The Soviet Threat

Flashback to a time with the world on edge…well, more so than usual. It’s memories of that crazy period called the Cold War, with two hated enemies facing off and each with a finger on the doomsday button. On one side, the side of good (if you were to ask), it’s Uncle Sam, the mighty US of A (in Moscow-speak: Capitalist Pigs) and their “kill ’em all and let God sort ’em out” approach. And on the other it’s the USSR, the hated Soviets (in the vernacular of the time, the Reds, Commie Bastards or Ruskies) with their socialist agenda and dastardly plans for world domination. In the White House or Kremlin, each saw the other as the evil aggressor.

Truth be told, you’d never make a saint of either. As top dog superpowers they pretty much do as they please and step on a lot of toes in the process. And they don’t like each other. It’s trash talk, threats and a mutual stink eye. It’s all behind us now but today, with tensions between the two rising again, the Cold War is showing signs of being reborn. Strangelove 2.0.

In the middle between hated foes sits humble Canada. And it’s not so much about allegiances we say that but that geographically this nation is directly between the two. If nuclear war were to break out (and back then they were convinced it was a matter of when) the missiles and bombers would take a path right over this land, the shortest most direct line of attack. While not much of a target militarily wise, it’s certain some nukes would land on Canadian soil for any number of reasons. Say if one was shot down mid-flight or crashed for example. Death from above.

There we’d be, the Winnie the Pooh of the world, little interested in trouble and more the peacekeeper, standing between a pair of heavyweights intent on duking it out to the end. It’s the biggest bar fight on earth, and instead of broken beer bottles and pool cues, it’s atomic bombs. Oh, and we’re invited.

With the tensions came a mindset or fear and paranoia and with the government and general public alike came the need to act. What to do? Run around screaming like crazy folks? Babbling incoherently and weeping uncontrollably? Falling down and praying? All sound choices in our minds. “We’re all gonna dieeeeeee!!!”

Comes a reaction, perhaps knee-jerk, the “I’m scared s***tless” glasses” sort of clouding judgment. Build those bunkers, fast, set up a line of defence, inform the public and practise drills, with little thought as to the efficacy. Plan and plan some more. With the dread came a sort of collective denial. In reality should the unspeakable happen, I mean full on all out nukes flying here and there, nothing much would help. Those at ground zero would feel no pain and be envied.

Presenting “The Soviet Threat” by veteran filmmaker Rueben Tschetter of Cache Productions. It’s a look inside the mind of a country nervous and frightened during the Cold War. A bleak apocalyptic future is certain and we’re witness to the insanity. View historic footage showing military installations being built in response. Radar domes, we need radar domes! Watch the skies! Bunkers, fall out shelters…start digging. Plan, analyze and do something.

Take in an EMO Emergency Measure’s exercise (shot in Calgary) as it played out. You want to evacuate an entire city? We’re Innisfail bound! BTW, an interesting then and now based on that event. Here: Calgary then and now – Civil Defence – we even tracked down and spoke with the kid in the toque. But that’s another story.

There’s interviews with those in the know, those who were there, people intimately connected to the happenings and goings on. Then there’s others who have a passion for the subject, museums and the people behind them sharing their knowledge. It’s raw and honest and is sure to send a chill down your spine. Do you know just how close humanity en masse came to buying the farm?

Even our own Mr Yellow Shirt makes an appearance, taking you on a tour of a hidden bunker in the mountains. Do I really sound like that? Anyway, this “hole” was not put in by the government or some institution, but was to be a for profit operation. Not a place for people to hunker down during hostilities, but a big giant safe for valuables. Not that there’s be anyone to appreciate them when it was all over. If that kind of war started it’d likely escalate till nothing was left. When the nuke card is played, it’s all in.

See a decommissioned radar dome, the last of its kind and hear from those working to preserve it, a dedicated museum group (Canadian Civil Defence Museum). You got to admire them – not many are doing things like this. It’s hard unglamourous grunt work, like cleaning out decades worth of pigeon droppings, but it means something so they take in stride. It’s hoped to open the building to regular tours down the road so the public can know about this uncertain era.

A military base becomes backdrop for an interview, as does a secret fall out shelter hidden under a learning institution (scroll down for link). Take it all in and come away amazed. Many people today don’t know how big it was and the steps taken.

Not just appearing the film (watch out Clooney!), your author also worked behind the scenes. Acting in many capacities, locations sourcing, tracking down people, doing research, being a behind the scenes photographer (article in the works) and whatever else was required. Heck we’d grab a broom and sweep up if needed. Making a film, even a small documentary like this, takes a lot of folks wearing a lot of hats.

In the credits we’re “Production Coordinator”, a title we felt was a little plain and not becoming enough. We petitioned to have to it changed to “Super-Producer, Grand Pooh Bah and all around awesome dude!”, but the director shot that down real quick. Filmmakers can be so difficult.

By the way moment! “Production coordinator: a coordinating producer coordinates the work/role of multiple producers who are trying to achieve a shared result…The position requires adept organizational skills, resourcefulness and the ability to handle a multitude of tasks simultaneously under often high-pressure situations.” (thanks Wikipedia).

An interesting side note: all money this society made working on this production has been funnelled back into he day to day operations of BIGDoer.com and the Off the Beaten Path Facebook page. These sites can suck a bank account dry in flash and so the Soviet Threat has assured us continued operation for a time. Till the next behind the scenes gig comes along anyway. You may not know it, but we do a lot of these jobs, which we rarely speak about openly, in support of our page. Mostly it’s putting our research skills to work but we’re not proud and will do anything to advance the cause. Now you know.

Next, grab a coffee, scroll down and take in The Soviet Threat. Put yourself there and relive a period of history with hope lost. It the “end of days” folks. The siren wails…duck and cover…there’s a flash of light. And then silence.

They’re saying…

”I always “like” or “love” when I see your posts. I appreciate seeing the photos and stories that you share, please don’t stop.” Fay Bartsch.

Connect with Rueben Tschetter…
The Cache Project
The Cache Project Youtube Channel.

This film could not have been made without help from these fine people…
Canadian Civil Defence Museum & Archives.
CCDM&A on Facebook

Places seen in the Soviet Threat…
Canadian Civil Defence Museum’s Alsask Dome – To watch the skies.
Cold War Bunker Revisited – Deep inside a mountain.
Canadian Forces Station Alsask – A Cold War nerve centre.
In Event of Nucular Attack! – A secret underground fall out shelter.

On the other side…
Soviet Threat: Behind the Scenes.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: Most of 2019.
Location(s): Alsask Saskatchewan, Cold Lake Alberta, a couple secret locations and more.
Article references and thanks: Filmmaker Rueben Tschetter of Cache Productions, Fred Armbruster of the Canadian Civil Defence Museum & Archives.

Making The Soviet Threat.

Behind the scenes – note passing fighter jets.

From filmmaker Rueben Tschetter.

Presenting, The Soviet Threat…