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Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World QUOTES

Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World QUOTES

1 " Prior to the arrival of both the president and prime minister, listening devices and directional microphones had been concealed in the principal rooms of both the Villa Vorontsov and the Livadia Palace. Members of the British Military Mission in Moscow—all too familiar with eavesdropping—recommended discussing sensitive issues in the bathrooms, with the taps gushing water to drown out their conversations. "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

2 " We really believed in our hearts that this was the dawn of the new day we had all been praying for and talking about for so many years. We were absolutely certain that we had won the first great victory of the peace—and, by ‘we,’ I mean all of us, the whole civilized human race. "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

3 " As radioman Rudolf-Günter Wagner broadcast the news to the crowds of newly liberated Berliners, his words were drowned out by joyous whoops and shrieks. “Hurrah!” they shouted. “Wir leben Noch!” (We’re still alive!). Berliner Manfred Knopf had lived through four years of uncertainty. Now he felt a sense of victory. “We belonged to the Western world! "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

4 " I am looking at birds,’ snapped the brigadier, unaware that he had inadvertently strayed into the Soviet zone. ‘You are looking at our airfield,’ said the sentry. ‘Utter rot, my dear fellow. I am Brigadier Hinde and I have not the slightest interest in counting your planes. I am looking at birds and you are frightening them away, dash it! "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

5 " On Sunday, 11 May 1947, he drove into the forest on the outskirts of Berlin in order to indulge his passion for birds. He was to have an unwelcome surprise as he crept through the undergrowth, when the sudden bark of a Soviet soldier demanded to know what he was doing. "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

6 " At the bottom of the Kremlin’s neurotic view of world affairs,” Kennan wrote, “is traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity.” This insecurity manifested itself in a “patient but deadly struggle for total destruction [of] rival power.”20 He warned that this was particularly the case in hot spots like Berlin, where the Soviets were not to be trusted on any level. “Everything possible will be done to set major Western powers against each other,” he wrote. “Anti-British talk will be plugged among Americans, anti-American talk among British.” The Soviets were masters of sowing seeds of mistrust. “Where suspicions exist, they will be fanned; where not, ignited.” So "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

7 " Those early sessions were dominated by the problem of feeding Berlin’s inhabitants. All agreed that the neediest should get the most calories, but there was no consensus over who was most in need. The Soviets said it was the professional classes, including political leaders, while Howley insisted it was the elderly and infirm. Turning to his Soviet counterpart, he said, “You can’t kick a lady when she’s down.” The Russian flashed him an indulgent smile. “Why[,] my dear Colonel Howley,” he replied, “that is exactly the best time to kick them. "

― Giles Milton , Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World