Love, Hate and Propaganda, The Cold War : Cracks in the Wall (Part 3 of 4)

Summary: Berlin becomes the Cold War under a microscope - East and West in close quarters battle about ideology, but it’s also a contest about who has the best music. In the hope of eclipsing the popularity of Western rock stars, East German authorities manufacture their own pop star. Frank Schöbel can’t compete with the appeal of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but with the Communist propaganda machine handling his career, he’s guaranteed some type of success. The Soviet Union hands the West a propaganda triumph when their tanks invade Czechoslovakia in 1968. But the US government is waging its own war against protest as the Vietnam War spirals out of control. The two powers again face off in space, as the Soviets send the first man into orbit. That triumphant first is followed by the first woman into orbit. The Americans are left scrambling but finally in 1969 Neil Armstrong makes “one giant leap for mankind” as he sets foot on the moon. In this era, even a gentlemanly game of chess turns into a high-stakes propaganda battle.

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