second marriage to Edith Baumann. (1953 - 1955} Erika, born in 1950 and later married to
East German diplomat Karl Wildau. After serving in Yemen, Cyprus, the third appointment for
her ambassador husband was the Netherlands. They were still in the Netherlands during the
fall of the wall. The next State visit for Erich, accompanied by some of his "Fat-Cats" was to
be to West Germany in September 1987., and the third State visit would be in October 1987 to
Belgium. The highlight, a meeting with the King and Queen of the Belgians. Apart from bringing
respectability to the GDR, it also promoted trade. Belgium allow the importation of Wartburg cars,
so the hard currency deals brought cash, into Honecker's cash strapped dictatorship.
Great Britain recognised the existence of the GDR by opening an Embassy in East Berlin.
Honecker tried to negate the absence of a State visit to Britain, by announcing in East German
press. "Erich Honecker has received a letter from Buckingham Palace, Thanking him for the
birthday card he had sent to the Queen" Relations with the USA would have been "The Icing
on the cake". Possibly, there may have been a way.

In 1988 Edgar Bronfman Snr. was awarded the "Star of Peoples friendship" medal, and certificate
by Erich Honecker, during Mr Bronfman's visit to East Berlin. This award was important for the
GDR. It was first given in 1964,. Some of the notable recipients were.:
1965 Denis Nowell Pritt, A British Barrister, and Labour party politician.
1965 Josip Tito Yugoslav Leader.
1972 Fidel Castro Cuban Leader.
1984 Alexander Schalk Golodowski East German KoKo politician
1988 Harald (Harry) Ott East German Politician in foreign affairs.
1988 Edgar Bronfman Snr. C.E.O. of Seagrams and President of the
World Jewish Congress.

As president of the World Jewish Congress, Mr Bronfman lobbied successfully to have Kurt Waldheim,
Secretary General to the United Nations in 1971, bared from entering the USA. as he, allegedly, failed to
report the facts about his war service. Waldheim would be elected as President of Austria. 1986-1992.
An Austrian friend, described him as a "Cheap" or "Inexpensive President", as there were savings in
his foreign travel budget, as "No -One wanted to see him" It was also suggested by a foreign diplomat
in Vienna, that he had "Short arms, and Deep pockets". He would attend the usual birthday celebration
thrown at the Sacher Hotel for Lord George Weidenfeld GBE., Lord Weidenfeld was born in Vienna,
moved to England, and became a political commentators for the BBC in 1942. Later known for one of the
most successful publishers in Gt. Britain.. He had attended school in Vienna with Waldheim.

Honecker discussed the subject of reparation payments with Mr Bronfman during his visit to the GDR.
together with Kurt Loeffler, a vice minister of religious affairs., who is believed to have dealt directly with
the reparations issue. In 2019 Israel were still waiting for the missing 1/3 reparation. It became known
in Israel as "The Submarine Affair". The missing $19 billion could be taken as the cost of a submarine,
and a ship delivered by Germany to the Israeli navy. (Thus saving the Israeli taxpayer $2 Million a year)

Edgar Bronfman Snr. was Canadian / American, born in Montreal He married several times, His first
wife was Ann Loeb, They had 4 children, They were divorced in 1973. Ann died in 2011. I was very
fortunate is getting to know Ann, when she visited Czechoslovakia, East / West Germany, and Austria
in the early 90's On arrival back at her home in Montreal, she would like to chat, usually in the middle
of the night, due difference in Canadian / European time differences. but it was worth being woken up.
She had a wonderful sense of humour. and very "down to earth". She was a highlight in my life, and
I will never forget the stay at the Sacher hotel in Vienna, and her handling of a young, arrogant, front
of house employee. He will remember the name Bronfman for the rest of his life, as will many Austrians
with a memory of Kurt Waldheim.
Another wife of Edgar Bronfman Snr, was Rita Webb. She became Georgiana (George) Bronfman in
1975. this marriage would last until 1983. Rita would go on to marry English Actor Nigel Havers., and
son of Sir Michael (Lord) Havers., a British Attorney General for some time.

Edgar Bonfman stepped down as president of the Jewish World Congress in 2007. He died in 2013.

Lance Shippey








.

 

Wolfgang Vogel The beginning of the end of the GDR.

On October 2nd, 1989, Erich Honecker had an English guest to chat with for 70 minutes.
British media magnate, and publisher, Robert Maxwell wanted to give "Erich" some advise.
Ian Robert Maxwell, born Jan Ludvik Hyman Binyamin HOCH, in Czechoslovakia. in 1923.
He took British nationality in 1946. He, an Orthodox Jew, married Elizabeth (Betty) Meynard.
a French Protestant . They had 9 children. The last being Ghislaine, after whom his boat
"Lady Ghislaine" was named. In 1964 he became a Labour Member of Parliament for
Buckingham. which lasted until 1970, when he lost his seat to the Conversatives.
Maxwell bought three quarters of Butterworth - Springer press, and changed the name to
Pergamon Press, building it into a major publishing house. It was involved in the publishing
of a biographical series, called "Leaders of the World" and In 1981 "From My Life" Erich
Honecker. The general editor, Robert Maxwell. Maxwell wrote, "The 30th anniversary of the
foundation of the GDR in October 1979, is a fitting occasion for the publication of this book"

In 1988, an internal impatience for Honecker's government was growing, specifically the
refusal to undertake political and economic reform. 47,000 citizens from Vietnam, Mozambique,
Angola,and Cuba, had to be brought to the GDR, due to a shortage of labour.
"Bob" Maxwell told "Erich" in their 1989 meeting,( just before the end of Honecker's rule.).to put
reforms in his land. Honecker laughed, and said neither yes or no.

On 5th November 1991, Robert Maxwell is presumed to have fallen overboard from "Lady
Ghislaine" in the waters of the Canary Islands.

Lance Shippey

"


Erich Honecker.
m

 

Wolfgang Vogel. " Honecker's Fate."

Honecker was forced to resign in Oct. 1989, by his party's secret police by threatening to expose
his wartime attempts to collaborate with the Nazis. Wofgang Vogel, acting as Erich Honecker's
lawyer in 1990, was asked to assist with finding a sanctuary for Honecker, and Pastor, Uwe
Holmer agreed . Arrest warrants for his arrest were issued in 1991. With the help of a small group of
friends, a flight was arranged from Soviet military airport "Sperenberg" to Moscow. Sperenberg was
the first site were Wernher von Braun tested his rockets before research moved to Peenemuende.
In 1950, Sperenberg became a "Fligehorst" (Military airfield) for heavy transport aircraft. The cost
being shared by the GDR, and Soviet Union The village of Sperenberg was a Russian military area.

On arrival in Moscow, they were to seek asylum at the Chilean Embassy in Moscow. In June 1992,
Patricio Aylwin, President of Chile, assured West German chancellor Helmut Kohl, that Honecker
would be leaving their embassy in Moscow, possibly against his will. He was ejected from the Chilean
embassy on 29th July 1992, and flown to West Berlin's Tegel airport. and detained at Moabit prison.
Wife Margot, known as the "Purple Witch" because of her purple hair, boarded a flight in Moscow
bound for Santiago, Chile, where she would join her daughter Sonja, who was living in Santiago.

Honecker, and five co-defendants were indited for there part in "collective manslaughter" of 68 people
as they tried to escape from East Germany. (In 2005, files discovered, suggests that 1000 to 1100
people had died). The trial began on November 12th 1992. It was decided that Honecker was too
ill to stand trial, due to cancer. He was allowed to fly to Santiago to join his wife. He died on May 29th.
1994, and is buried in Santiago, Chile.. Margot would live in a small house in a gated community of
Santiago until her death on May 6th. 2016.

Why Chile ? Apart from daughter Sonja, who had married a Chilean and lived in Santiago, there was
an advantage for exile in Chile. On Sep. 11th 1973, Chilean leader Salvador Allende was deposed
after a coup d'atat by Augusto Pinochet. Brigadier General of the Chilean Air Force, and later, In charge
of the food distribution office in the Allende government, Alberto Bachelet, was arrested and tortured.
Imprisoned by the Pinochet "Hard Men". he died in 1974. His wife and daughter were also arrested, and
after interrogation, tortured, before being released, and allowed to join their son living in exile in
Australia. In 1975, Daughter Michelle, decided to move to East Germany, Her mother arrived separately
in 1976. Michelle married another Chilean exile in 1977, and their first child was born in East Germany
in 1978. After studying in the GDR, she graduated as physician and surgeon, however would leave the
GDR in 1979, after 4 years in the GDR, and return to Chile. Michelle also had an interest in politics, and
would be elected first female President in Chile from 2006 - 2010, and again 2014 - 2018. She was
divorced and has three children. In 2018 appointed as High Commissioner for human rights, at the U.N.
in New York. It was the asylum given to Chileans in East Germany after the Allende overthrow, that the
Honecker's were able to live in exile in Chile.

During Honecker's dictatorship in the GDR, he was awarded titles with medal of honour from two Western
countries.
Austria Grand star of the order of honour for services to Austria.
Finland Grand cross of the white rose of Finland in 1977

Wolfgang Vogel was indited for blackmail of 4 of his clients, committed perjury in 1993, and falsified
documents in 5 cases.. Vogel's trial lasted more than 14 months. He received a to a two years
suspended sentence plus fines, which were later acquitted under appeal. He said that he had always
acted in good faith. Written character references were given by many influential supporter. which no doubt
helped with the outcome.

Lance Shippey.

 

Thanx Lance,

so many details I did not know of.

My family´s friends lived next to DDR secret police chief´s summer cottage. I went to the lake with a small boat and I am sure they videod every second of it. Me, some 12 years,very dangerous, I never would have thought of it. We have footage of it but it is from the 80´s so I cannot give any of it here. Maybe one day as I turn it into CD.

I am sure you know what "one Ulb " is. The time you hear on the radio Ulbrich spricht and the how long it takes to close the radio " One Ulb..."....

Must be close to the Russian "One Put....."

 

Dear Kai-Petri,
I have quite a lot of information regarding the use of "State Radio", which I will reveal tomorrow.
The most re-assuring thing about state broadcasts, is that the "Political Performance" of a "So-called
Dictators" is normally a match for their performance between the sheets... Usually" Pathetic and very
disappointing" .I usually, am able to mitigate the wished power and influence of Political speakers by
substituting their face for someone else's e.g. some one who wishes to be compared with Winston
Churchill is substituted in my mind 's eye for" Margaret Rutherford.". '

Lance Shippey