Memories of an East German Naval Officer’s Family (407)

2025-06-13

Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides rare insights into life in the GDR as the child of a high-ranking officer— from an idyllic childhood in privileged housing to working at the Grand Hotel Berlin. She recounts her father’s harrowing World War 2 escape from the Sudetenland, her experiences of political indoctrination in school and life within a family loyal to the East German gov...

Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain.

In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides rare insights into life in the GDR as the child of a high-ranking officer— from an idyllic childhood in privileged housing to working at the Grand Hotel Berlin.

She recounts her father’s harrowing World War 2 escape from the Sudetenland, her experiences of political indoctrination in school and life within a family loyal to the East German government. Katja also describes her work at guest houses for East Germany’s elite , where she served dignitaries including Erich Honecker and Egon Krenz.

This is a moving and revealing glimpse into a unique Cold War upbringing— and into the personal costs of German reunification for families like Katja’s.

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode407/⁠

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