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The Resource The tunnels : escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill, Greg Mitchell

The tunnels : escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill, Greg Mitchell

Creator
Summary
A thrilling Cold War narrative exploring two harrowing attempts to rescue East Germans by tunneling beneath the Berlin Wall, the U.S. television networks who financed and filmed them, and the Kennedy administration's unprecedented attempt to suppress both films. In the summer of 1962, one year after East German Communists built the Berlin Wall, a group of daring young West Germans came up with a plan. They would risk prison, Stasi torture, even death to liberate friends, lovers, and strangers in East Berlin by digging tunnels under the Wall. Among the tunnelers and escape helpers were a legendary cyclist, an American student from Stanford, and an engineer who would later help build the tunnel under the English Channel. Then two U.S. television networks, NBC and CBS, heard about the secret projects, and raced to be first to air a spectacular 'inside tunnel' special on the human will for freedom. The networks funded two separate tunnels in return for exclusive rights to film the escapes. In response, President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk, wary of anything that might raise tensions and force a military confrontation with the Soviets, maneuvered to quash both documentaries. Unfolding week by week, sometimes hour by hour, Greg Mitchell's riveting narrative deftly cuts back and forth from one extraordinary character to another. There's the tunneler who had already served four years in the East German gulag; the Stasi informer who betrays the 'CBS tunnel'; the young East Berliner who escapes with her baby, then marries one of the tunnelers; and broadcast legend Daniel Schorr, who battled unsuccessfully to save his film from White House interference and remained bitter about it to the end of his life. Looming over all is John F. Kennedy, who was ambivalent about--even hostile toward--the escape operations. Kennedy confessed to Dean Rusk: 'We don't care about East Berlin.' Based on extensive access to the Stasi archives, long-secret U.S. documents, and new interviews with tunnelers and refugees, The Tunnels provides both rich history and high suspense. Award-winning journalist Mitchell captures the hopes and fears of everyday Berliners; the chilling reach of the Stasi secret police; U.S. networks prepared to 'pay for play' yet willing to cave to official pressure; and a White House and State Department eager to suppress historic coverage. The result is 'breaking history,' a propulsive read whose themes reverberate even today
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
382 pages
Contents
  • The Cyclist
  • Two Italians and a German
  • The Recruits
  • The President
  • The Correspondent
  • The Leaks
  • Schorr and the Secretary
  • Kiefholz Strasse
  • Interrogations
  • The Intruder
  • The Martyr
  • Coming Up Short
  • Schonholzer Strasse
  • Underground Film
  • Threats
  • The Buried Tunnel
  • Sabotage
  • Coming Up for Air
  • Epilogue
  • Cast of Characters
Isbn
9781101903858
Instance
Label
The tunnels : escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill
Title
The tunnels
Title remainder
escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill
Statement of responsibility
Greg Mitchell
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
A thrilling Cold War narrative exploring two harrowing attempts to rescue East Germans by tunneling beneath the Berlin Wall, the U.S. television networks who financed and filmed them, and the Kennedy administration's unprecedented attempt to suppress both films. In the summer of 1962, one year after East German Communists built the Berlin Wall, a group of daring young West Germans came up with a plan. They would risk prison, Stasi torture, even death to liberate friends, lovers, and strangers in East Berlin by digging tunnels under the Wall. Among the tunnelers and escape helpers were a legendary cyclist, an American student from Stanford, and an engineer who would later help build the tunnel under the English Channel. Then two U.S. television networks, NBC and CBS, heard about the secret projects, and raced to be first to air a spectacular 'inside tunnel' special on the human will for freedom. The networks funded two separate tunnels in return for exclusive rights to film the escapes. In response, President John F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Dean Rusk, wary of anything that might raise tensions and force a military confrontation with the Soviets, maneuvered to quash both documentaries. Unfolding week by week, sometimes hour by hour, Greg Mitchell's riveting narrative deftly cuts back and forth from one extraordinary character to another. There's the tunneler who had already served four years in the East German gulag; the Stasi informer who betrays the 'CBS tunnel'; the young East Berliner who escapes with her baby, then marries one of the tunnelers; and broadcast legend Daniel Schorr, who battled unsuccessfully to save his film from White House interference and remained bitter about it to the end of his life. Looming over all is John F. Kennedy, who was ambivalent about--even hostile toward--the escape operations. Kennedy confessed to Dean Rusk: 'We don't care about East Berlin.' Based on extensive access to the Stasi archives, long-secret U.S. documents, and new interviews with tunnelers and refugees, The Tunnels provides both rich history and high suspense. Award-winning journalist Mitchell captures the hopes and fears of everyday Berliners; the chilling reach of the Stasi secret police; U.S. networks prepared to 'pay for play' yet willing to cave to official pressure; and a White House and State Department eager to suppress historic coverage. The result is 'breaking history,' a propulsive read whose themes reverberate even today
Biography type
contains biographical information
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1947-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Mitchell, Greg
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Kennedy, John F.
  • Columbia Broadcasting System, inc.
  • National Broadcasting Company
  • Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany, 1961-1989
  • Tunnels
  • Escapes
  • Escapes
  • Political activists
  • Refugees
  • Documentary films
Label
The tunnels : escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill, Greg Mitchell
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 366-370) and index
Contents
The Cyclist -- Two Italians and a German -- The Recruits -- The President -- The Correspondent -- The Leaks -- Schorr and the Secretary -- Kiefholz Strasse -- Interrogations -- The Intruder -- The Martyr -- Coming Up Short -- Schonholzer Strasse -- Underground Film -- Threats -- The Buried Tunnel -- Sabotage -- Coming Up for Air -- Epilogue -- Cast of Characters
Control code
19033475
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
382 pages
Isbn
9781101903858
Lccn
2016013452
Other physical details
illustrations, maps
Label
The tunnels : escapes under the Berlin Wall and the historic films the JFK White House tried to kill, Greg Mitchell
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 366-370) and index
Contents
The Cyclist -- Two Italians and a German -- The Recruits -- The President -- The Correspondent -- The Leaks -- Schorr and the Secretary -- Kiefholz Strasse -- Interrogations -- The Intruder -- The Martyr -- Coming Up Short -- Schonholzer Strasse -- Underground Film -- Threats -- The Buried Tunnel -- Sabotage -- Coming Up for Air -- Epilogue -- Cast of Characters
Control code
19033475
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
382 pages
Isbn
9781101903858
Lccn
2016013452
Other physical details
illustrations, maps

Subject

Genre

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