Drent, Jan: my experience as Canadian naval attaché in Moscow, Finland and Poland (March 21, 2014)
PublicInterviewer: Taylor, Sarah
ABSTRACT: Narrator: Drent, Jan, 1935- Title My experience as Canadian naval attaché in Moscow, Finland and Poland. Interviewer:. Interviewed by Sarah Taylor Extent 1 Sound recording (AIFF Format Sound) 1:27:33, 885 MB Interview Date and Location 21 March 2014, Victoria BC. Synopsis Commodore Jan Drent’s interview begins with a description of growing up in California and his family history followed by his post-secondary education and enlistment in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. This is followed by a description of his naval training, and subsequent postings, the first being HMCS Iroquois in 1955. Commodore Drent then describes his time at the Canadian Forces Language school, where he underwent training along with his spouse after being selected to go to Moscow as a naval attaché. He details the importance of good relationships with the attachés of other countries, and the travel restrictions and surveillance methods imposed on attachés by the Soviet Union. He also talks about interactions with civilians in Moscow, and while travelling as well as the civilian staff employed at the Canadian embassy. Commodore Drent then discusses his relationship with Soviet Liaison Officers and the impact of Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit to the Soviet Union. He also provides recollections of the first official Canadian naval visit to the Soviet Union in 1976. Commodore Drent then discusses his experience in Poland where he was accredited on his second posting to Moscow, as well as his participation in the 1978 Naval Conference held in Finland. Finally Commodore Drent reflects on the perceived effect becoming a naval attaché would have on his career and discusses the importance of having a Naval attaché in Moscow. Log. 0:00 – 6:30 – Background, family history, education, enlistment in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, training and motivations for enlisting. 7:22 – 11:52- Summary of training and postings post-graduation. 11:53 – 22:45 – Appointment and training for naval attaché position in Moscow, including feelings about the effect on future career, training at the Canadian Forces Language School, expectations of spouse. 22:46 – 28:33 - Previous experience with USSR, role of attachés, Kurile Islands, relationships with the attachés of other countries, comparison of duties. 28:34 – 40:09 - Restrictions on travel within the Soviet Union, surveillance on trips, interactions with civilians. 40:10 – 43:22 - Russian employees and Canadian civilian employees at the embassy, comparison of duties between civilians and military attachés. 43:23 – 48:42 - A typical day in Moscow, Canadian Club, bugs in the embassy and counter measures. 48:43 – 59:43- Relationship with the Soviet Liaison Officers, visit by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, difficulty receiving answers to questions, seizure of camera by KGB. 59:44 – 1:03:57 - Working on staff of Royal Navy staff college, Canadian Naval visit to Leningrad. 1:03:58 – 1:15:09 - Second posting as Naval attaché in Moscow in 1977, experience in Finland and Poland, comparisons between the experience in Poland and Moscow. 1:15:10 – 1:22:14 - Served as aid to Admiral for 1978 Navy Conference in Finland, other memorable events as a naval attaché. 1:22:15 – 1:27:33 - Effect on career of becoming a naval attaché, return to the Soviet Union, discussion on the importance of having a naval attaché in Moscow. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 1:00:35 – 1:03:57 – First official Canadian Naval visit to Leningrad in 1976. 1:15:10 – 1:22:14 – 1978 Navy Conference in Finland, first time the senior West German officer met his East German counterpart. Subject Key Words Naval Attaché, Soviet Union, Poland, Finland, Canadian Forces Language School, Soviet Liaison Officers, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Navy Conference in Finland, Canadian Naval visit to Leningrad, Russian civilians, interaction with; surveillance, Canadian Embassy in Moscow, naval attaché, duties of; naval attaché, importance of.
Interviewee: Drent, Jan
An interview/narrative of Commodore Jan Drent's experience as Canadian naval attaché in Moscow, Finland and Poland. Interview took place on March 21, 2014.
Rank: Commodore.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recording (AIFF) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- DJ_809
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 21, 2014
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2014. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
This page supports the Zotero and Mendeley browser extensions simply click on the extension widget in your browser to save the objects citation.
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Visibility | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail | Public |
|
|
|
Drent_J_0809_01.mp3 | Public |
|