Stories from Cold War Hotspots (English)

Stories from Cold War Hotspots is a collaborative project led by the Norwegian Aviation Museum in partnership with Bodø2024, initiated in connection with Bodø’s role as European Capital of Culture in 2024. The aim of the project was to explore a transitional phase in Bodø’s history — from a military hub during the Cold War to a cultural crossroads.

Several European cities share a similar past, as key Cold War hotspots. The project sought to explore whether there exists a shared European memory of the Cold War across national borders. It focused on how people living in places with a distinctive Cold War legacy reflect on its significance, how it affected their lives, and whether it continues to influence them today.

The main objectives of the project were:

To present the international geopolitical conflict through personal stories

To provide new insights to the public by sharing civilian experiences of the Cold War from both sides of the Iron Curtain

To increase knowledge and understanding of Cold War history among a broad audience

To offer historical context for how the Cold War influenced lives in the past and how it continues to shape lives today

The project reflects a broad European collaboration, with partners in five different countries:

Norwegian Aviation Museum, Bodø (Norway)

Allied Museum, Berlin (Germany)

Estonian National Museum, Tartu (Estonia)

Estonian Aviation Museum, Tartu (Estonia)

Cold War Museum Langelandsfort, Langeland (Denmark)

National Museum of Scotland, East Fortune (Scotland)

The five European Cold War hotspots involved in the project are each unique, both in their roles during the Cold War and in their subsequent transitions. With the exception of Berlin, most of these locations might be considered relatively unknown — a fact that underscores one of the project's key messages: that small, seemingly marginal stories often form essential pieces of the larger puzzle of Europe’s divided past.

The videos below offer a glimpse into some of the stories from each location. Each video is edited with historical photographs that visually enhance and bring the personal narratives to life.

In many ways Berlin was the centrepiece of the Cold War. Berlin was split between the Western and Eastern victors after the Second World War and was a divided city between 1945 – 1989. The story of Berlin during the Cold War is one of a divided people, living on both sides of the Iron Curtain. In 1961 a wall was constructed between East and West-Berlin, physically splitting Germans apart from each other. The impact of the divided city still affects their lives today.

The city of Bodø housed the biggest NATO airbase in Northern Europe during the Cold War. Bodø’s location and proximity to the Soviet Union meant it was a vital part in guarding the northern flank of NATO. In addition, the military high command for Northern Norway was established in the city during the Cold War. The employment sector was largely impacted by the military presence. Today, Bodø is in transition from a Cold War Hotspot to a cultural hub.

East Fortune was established as a Royal Airforce Base during both world wars. It continued to play a key role during the Cold War, now as storage for materials in case of a nuclear attack. Scotland played a key role in the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Britain housed the US submarines that were a crucial part of the armoury intended to deter a nuclear strike. East Fortune is now the national museum of Scotland’s history of aviation.

Langeland’s geographical location made the island a Cold War Hotspot. Langelandsfort opened in 1954. Its purpose was to keep close watch on the air and naval activities of the Warsaw Pact and guard The Belts against the Soviet Baltic fleet. The militarization of Langeland was initially met with opposition from the local population but had become a core part of the community by the end of the Cold War. Today, the fortress is a museum of Denmark’s history of the Cold War.

The city of Tartu housed the primary Soviet airbase for bomber aircrafts in the Baltics. As a result, it was the sole nuclear target in the Baltics during the first decade of the Cold War. Due to a significant military presence, Tartu was a closed city until the early 1990s, with foreign visitors rarely permitted and overnight stays prohibited. Today, Estonia is a member of the European Union and the former base at Raadi is now the home of the Estonian National Museum.

The complete collection from the Stories from Cold War Hotspots project is available on Digitalt Museum and can be explored in full here