During the Cold war, soldiers from emerging, newly independent, or struggling countries were often sent for military trainings in Europe. A popular destination for such trainings during the 1950’s and 1960’s was the former Czechoslovakia.

In Episode 11 we take a rare look at these training facilities and unveil how they operated, what problems they faced, why signs had to be taken off doors and why, at times, military barracks resembled university dorms on steroids. Dr. Natalia Telepneva of the University of Strathclyde and Dr. Daniela Richterova of Brunel University also explain what the formerly secret files revealed about Czechoslovakia’s dilemma between profit and influence.