Potsdam Mission: Memoir of a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer in Communist East Germany

James R. Holbrook

AuthorHouse, Mar 24, 2008 - Biography & Autobiography - 354 pages

Recently declassified information makes it possible for the first time to tell part of the story behind the Cold War intelligence operations of the U.S. Military Liaison Mission (USMLM) to the Commander of the Soviet Army in Communist East Germany. Intelligence collection often led to dangerous encounters with the Cold War spies, Soviet and East German armies. On occasion, Allied officers and non-commissioned officers were seriously injured. Before it all ended with the collapse of the Iron Curtain, one French sergeant and one American officer had been killed. Potsdam Mission traces the development of the author into a Soviet/Russian specialist and U.S. Army intelligence officer. The author then relates his own intelligence collection forays into East Germany by taking the reader on trips that include several harrowing experiences and four arrests/detentions by the Soviets. Finally, the author describes the challenges and rewards of interpreting at USMLM and comments on the important role played by the Mission in Cold War intelligence. Readers who are searching for nonfiction espionage titles and military autobiography books wouldn’t want to miss this masterpiece!

Contents

• My First Clobber: 3
• United States Military Liaison Mission: 14
• Annapolis: 35
• Monterey: 45
• Teufelsberg West Berlin: 55
• American University: 75
• Vietnam: 82
• Georgetown and West Point: 93
• Get Your Steel Tempered: 105
• Hier wird geschossen: 115
• Sie haben einen neuen präsidenten: 123
• Watch For Signs the Soviets Might: 133
• Lock and Load: 140
• Halleluha Theyve Moved the Border: 150
• A Class on the U S Army: 158
• Passage Prohibited: 169
• Trash Runs: 182
• Project SANDDUNE: 197
• Deadman and Mud: 207
• Why Didnt You Run?: 218
• Interpreting: 231
• Operations Cervine Twist: 247
• Looking Back: 271
• HuebnerMalinin Agreement: 285
• Translation of KGB Approved: 294
• The Ideal Tour Officer and Tour: 302
• German Democratic Republic: 308
• About the author: 327

About the author

James Holbrook began his U.S. Army career as a private and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He served with the U.S. Military Liaison Mission in Potsdam, East Germany and West Berlin in 1976-1977. Before the Mission assignment, Holbrook worked at all levels of intelligence—as an enlisted Russian linguist in West Berlin, commanding officer of an intelligence detachment in South Vietnam, and as an operational and strategic analyst in the Pentagon and Europe. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and several service and campaign ribbons. The author holds BA and MA degrees from The American University and a PhD from Georgetown.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Potsdam Mission: Memoir of a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer in Communist East Germany
• Author: James R. Holbrook
• Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2008
• ISBN: 1463463677, 9781463463670
• Length: 354 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / General; History / Military / General