Königs Wusterhausen Radio Transmitter History and Significance

Königs Wusterhausen radio transmitter has a rich history dating back to 1957, when it was first built by the German Democratic Republic as part of its broadcast infrastructure.

The transmitter was initially used to broadcast radio signals to the entire eastern part of Germany, covering a significant portion of the country's population.

The site's significance lies in its ability to broadcast signals over long distances, with a power output of up to 2 megawatts.

This allowed the German Democratic Republic to maintain control over the media landscape in its territory, broadcasting propaganda and news to its citizens.

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The Königs Wusterhausen radio transmitter has a rich history that spans over a century. The German armed forces started conducting experiments in radio technology on the Windmühlenberg hill in 1911.

These early experiments involved mobile stations mounted on horse carriages and antennas held up by captive balloons. The site was extended with facilities, including a large antenna system and several functional buildings, from 1913 onwards.

The military broadcasting station, later called Senderhaus 1, was put into operation in 1916. After the war, the German Reichspost took over the barracks and used the facilities for transmitting weather reports, financial news, and telegrams.

The first transmission of speech and music in the longwave range took place on 22 December 1920, making Königs Wusterhausen the "cradle of German broadcasting". This achievement was made possible by post official Hans Bredow and his staff using an arc converter supplied by C. Lorenz AG.

The facilities at Königs Wusterhausen were soon enlarged, and a second station building (Sendehaus 2) was inaugurated in 1923. A nationwide Deutschlandsender transmitter was erected in 1925, consisting of several masts with heights from 100 m to 210 m and the 243 m high Central Tower.

Here's a brief timeline of the key milestones in the history of the Königs Wusterhausen radio transmitter:

The Central Tower collapsed during the Cyclone Quimburga on 15 November 1972.

The Golden Age was a time of rapid expansion and innovation for the Königs Wusterhausen radio transmitter.

This era saw the construction of numerous transmitters, including the iconic 243-meter-high steel lattice tower affectionately known as der Dicke (the Fat One).

The transmitter's capabilities grew significantly during this time, with 20 transmitters of various types, ranging from arc transmitters to tube transmitters, being housed by 1925.

These transmitters had power outputs from 0.2 kW to 50 kW, showcasing the facility's growing capabilities.

Regular Sunday concerts became a staple of the transmitter's programming, featuring postal workers entertaining audiences with their musical talents.

The facility's reach extended further with the construction of new installations in nearby Zeesen, including the powerful Deutschlandsender II with 60 kW.

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The Königs Wusterhausen radio transmitter is a truly international sensation, having been honored with a plaque by the IEEE in July 2016. This recognition commemorates the historic 1920 Christmas broadcast.

This accolade has cemented the transmitter's status as a landmark of global significance in the field of communication technology.