7th June 1947
HAM-FEST Stuttgart

AMATEUR RADIO IN GERMANY

As reported by the British journal, 'The Short-Wave Magazine'

Pre-war

'Despite excellent conditions news has proved very scarce and I cannot claim reception of even one newcomer of Latin-American origin! From the programme point of view the past four weeks have proved interesting, the highlights being the Farr -Baer fight and the sensational relays made from Germany in connection with the recent political upheavals and the Austrian coup. But let us commence by turning to a distant continent which is unusually pacific in comparison.' (April 1938)

'Finally, E. Strawbridge of London, N.W.10, asks if anyone has heard 14 Mc 'phone signals from Germany. No amateurs in that country are allowed to use 'phone on any band ; there are one or two technical schools which have permission, but they are rarely working.' (September 1938)

'Germany, ever anxious to increase the scope and efficiency of its short-wave service, has recently inaugurated transmissions over the following channels :-DJX, 31.01 m, 9,675 kc, and DJZ, 25.42 m, 11,801 kc, the former being used 1630-2125 and the latter 2150-0350. A DJY is on 49.4 m but I do not know its schedule. Incidentally, I understand that a new and greatly improved verification is now being issued by these stations, vastly different from the original letter verification in German, sent out many years ago. A DJS has been in service for some time on 13.99 m, 21,450 kc, 0500-1600.' (January 1939)

'Prior to the annexation, Austrian stations used the identifying prefix OE, changed to D when Austria became part of Germany. Austrian amateurs can, however, still be recognised by reason of the fact that their calls are now suffixed W. The process of annexation having recently been taken a step further by the virtual elimination of Czecho-Slovakia, it is probable that here too a new suffix will be used. In the meantime, the quietus has been imposed on all OK stations, and we in this country may well sympathise with our brother amateurs out there on the terrible time through which they are now passing.' (April 1939)

'A programme in Arabic was heard once via an unidentified station on 29.16 m, closing at 1900 with the Zeesen interval signal (the opening bars of the 'Horst Wessel' song) but no German announcement. No mention of this is made in the official programme booklet but a DIQ operated on the same channel many years ago, though the present call is believed to be DZC. DJZ, Vienna, 25.42 m, is now operating daily 2250-0450.' (July 1939)

'ONCE AGAIN, we have to make our comment for this page at a time when great events are shaping themselves for the future - at a time when it is difficult with any certainty to plan for the future. We write while the Government waits for a reply from Germany, on which so much depends for so many of us. The chances of peace or war seem to be about even, but it is neither our business nor our intention to offer opinions on the situation, but to consider as far as may be possible how - if we should be at war when you read this it is likely to affect us. It is certain that all amateur stations will be closed down for the duration of hostilities under the clause in the licence which empowers the Postmaster -General so to act in the event of a national emergency. We are unable to say in what precise manner this close -down will be effected, as each case is an individual one. We are officially informed by the authorities that the local inspector will visit the station and take at his discretion what steps he may think fit to render the transmitting gear inoperative. In other words, there will not necessarily be any wholesale confiscation of apparatus, nor will receiving facilities be curtailed. Since this time last year, many readers have made themselves liable for service by joining one or other of the reserves - this also applies to several members of our own staff - so that as in 1914, amateurs are once more ready to become professionals and apply their specialised knowledge to serious purpose. So we await the turn of affairs. We cannot think but that we speak for every one of our readers when we say that though war will mean the temporary extinction of Amateur Radio, such a consideration is only a drop in the ocean of our country's preoccupations at this time. We are certain that those called upon to serve, in whatever capacity, will bring to their tasks those finer conceptions of duty, tenacity, endurance, comradeship and mutual co-operation with which they must have come in contact no matter how little their experience in what now seems the very small world of Amateur Radio.' (September 1939)

'Broadcasts in Arabic are made by a Zeesen station operating near 32.1 m, concluding with announcements in Arabic only and the familiar Zeesen interval signal at 1930. DXB, 31.22 m, may be heard with Arabic at 1845 and news in English at 2015, causing bad interference to LLG. Other German channels likely to come into use include :- DXE, 13.81 m, DXF, 13.83 m, DXA, 48.7 m, DXD, 13.85 m, DXC, 16.83 m and DXG, 48.47 m.' (September 1939)

'It reminds us of a well-known D operator of some years ago, when Amateur Radio in Germany was also under a ban. He was doing time for unlicensed transmission but managed to get a note into the Rag-Chewers' Club magazine. It was to this effect "I am in prison one month for having Tx so sorry cannot keep RCC schedules. But I will be on 3.5 Mc soon again with different call"!' (September 1939)

'The Short-Wave Magazine' closed due to WWII

but started to publish again in 1943.

Not all issues are readily available to extract reports from.

Post-war

'November, 1945, may be said to be the beginning of amateur activity from a world angle. This month produced excellent DX conditions, and some very good calls. Service amateurs, notably Americans, radiated genuine signals from their theatre of operations in the Pacific. Signals have been received from such places as Leyte, Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Saigon, while it is quite common today to hear operators signing their own home calls, suffixed by the prefix of the country in which they are stationed. One example is 6CU/Zc2 in Cocos Island, Indian Ocean-he is ex-G6CU-- working on 28 mc. Others on 28 mc include W6RNJ/PY7 and W9KXN/CT2. British amateurs do not seem to have the same liberty of action in 'foreign parts' as our American friends, but perhaps some of the stranger calls do emanate from British service men. Some D4s are on, but we cannot believe that these are operated by Germans, but must be by Allied personnel working in Germany unofficially. However, let us work all we can - we may be quite surprised at the QSL cards we receive!' (March 1946)

'The authorities in the British Zone have decided to allow holders of pre-war British call signs to operate from Germany, using the prefix D2 followed by the letters of their original call signs. Thus, if G6WY were operating from Germany, he would use D2WY as his call. The licensing conditions regarding frequencies, power, etc., follow exactly those recently approved here. Though we understand that no official information has yet been given from the American Zone, it is believed that the D4's now to be heard are American operators working under the same conditions as the new D2's. John Clarricoats of the R.S.G.B. also informs us that now the licence conditions have been agreed for this country, it is expected that the Colonial Office will shortly authorise colonial administrations to grant local licences on similar terms. All good news, which augurs well for the future of Amateur Radio.' (March 1946)

'Further to the note which appeared on p. 45 of the March issue, we now have authoritative information on the latest position regarding amateur activities in the British and American Zones of Occupation. There is, however, still no leakage of news from behind the iron curtain. It seems that, due mainly to the efforts of F/Lt. E. J. Fowler (VE5VO-D2VO) and a small band of enthusiasts, the British Signals Communication Board agreed to give qualified individuals of British nationality the same facilities as we enjoy over here, subject only to a power limitation of 50 watts. Licencees need not necessarily be pre-war holders of call signs, but if not, must be in one of the Service trades qualifying for exemption. The BSCB acts as the licensing authority, the detailed work having been undertaken by D2VO. He also issued the call signs, from the block D2AA-D2ZZ. F/Lt. Fowler has now been posted back to England on his way home to Canada, and his duties as Organising Secretary have been taken over by Capt. J. E. Terry (G4DI-D2DI). Below is the list of 25 calls, with QRAs, which have been issued to date in the British Zone. The Americans, working on the same lines as our people but with more liberal notions as to power, have issued no less than 130 licences in their Zone, in the sequence D4AAA-D4AFQ. We have the QRAs, but such a list is too formidable for publication in full. Readers may, however, obtain the QRA of any D4 in this sequence on application to our office. But we can not forward cards or other correspondence.' (April 1946)

'The Hamburg Hamfest.—Held in Hamburg over the period May 11-12, the attendance—which exceeded all expectations—included 25 D2's, with D4ABJ, ex-G8MW and Pte. J. Petrie as the representative of the D2 SWL's. D2TG and D2CW made the local arrangements and the business meeting was opened by D2DI, the organising secretary for Amateur Radio in the British Zone of Germany.' (June 1946)

'The Americans have permitted the formation of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (D.A.R.C.) in their Zone of Germany, but transmitting licences are not yet being issued to German nationals. The HQ address of the club is D.A.R.C., Amerikanische Zone, Stuttgart -S, Christophstr. 27, Germany.' (October 1947)

'Further to the note in this space last month, we are now informed that the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club is only permitted in the British Zone of Germany, under the title D.A.R.C./BZ. The Americans have allowed the formation of three local groups in their Zone, and it is hoped eventually to unite them all under the leadership of the D.A.R.C. No Club activity has so far been possible in the French and Russian Zones, and no German nationals are yet licensed to transmit. The only activity open to them is as SWL's and, therefore, they particularly value QSL's for their reports.' (November 1947)

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