In the mid-1980s Dag was a T72 tank commander in the NVA, the East German Army and is now a volunteer at the Tank Museum at Bovington inthe UK.  He describes his initial tank commander training, the battle readiness of the NVA, and the challenges of a conscript army as well as a startling revelation about a significant change in doctrine in 1987.We also dig deep into the technical details of the T72, including the autoloader, deep water wading, radio communication and its advantages and disadvantages versus NATO tanks.Dag also talks about how Soviet WW2 learnings were applied into the NVA, and his regiment’s role and deployment area in the event of war. Dag shares a frank view and great insight into life in the NVA as a tank commander and the challenges of life beyond the NVA as the Wall opens and all he has known disappears.  Make sure you check out the videos here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode326/The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversationsLove history? Check out Into History at this link https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

0:00 Introduction10:29 Briefing on NATO armour and perception of NATO as the enemy18:13 Planning for potential conflict and readiness in the NVA24:33 Understanding the roles and challenges in a conscript army33:21 Performance and operational details of the T72 tank42:20 Training, battlefield strategies and preparations58:41 East German-Soviet relations and Warsaw Pact exercises1:13:38 Reflections on service in the NVA and potential conflict with NATO1:23:59 Reaction to the opening of the Berlin Wall and post-service encounters1:27:34 Life post-unification: Expectations, reality and personal growth1:31:28 Podcast extras, appreciation for financial supporters and closing remarksChapters powered by PodcastAI✨Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices