Tales from the Cold War is one man’s memoir about his service time in Germany during the Cold War. Colonel Michael D. Mahler (Ret.) first went to Germany in 1960. At the end of his service, he spent over a decade in Germany, raised his family there, and commanded the 3rd Armored Division’s cavalry squadron at Büdingen. In his memoir, Mahler reflects on the lessons from the senior leaders of World War II, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the unique challenges that come with command.

At the beginning, Mahler is still a young service man, newly married. By the end, he was the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff and the Director of the Personnel Plans and Policy Division. His story is told first from the point of view of a new lieutenant, then as an experienced platoon leader, and finally, as a skilled company commander.