When the Wall Fell

June 21, 2023 00:35:47
When the Wall Fell
The Spear
When the Wall Fell

Jun 21 2023 | 00:35:47

/

Show Notes

As a new military police platoon leader, Robin Fontes unexpectedly found herself present at a turning point of strategic significance. Assigned to the Berlin Brigade, Fontes and her soldiers were part of the American effort to maintain an outpost in the German capital, keep tabs on the Soviets, and stay ready for the start of World War III—all while citizens across Eastern Europe were increasingly demanding additional freedoms and political representation from their communist governments. As tensions inside East Germany continued to rise, Fontes had a front-row view. When the Berlin Wall came down in October 1989, she found herself thrust into a delicate balancing act in the midst of geostrategic uncertainty in a profoundly historic moment.

Other Episodes

Episode 0

January 27, 2021 00:34:41
Episode Cover

Apaches into the Fight

This episode of The Spear features a conversation with Capt. Lindsay Heisler. An aviation officer and Apache pilot, in December 2015 she was part...

Listen

Episode

March 17, 2022 00:28:10
Episode Cover

Armor in Ramadi, Part 2

In the second episode in a two-part series, Dan Gade joins The Spear to tell the story of his 2004 deployment to Ramadi, Iraq....

Listen

Episode

September 28, 2022 00:29:11
Episode Cover

MPs in Baghdad

In 2003, just months after graduating from West Point, Misty Cantwell was a military police platoon leader waiting to cross the border into Iraq....

Listen