CPS Resource CentreArticle Number 12: “Bridge of Spies” on a Map Stamp
New Submission August 2010, Research, text and scans by Volker F. Woesner
With the recent spy exchange between the US and Russian governments, reminiscent of previous Cold War times, Volker introduces us to an interesting German map stamp. Read more to learn about this unique issue in the 12th Marginalia entry. –web admin
“ Bridge of Spies ” Germany , 1998, sc1988
I do not know much about bridges for spies only. But I know that one of these bridges is featured on a map stamp. It is the “ GlienickeBridge ” near Berlin.
This bridge was one of the most famous bridges until 1989. It was the “ Bridge of Spies ” in times of the Cold War. The bridge crosses the Havel River/Iron Curtain between the former communist Potsdam and the free West Berlin .
Access to the bridge had only captured Russian or US spies. The bridge was built in 1907 and connected the city of Potsdam with the city of Berlin .
The Soviet Union on one side of the Iron Curtain and the US on the other side used this bridge to exchange captured spies during those times.
One of the most famous exchanges took place on February 10, 1962. The US exchanged the Russian spy Rudolf Abel for the pilot of the US reconnaissance plane U-2, Gary Powers, who was captured by the USSR .
The last big prisoner exchange on this bridge took place in 1986.
