Victor Grossman, a former American solider who defected to East Germany in 1952, joins the show to discuss his remarkable life and experiences in this short lived socialist nation.  We cover Victor's activism in the American communist movement of the 1940s including his participation in the Black freedom struggle of that era, the circumstances surrounding his defection, and what life was actually like living in a nation committed to building socialism - both the good and bad.  The two memoirs he wrote recounting his life story are called "Crossing the River — A Memoir of the American Left, the Cold War, and Life in East Germany" and "A Socialist Defector: From Harvard to Karl-Marx-Allee". This is part one of a two part discussion.  More info regarding our discussion can be found on the patreon posting of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/72903231 Episode Credits Intro Music: (Dark Emotional Ambient Chill Trap Beat - Agony)   Opening Interlude Voice Over: (The McCarren Act and the Efforts of Senator Joseph McCarthy)   Opening Interlude Music: (Dark Emotional Ambient Chill Trap Beat - Fallen Angel)