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The Radio Hobby Comes in from the Cold, 1945–1955

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The Radio Hobby, Private Associations, and the Challenge of Modernity in Germany

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Abstract

The final chapter covers the surprising rebirth of a smaller yet still substantial radio hobby between 1946 and 1955, during Allied occupation and the early years of a divided Germany. The broad ecosystem of radio hobby clubs characteristic of the 1920s did not survive the Third Reich, but ham radio did. Even in the dark days of privation and occupation just after the Second World War, some hobbyists remained surprisingly dedicated to their hobby and to a personal engagement with technology. Even so, ham radio was not able to remain completely neutral during the Cold War, and its resurrection was helped by outside forces interested in its value for both rearmament and propaganda. Political context set limits within which hobbyists were able to act.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Blank QSL card issued to commemorate the “First German postwar Ham Fest” in Stuttgart, June 7–8, 1947. The card was given to American military occupational authorities by German hams arguing for licensing. in: Wolfram Körner et al.: “Application for Amateur-Transmitting Licenses” United States National Archives (NARA) RG260 box 968 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS, Office of Military, Wuerttemberg-Baden. Records of the Education and Cultural Relations Division: Community Active Branch Chief: Corresp & Rel Recs. 1945–1949: Amateur Radio thru K9 American-French Zone Merger.

  2. 2.

    There is something of a paradox here, which bears future research. A pervasive climate of shortage in the Soviet Zone of Occupation and later the German Democratic Republic led to a very widespread do-it-yourself culture in most areas of life, which did not decline until German Unification in the 1990s. Government suspicion of anyone able to build a radio out of simple parts goes part of the way toward explaining the lack of a widespread radio do-it-yourself community, but is likely insufficient by itself.

  3. 3.

    On the notion of an increased emphasis on domesticity in the postwar era, see: Hannah Schissler, The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001).

  4. 4.

    For the history of TV in postwar Germany, see: Knut Hickethier and Peter Hoff Geschichte des deutschen Fernsehens (Stuttgart, Weimar: J.B. Metzlar, 1998).

  5. 5.

    If poetry was no longer possible after Auschwitz, as Theodor Adorns famously if somewhat erroneously is held to have said, then who could believe in the positive good of technology after Hiroshima? See, for example, Spencer R. Weart, The Rise of Nuclear Fear (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1988, 2012). See also, of course, Theodor Adorno, “An Essay on Cultural Criticism and Society”, trans. Samuel and Shierry Weber, Prisms (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1967): 34.

  6. 6.

    To be fair, there was a resurgent working-class amateur radio movement in the Western zones in the late 1940s, but it quickly faded, and some postwar hams did have left-wing sympathies, but they were not at all characteristic of the new ham organizations as a whole. See below.

  7. 7.

    History of Ortsverband Coburg of the DARC, accessed July 24, 2016. http://www.darc-coburg.de/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=chronik

    Im Mai 1945 wird der DASD wegen §4 (Vorstandsernennung durch das Reichspropagandaministerium) und §6 (Mitglieder nur arische Deutsche) seiner letzten Satzung vom 20.10.1934 als Verein verboten. Es ist bemerkenswert für die damalige Zeit, der Löschungsvermerk im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg (No. VR 7691) wird erst nach acht Jahren am 16.11.1953 eingetragen.

    There is some controversy about whether there was a specific ban on the organization, or simply a blanket ban on all Nazified structures. As stated in the quote, the DASD was not formally stricken from the legal registry of associations (Vereinsregister) until November 11, 1953.

  8. 8.

    See the recent article by Glenn Cuomo on the Nazi past of German writers: “The NSDAP’s Enduring Shadow: Putting in Perspective the Recent Outing of Brown Octogenarians”, German Studies Review 35, No. 2, (May 2012): 265–288.

  9. 9.

    W(olfgang ) F(elix) Körner, DL1CU, Geschichte des Amateurfunks 1909–1963 (Hamburg: FT-Verlag Rojan & Kraft, 1963). Körner mentions, for example, Hans Haberl, DA2DH, later DL1AX, who led negotiations between the postal authorities and German amateurs in 1948 and 1949. According to Körner, Haberl had been sentenced to death for illegal political transmission and high treason in 1942. Körner, Amateurfunk, p. 185. Körner himself had been arrested by the Nazi authorities and punished for illegal transmission.

  10. 10.

    Some Nazi organizations were declared criminal organizations in their entirety, like the General-SS or the Gestapo, and their members arrested automatically, but the DASD did not fall into this category.

  11. 11.

    This book cannot hope to address the ins and outs of internal divisions within the post-Second World War German amateur community, and within the DARC itself. For this information, see Körner, Amateurfunk, which, however, barely touches on the topic. The most reliable and objective rendering is found in the online “Amateurfunk in Deutschland” series prepared by the Vienna-based Dokumentationsarchiv Funk (Dokufunk) (http://dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/history_dl_2/ and following).

  12. 12.

    There are a number of contradictory studies; the most reliable recent study is Rüdiger Overmans, Deutsche militärische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Beiträge zur Militärgeschichte 46 (Oldenbourg: DeGruyter, 2004): 313–324.

  13. 13.

    Roughly 350,000 were killed in the strategic bombing campaign. Richard Overy, The Bombers and the Bombed: Allied Air War Over Europe 1940–1945 (London, New York: Penguin, 2014): 304–307. Some 500,000 civilians were killed in late- and postwar flight and expulsions. Hans Henning Hahn and Eva Hahn, Die Vertreibung im deutschen Erinnern. Legenden, Mythos, Geschichte (Paderborn: Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, 2010): 659–726. Note that this last figure is particularly contested, with the German government still giving a figure just over two million. (Statistisches Bundesamt—Wiesbaden, Die deutschen Vertreibungsverluste. Bevölkerungsbilanzen für die deutschen Vertreibungsgebiete 1939/50 (Stuttgart: Verlag W. Kohlhammer, 1958)).

  14. 14.

    On the immediate postwar situation, see: Ian Kershaw, The End: The Defiance and Destruction of Hitler’s Germany, 1944–1945 (New York: Penguin, 2011).

  15. 15.

    But of course, Germans had already learned how to hide radios and radio listening from their own authorities during the war.

  16. 16.

    Hans Bausch, Rundfunkpolitik nach 1945: Teil 1, 1945–1962, Rundfunk in Deutschland Vol. III (Munich: Deutsche Taschenbuch Verlag, 1980).

  17. 17.

    Malzahn, Sourcebook, p. 166, confirms a shortage of radios immediately after the war.

  18. 18.

    So, for example, The hessische Rundfunk carried a weekly program “Funktechnik für Alle” beginning in March 19, 1948. The broadcast was prepared with the help of the “Hessischer Radio-Club”. CQDL 4 (1997): 316.

  19. 19.

    Interview with Gerhard Hoyer, DJ1GE, Hamburg, June 9, 2014. This interview recounted do-it-yourself activities and clubs after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, and not during the occupation period.

  20. 20.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 175–176; Note that by 1947, there were severe differences between the amateur radio contingent and the others in the club, which eventually led to a split. Ibid, 184, 192–193. Apparently, only around 500 of the 4000 members in the WBRC were shortwave amateurs or hams.

  21. 21.

    For example, by late January the “Hessischer Radio-Club” had some 1200 members in 29 local groups, of which 400 were “true hams” interested in transmitting. There was sharp in-fighting between the various interests within the club, and by March 1949, most non-hams had left, leaving the club with only 300 members.

  22. 22.

    Interview with Gerhard Hoyer, DJ1GE, Hamburg, June 9, 2014.

  23. 23.

    Folder 43 Arbeiter-Radio-Bund Deutschland Verein Bremerhaven (Hauptgeschäftsstelle Hannover), NARA RG 260 BOX 590 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of Office of Military Government, Bremen; Rcs of Bremerhaven Liaison & Security Detachment: Records of Clubs and Youth Activities, 1947–1949; Volksbund “Deutsche Kriegsgräberfursorge E.V.” Thru Y Viii. Playgrounds.

  24. 24.

    Regular broadcast of television programs began separately in both German states in 1952, although TV ownership remained low until the 1960s. See Hickethier and Hoff Fernsehen.

  25. 25.

    Radio amateurs naturally served in radio-related communications and intelligence functions during and after the war in all armies. Moreover, amateurs within all three Western Allied armies were allowed to practice their hobby while in Germany as part of the occupation. Many German hams came into contact with Allied amateurs in this way, either by having to do with Allied communications and intelligence troops because of their radio activities, or by hearing—even contacting—Allied hams on the air. While the Soviet Army also contained many radio amateurs, it did not allow them to transmit while on active duty.

  26. 26.

    The general hunger for trustworthy information from, and contact with the wider world is conveyed in the first issue of the new newspaper die Zeit, which sets out its task for the future. Die Zeit 1 No. 1 (February 21, 1947): 1. Quoted in Malzhan, Sourcebook, 167–168. Note the parallel with the situation after the First World War: in both cases, Germany was a pariah state, and German amateurs after both wars were often grateful—and a little surprised—when they were met with courtesy by foreign hams.

  27. 27.

    It should also be acknowledged that the strong organizational structures developed by German hams also meant that they have left behind more documents with which to trace their history than did the much more ephemeral clubs of listeners and do-it-yourselfers. This may well skew the history written here.

  28. 28.

    Letter from Dipl. Ing. Fritz Trömel to Dipl. Ing. Helmut Ahlborn of February 1, 2001, in: Hamburg DARC Archive.

  29. 29.

    Arrest of top Nazi leaders was agreed upon by the Allies at the Potsdam Conference, and was reflected in specific regulations within each Allied zone. In the US zone, there were two categories of those subject to arrest: a “blacklist” of specific individuals, and a separate list of certain categories of individuals who were subject to automatic arrest based on the position or rank they held. See Elmer Plischke, “Denazification Law and Procedure”, The American Journal of International Law 41, No. 4 (October 1947): 807–827, here 811–814.

  30. 30.

    See: Volker Koop, Himmlers letztes Aufgebot: die NS-Organisation “Werwolf” (Cologne: Böhlau, 2008).

  31. 31.

    From Wolf-Arno Kropat, ed., Hessen in der Stunde Null 1945/1947: Politik, Wirtschaft und Bildungswesen in Dokumenten (Wiesbaden: Selbstverlag der Historischen Kommission fur Nassau, 1979): 13–17; Original source given as: “Reg P 1 Gen 1945 Bl.2-5”.

  32. 32.

    This law certainly existed, but despite the many references to it and its almost mythic status in the German amateur radio community, it is devilishly hard to track down. It was referred to at the time, for example, in: “Die Gesetzgebung der Besatzungsmächte”, Süddeutsche Juristen-Zeitung 1, No. 2 (May 1946): 46. But it does not appear at all in the “Official Gazette of the Control Council for Germany” (Berlin: Allied Secretariat, 1945–1948.), which otherwise lists all the laws, orders, and degrees issued by the Allied Control Council.

  33. 33.

    For example, Körner, Amateurfunk, 174.

  34. 34.

    For example, Christian Senne, Rahmen und Organisationsbedingungen für Funkamateure in der SBZ und DDR (1945–1990). Zwischen Selbstzweck und gesellschaftlichem Auftrag, Studien zur Zeitgeschichte 70 (Hamburg: Verlag Dr. Kovacˇ, 2008): 87.

  35. 35.

    “O.M.” originally stood for “Old Man”, and in international ham radio jargon, means a ham radio operator, usually male (as opposed to a “YL”, a Young Lady or female ham), and usually licensed.

  36. 36.

    For example, see: Jürgen Bennöhr, DL1NP, “Geschichte des Ortsverbandes Schleswig”. Accessed June 25, 2015. http://www.viehl-radio.de/homeda/chronik/chronik_m13.pdf; Heinz Schifferdecker, DL7AC, Horst Eligering DL9MH and Manfred May DJ1KF, “Chronik des Amateurfunks in Deutschland und im Bereich Köln-Aachen”. (“von Heinz Schifferdecker, DL7AC und Horst Ellgering, DL9MH, © 1991; für das Internet aufbereitet von Manfred May, DJ1KF (neu bearbeitet von DO1KXL)”). Accessed June 25, 2015. http://www.datv-agaf.de/links/chronik.html#a7

  37. 37.

    “Letter from Lt. Col. Harry H. Pretty, GSC S-2,S-2 Branch to Deputy Director of Intelligence, European Command, Frankfurt, APO757, US Army subject: Unlicensed Amateur Transmitters (Secret)”, NARA Record Group 260 BOX 3 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of functional Offices and Divisions, The Office of the Director of Intelligence: General Corresp of the Analysis and Research Branch 1945–1949; 000.9-2 Scientists, German, IOA Evacuees thru 004. German Industrialists and Industry (1); FOLDER 000.77 RADIO INFORMATION OF INTELLIGENCE INTERESTS 7-20-1/28. The letter has two appendices, one listing the illegal German and Austrian transmitters whose location had been identified, and a separate list of German and Austrian transmitters with unidentified locations. The letter states that the lists were based on British signals intercepts. Note that the location known was only down to the level of a particular city, in most cases. The number of unlocated transmitters was largest; together, the two lists contain roughly 300 illegal transmitters, with call sign. Along with being stated in numerous memoirs and local chronic of amateur radio clubs, there is also hard and fast proof of this activity found in numerous QSL cards sent to and from German amateurs during this period. A number of these QSL cards may be found in the Dokufunk Archive.

  38. 38.

    See the list of all licensed Allied ham radio operators attached to the “letter from Schimmel (For the Chief) II E2-5332-2 to U.S. Military Government, Communications Branch, Berlin-Steglitz, RE: YOUR LETTER OF 27.7.49 CBC 216/49 (COPY) OF AUGUST 16, 1949”, NARA RG 260 BOX 581 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII; Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS

    Records of the Berlin Sector. Records of the Communications Branch: General Records, 1945–1949. Newspaper clippings 1949 (6) thru Action Sheets. There were enough US and British amateurs among the troops, for example, that the military authorities soon issued regulations and special call signs to allow them to operate.

  39. 39.

    See below.

  40. 40.

    “Lt. Col. Robert Walker, Chief, European Command Headquarters, Army Security Agency Europe, APO757, to Deputy Director of Intelligence, Headquarters, European Command, APO757 U.S. Army, ASA-94/MJC/mp of 17 February 1948 (copy) (Confidential)”, NARA Record Group 260 BOX 3, Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of functional Offices and Divisions; The Office of the Director of Intelligence: General Corresp of the Analysis and Research Branch. 1945–1949; 000.9-2 Scientists, German, IOA Evacuees thru 004. German Industrialists and Industry (1); FOLDER 000.77 RADIO INFORMATION OF INTELLIGENCE INTERESTS 7-20-1/28.

  41. 41.

    This is Körner, Amateurfunk.

  42. 42.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 174.

  43. 43.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 174–175.

  44. 44.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 175–176.

  45. 45.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 190.

  46. 46.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 175, cites D4GAX, D4FUX, D4AHX, D3DQX, as examples.

  47. 47.

    Körner cites D3 ADA, D4 ATA as examples. Körner, Amateurfunk, 176.

  48. 48.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 176–177.

  49. 49.

    Edschmid (pseud) was a (precious) pre-expressionist writer, who went into internal emigration during war, and published a self-serving book in 1947 describing the conflict between a “good” German writer and his family living in a remote mountain village and Nazi supporters who were quartered in the same house, as if there was this moral conflict within all Germany. The point is that German hams were all very practical men without illusions.

  50. 50.

    “Der natürliche Gegenpart des Amateurs ist zwangsläufig der jeweilige politische Machthaber. In den Siegerländern von 1918 war der Staat wenig oder gar nicht interessiert, in Deutschland wurde ein Polizeistaatapparat von allerlei Sesselchen aus getätigt, deren Inhaber ihrerseits wieder alle paar Monate von irgendwem gestürtzt oder weggejagt wurden. Je anständiger ein Mensch, desto verdächtigtiger—ein Wunder, dass es in Deutschland überhaupt Empfänger gab.

    In den amerikanischen und britischen Zone besteht nun im Vergleich zur Nachweltkriegszeit die einmalige Möglichkeit für uns, daß der wirkliche Machthaber aus Ländern stammt, die selbst große Amateurorganisationen besitzen und der Sache absolut freundlich gegenüber stehen. Es liegt an uns, eine Lizenzordnung aufzustellen, die dem Rechnung trägt. Es liegt ferner an uns, zu beweisen, daß wir keine parteipolitischen Bindungen haben, weder offene noch getarnte—ein Beweis, das uns gelingen dürfte. Wir sind damit für die Besatzungsmacht, von der allein eine Lizenz zu bekommen ist, überschaubarer als jede politische Behörde, wir halten uns ganz einfach für kreditwürdiger als ein zufälliges Agglomerat zufälliger Politiker. Ferner haben wir die tausand Jahre weder im sicheren Ausland noch als brabbelnde Bürger Edschmidschen Stils verbracht, sondern uns mit Karabiner und Handgranate etliche Male unseres Lebens gewehrt—wir sind durch und durch imprägniert mit Mißtrauen gegen alle und jeden. Politische Rattenfänger scheinen deshalb neuerdings unsere Nähe zu fliehen, so daß auch für die Zukunft die kreditwürdigkeit gesichert scheint.

    Stellen wir also zunächst einmal eine Lizenzordnung hin, mit der wir zur Besatzungsmacht gehen können, um die Genehmigung eines Amateurbetriebs zu erbitten”. From QRV, No. 6 (June 1947): 97–99 (here p. 99).

  51. 51.

    By July 1949, there were some 455 hams within the American administration alone who were licensed to transmit from Germany. “Letter from E.T. Martin, Chief, Telecommunications Branch, to Office of Military Government, Berlin Sector, Chief, Communications Branch, A.P.O. 742-A U.S. Army, Attention Mr. John H. Gayer, A.G. 311.23 (EA) of July 21, 1949, Subject: List of U.S. Amateur Radio Operators”, in: NARA Record Group 260, BOX 581; Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII; Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of the Berlin Sector. Records of the Communications Branch: General Records, 1945–1949. Newspaper clippings 1949 (6) thru Action Sheets; FOLDER 4-81-1/17 “LICENSES FOR AMATEURS (RADIO) 51A-”. Attached to the letter is a 20-page list of US hams currently transmitting from the US Sector. By this time, a West German amateur radio law had been passed, so all of these American amateurs had been issued special German call signs for the occupation forces, but the list gives a good indication of the numbers of hams in the US administration earlier.

  52. 52.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 178–181. The unofficial call signs began with the letters DE, followed by a number indicating the district or region: DA1=Württemberg & Baden, DA2=Bavaria, DA3=Hessen, DA4=Nordrhein-Westfalen, DA5=Niedersachsen, DA6=Schleswig-Holstein, DA/DK7=Berlin, DA/DK8="Ostzone" [Soviet Zone], DK9="Französische Zone", EZ=Saargebiet. This was then followed by two more letters, the first of which often pointed to a particular town.

  53. 53.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 176.

  54. 54.

    Licensed amateurs (those allowed to legally transmit) usually sent each other QSL cards to document a two-way radio contact, but simple listeners could send them as well. Thus, one could send QSL cards even if one were not allowed to transmit. See Chap. 1 for more on QSL cards.

  55. 55.

    Though it cannot be said with 100% certainty, it is likely that Frech’s contact in the American administration was T4 William J. Sailer. Sailer was a Stuttgart native who immigrated to the US before the war, and had been a “Richie boy” trained as an intelligence officer at Camp Richie, Maryland. During the war, he served in a propaganda unit that attempted to persuade German soldiers to surrender. He later served in the American Military government in Stuttgart, first as a soldier, and then as a civilian. I am indebted to Dr. Thomas Boghardt and his colleagues, Dr. Nick Schlosser and Dr. Kathy Nawyn and to researcher Mr. Dan Gross, for tracking down Sailer and providing information about his career. See also: Bruce Henderson, Sons and Soldiers. The Untold Story of the Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Returned with the U.S. Army to Fight Hitler (New York: William Morrow/Harper Collins, 2017). Sailer’s name appears on p. 404.

  56. 56.

    Though participants refer to “P.O. Box 585”, in 1946 this was probably “APO 585” (Army Post Office box 585).

  57. 57.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 177–178, p. 181.

  58. 58.

    The document prepared by the WBRC for this meeting survives in the US National Archives NARA Record Group 260, box 968, Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII; Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Office of Military Government, Wuerttemberg-Baden; Records of the Education and Cultural Relations Division: Community Active Branch Chief: Corresp & Rel Recs. 1945–1949; Amateur Radio thru K9 American-French Zone Merger. Note particularly the “memo from ‘Committee for the treatment of questions relating to amateur-broadcasting-licenses of the Radio Club Württemberg-Baden, Chief Delegate Wolfram Körner, Licensed Publisher, Stuttgart, Tagblatt-Turmhaus, 8th Floor’ to: Federal Communications Commission, [and] Chief Communications Branch; Subject: Granting of Transmissions Licenses to German Shortwave Amateurs in Württemberg-Baden of July 8, 1947”, and “Memoir” Stuttgart, July 1947.

  59. 59.

    See the section on the British Zone below.

  60. 60.

    Not least, see NARA Record Group 260 BOX 3, Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of functional Offices and Divisions; The Office of the Director of Intelligence: General Corresp of the Analysis and Research Branch. 1945–1949; 000.9-2 Scientists, German, IOA Evacuees thru 004. German Industrialists and Industry (1); FOLDER 000.77 RADIO INFORMATION OF INTELLIGENCE INTERESTS 7-20-1/28.

  61. 61.

    “Lt. Col. Robert Walker, Chief, European Command Headquarters, Army Security Agency Europe, APO757, to Deputy Director of Intelligence, Headquarters, European Command, APO757 U.S. Army, ASA-94/MJC/mp of 17 February 1948 (copy) (Confidential)”, in: NARA Record Group 260 BOX 3 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of functional Offices and Divisions; The Office of the Director of Intelligence: General Corresp of the Analysis and Research Branch. 1945–1949; 000.9-2 Scientists, German, IOA Evacuees thru 004. German Industrialists and Industry (1); FOLDER 000.77 RADIO INFORMATION OF ILTELLIGENCE INTERESTS 7-20-1/28.

  62. 62.

    Ibid.

  63. 63.

    Note that the first public mention of the association between German amateurs and US Intelligence probably came in an article in the March 1948 issue of journal of the DARC/BZ, “CQ”. It was a fairly open secret.

  64. 64.

    Ibid.

  65. 65.

    See NARA Record Group 260 BOX 3 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII, Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of functional Offices and Divisions; The Office of the Director of Intelligence: General Corresp of the Analysis and Research Branch. 1945–1949; 000.9-2 Scientists, German, IOA Evacuees thru 004. German Industrialists and Industry (1); FOLDER 000.77 RADIO INFORMATION OF INTELLIGENCE INTERESTS 7-20-1/28 and also NARA Record Group 260 BOX 167 Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, WWII; Office of Military Government for Germany (US) OMGUS; Records of the Office of Military Government, Bavaria; Records of the Intelligence Division: General Intelligence Recs. 1946–1948 Research Control THRU youth, general folder 10/84-2 26 Radio, General for documentation of this fear.

  66. 66.

    Thomas Boghardt, “America’s Secret Vanguard: U.S. Army Intelligence Operations in Germany, 1944–47”, Studies in Intelligence 57, No. 2 (June 2013): 1–18. Accessed September 5, 2015. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-57-no-2/pdfs/BookStudies%2057%20No%202-June2013.pdf

  67. 67.

    See, for example, Memorandum by Richard Helms of January 10, 1947 “Targets of German Mission” (Confidential), accessed June 25, 2015. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/on-the-front-lines-of-the-cold-war-documents-on-the-intelligence-war-in-berlin-1946-to-1961/1-4.pdf; “Report on Berlin Operations Base”, MADOC-B226 from Chief of Station Karlsruhe Dana Durand to Chief of Foreign Branch M (eyes-only) of April 8, 1948, (Secret), accessed June 25, 2015. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/on-the-front-lines-of-the-cold-war-documents-on-the-intelligence-war-in-berlin-1946-to-1961/1-2.pdf. Later CIA interest in amateur radio is documented in the following article, which draws on newly declassified documents: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, “The CIA, the Cold War, and Amateur Radio”, QST 102, No. 2 (February 2018): 64–68.

  68. 68.

    “Reorganization of the RIS in Germany”, Report from “Information Control, OSO”, September 11, 1947 (Control), accessed June 15, 2015. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/on-the-front-lines-of-the-cold-war-documents-on-the-intelligence-war-in-berlin-1946-to-1961/1-10.pdf

  69. 69.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 182. Note the outward similarity between this agreement and the 1933 cooperation of the DASD. At both occasions, German amateurs made unpleasant compromises in exchange for freedom to transmit.

  70. 70.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 188–189.

  71. 71.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 188–189.

  72. 72.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 189–190.

  73. 73.

    Though not mentioned, it is at least plausible that the British radio intelligence personnel would be not only supportive of fellow hams, but also interested, like the Americans, in using German amateurs to learn about conditions in other zones. Körner, Amateurfunk, 190.

  74. 74.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 190–191. See also Jochen Hindrichs, “60 Jahre DARC-Distrikt Hamburg”, Hamburger Funkerblatt, (October 19, 2007), accessed August 4, 2015. http://www.df3xz.de/Hamburger%20Funkerblatt.pdf

  75. 75.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 190–192. These were Senior Postal Direction (Ober Post Direktion OPD) Zone Düsseldorf/Köln—Pazem (DL 1 KB), OPD Zone Bremen—Goldmann (DL1 KH), OPD Zone Hamburg—Rapcke (DL1 WA) and OPD Zone Kiel—Müller (DL1 FL).

  76. 76.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 192.

  77. 77.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 192.

  78. 78.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 176.

  79. 79.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 184–185. According to Körner, Haberl was arrested by the Nazis for “politischen Schwarzsenden” and “Landesverrat” and sentenced to death 1942, and only escaped execution by “a miracle”.

  80. 80.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 185.

  81. 81.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 182–184.

  82. 82.

    Körner Amateurfunk, 184–185.

  83. 83.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 184–185.

  84. 84.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 185.

  85. 85.

    Fritz Kirchner, DJ2NL, “Einige Daten und Fakten zur Entstehung des Amateurfunkgesetzes (AFuG) vom 14. März 1949”, CQDL (October 1987): 632–634. The text of the letter in German is reprinted on p. 263. Note that the Bipartite Control Office specifically asked for amateur radio licenses for Allied personnel, as well as for German amateurs.

  86. 86.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 185–186.

  87. 87.

    Kirchner, “AfuG” 632.

  88. 88.

    Kirchner “AfuG”, 632.

  89. 89.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 185–186

  90. 90.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 186.

  91. 91.

    Kirchner, “AfuG”, 632–633.

  92. 92.

    Gesetzblatt der Verwaltung des Vereinigten Wirtschaftsgebietes No. 7 vom March 22, 1949. Kirchner, “AfuG”, 633.

  93. 93.

    Körner, Amateurfunk, 186.

  94. 94.

    At the same time, the old Fernmeldeanlagegesetz of 1928 was technically restored, but was automatically superseded by the “Gesetz über den Amateurfunk” of March 14, 1949. In any case, the German Federal Republic did not regain sovereignty over telecommunications until May 1955. The “ Gesetz über den Amateurfunk” of March 14, 1949, like all laws passes by the Wirtschaftsrat, remained in force thanks to Articles 123I and 124 of the Basic Law. See: Thomas Neufeld (DARC ), “Geschichte des Amateurfunk und die rechtlichen Grundlagen” (2017), accessed May 28, 2018. https://www.darc.de/der-club/distrikte/q/ortsverbaende/11/chronik/geschichte-des-amateurfunks/

  95. 95.

    Thomas Neufeld “Amateurfunk”. Neufeld states that the introduction of the law in the French Zone was delayed so long due to attempts to negate it in favor of the 1928 law.

  96. 96.

    See below.

  97. 97.

    Thomas Neufeld “Amateurfunk”. According to Neufeld, there were already 2000 German amateurs when the DARC was founded. He states that ca. 85% of all German amateurs in 2017 belonged to the DARC.

  98. 98.

    Wolfgang Benz, ed., Deutschland seit 1945. Entwicklungen in der Bundesrepublik und in der DDR. Chronik, Dokumente, Bilder (Munich: Moos & Partner, 1990): 10.

  99. 99.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 88–92.

  100. 100.

    See above, pp. 281–283.

  101. 101.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 88.

  102. 102.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 90–91.

  103. 103.

    This was originally an organization of intellectuals dedicated to the cultural renewal of Germany in a humanistic and anti-fascist sense. By 1947, it had become an unofficial organ of the Socialist Unity Party (SED). It gradually collected a number of hobby groups under its umbrella, such as stamp collectors and hobby photographers, likely because the regime didn’t know where else to place them. See: Gerd Dietrich, “Kulturbund”. In: Gerd-Rüdiger Stephan et al., ed., Die Parteien und Organisationen der DDR. Ein Handbuch (Berlin: Dietz, 2002); Magdalena Heider, Politik—Kultur—Kulturbund. Zur Gründungs- und Frühgeschichte des Kulturbundes zur demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands 1945–1954 in der SBZ/DDR, Bibliothek Wissenschaft und Politik 51 (Cologne: Verlag Wissenschaft und Politik Claus-Peter von Nottbeck, 1993); Magdelena Haider, “Der Kulturbund zur Demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands (KB)”, in SBZ-Handbuch: Staatliche Verwaltungen, Parteien, gesellschaftliche Organisationen und ihre Führungskräfte in der Sowjetischen Besatzungszone Deutschlands 1945–1949, edited by Martin Broszat and Hermann Weber, 714–733 (Berlin: De Gruyter/Oldenbourg, 1990, Second Edition 1993).

  104. 104.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 88–92.

  105. 105.

    In other words, a SMAD transmitter pretending to be an amateur. Senne, p. 90.

  106. 106.

    The KdT was an official corporative professional organization in East Germany for technicians, engineers, and scientists, first in the Soviet zone, and later in the GDR. See Dolores L. Augustine, Red Prometheus: Engineering and Dictatorship in East Germany, 1945–1990, Transformations: Studies in the History of Science and Technology (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2007). see also Günter Fischhold, Kammer der Technik. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichtlichen Aufarbeitung des Ingenieurverbandes (Norderstedt: Books on Demand GmbH., 2011).

  107. 107.

    The Culture Union might not seem to be the most obvious place for amateur radio, but in fact, it included sections for other hobbies, such as photography.

  108. 108.

    Letter from Dipl. Ing. Fritz Trömel to dip. Ing. Helmut Ahlborn of February 1, 2001, DASD Archive.

  109. 109.

    Not least, the Korean War took place from June 1950 to July 1953.

  110. 110.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 98. The document in question is cited here as BStU MfS/Zentralarchiv Allg. S 31/54 Band I, Bl. 253.

  111. 111.

    See below. “Verordnung über den Amateurfunk” vom February 6, 1953, Gesetzblatt DDR No. 21 vom February 17, 1953.

  112. 112.

    Letter from Dipl. Ing. Fritz Trömel to dip. Ing. Helmut Ahlborn (then Head of the DASD Archive) of February 1, 2001, Dokufunk Archive.

  113. 113.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 99. Here he cites two documents: 1. Letter from State Secretary Warnke of the Ministry of the Interior to the Minister for State Security, Zaiser of 3.3.1951, BStU MfS/Zentralarchiv Allg. S 31/54 Band I, Bl. 345 and 2. BStu MfS/Zentralarchiv Allg. S 31/54 Band I, Bl. 345 f.

  114. 114.

    See note 108 above.

  115. 115.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 100–105.

  116. 116.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 100. Of course, in East Germany just as nearly everywhere else, many radio scientists and professionals were also amateur radio operators.

  117. 117.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 100.

  118. 118.

    Ibid, 100–105. Senne was able to use a protocol of the meeting, which he obtained from a participant.

  119. 119.

    Ibid.

  120. 120.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 100–102.

  121. 121.

    Ibid.

  122. 122.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 100–105.

  123. 123.

    On the GST, see: Paul Heider, “Die Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik (1952–1990)”. In Handbuch der bewaffneten Organe der DDR, edited by Torsten Diedrich, Hans Ehret and Rüdiger Wenke, 169–199. Berlin: Christian Links Verlag, 1998; Paul Heider, die Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik. Vom Wehrsport zur “Schule des Soldaten von Morgen” (Berlin: Fides Verlag, 2002); and Ringo Wagner, Der Vergessene Sportverband der DDR. Die Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik in sporthistorischer Perspekektive. (Aachen: Meyer & Meyer Sport, 2006).

  124. 124.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 109–110.

  125. 125.

    Senne, SBZ und DDR, 113. “Verordnung über den Amateurfunk” vom February, 6, 1953, Gesetzblatt DDR No. 21 vom February 17, 1953.

  126. 126.

    In this regard, the fact that the Third Reich only lasted 12 years—less than a generation—is certainly of central importance.

  127. 127.

    Christine Keitz, Reisen als Leitbild. Die Entstehung des modernen Massentourismus in Deutschland (Munich: Deutsche Taschenbuch Verlag, 1997). Unfortunately, Keitz does not go into the reasons for the postwar German love of travel at much length.

  128. 128.

    This is not in any way to make the superficial and stupid argument of essential equivalency between the Third Reich and the German Democratic Republic.

  129. 129.

    There was certainly some continuity between the DASD and the radio hobby in East Germany as well, but it was much less pronounced, and certainly did not extend to its leadership to any great extent.

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Campbell, B.B. (2019). The Radio Hobby Comes in from the Cold, 1945–1955. In: The Radio Hobby, Private Associations, and the Challenge of Modernity in Germany. Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26534-2_7

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