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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