Before Delta Force, before the Global War on Terror, and before the Berlin Wall fell, a small group of Green Berets operated inside one of the most dangerous cities on earth.
In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, and author James Stejskal to explore the little-known story of Special Forces Detachment A Berlin, a classified Cold War unit tasked with operating behind Soviet lines in the event World War III broke out.
James shares his journey from Nebraska to the 82nd Airborne, Special Forces selection, and 10th Special Forces Group before pulling back the curtain on life inside divided Berlin. He explains how Green Berets prepared for sabotage missions, resistance operations, intelligence gathering, clandestine identities, and counterterrorism missions while surrounded by Soviet and East German forces.
Along the way, we discuss Cold War espionage, unconventional warfare, the evolution of Special Forces after Vietnam, early counterterrorism operations before Delta Force, and the lessons modern operators can learn from a generation that spent decades preparing for a conflict that never came.
This is a fascinating look at one of the most secretive units in Special Forces history and the men who stood ready to fight World War III from behind enemy lines.
In This Episode:
- Growing up in Nebraska and joining the Army
- 82nd Airborne and Special Forces selection
- Robin Sage and earning the Green Beret
- 10th Special Forces Group
- Special Forces Detachment A Berlin
- Cold War espionage and clandestine operations
- Sabotage plans against Warsaw Pact targets
- Counterterrorism before Delta Force
- Life behind the Berlin Wall
- Military history, writing, and preserving hidden stories
Guest: James Stejskal
James Stejskal is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, former Green Beret, former U.S. Foreign Service Political Officer, military historian, conflict archaeologist, and author of 12 books.
He served 23 years in U.S. Army Special Forces and special mission units before continuing his government service overseas. He is the author of Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, Masters of Mayhem, and The Snake Eater Chronicles Cold War espionage series.
Website: https://www.jamesstejskalauthor.com
Host: AJ Pasciuti
Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.
Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/book
Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Meet James Stejskal
05:35 Growing Up in Nebraska
13:42 Becoming a Green Beret
24:10 Life in 10th Special Forces Group
34:22 The Road to Berlin
44:05 Special Forces Detachment A
56:48 Inside Cold War Berlin
1:08:14 Preparing for World War III
1:18:37 Sabotage and Unconventional Warfare
1:28:21 Espionage and Tradecraft
1:39:52 Resistance Networks Behind Enemy Lines
1:49:46 Counterterrorism Before Delta Force
2:00:33 The Soviet Threat
2:10:18 Lessons from the Cold War
2:18:55 From Green Beret to Historian
2:26:48 Preserving Hidden History
2:34:10 Leadership and Service
2:41:30 Final Thoughts
