Feindsender
Encyclopedia
Feindsender is a term used during the Third Reich to describe programs produced by radio-stations of the enemies of the then German Reich, such as the United Kingdom
or the USA, or by radio-stations inside Germany broadcasting material against Nazi Germany
. The term has not been in general use since the downfall of the Third Reich.
With the beginning of the Second World War in 1939
, many new laws and prohibitions were established in Nazi Germany. This forced the population to decide whether to obey the Nazi regime, or to risk being declared "criminals". Whoever decided to fight against the new laws and prohibitions was observed by the Gestapo
and could be sent to a concentration-camp
.
One of those new laws, introduced on the 1st of September 1939 concerned "extraordinary radio-measures" . This law prohibited listening to any radio-station other than the Nazi state-controlled radio-stations. If a German Reichsbürger
was found to have violated this rule, and listened to a British comedy broadcast, for instance, or to Jazz
-music from America, they would normally receive a warning if it was the first time they were caught, and would be arrested if caught again. The recording or distribution of such broadcasts were punished with incarceration a concentration-camp or even with the death penalty during WW2.
Soon, the British Broadcasting Company BBC
came to be regarded as the main Feindsender, and listening to the BBC radio-station was punished with imprisonment. Vatican Radio
and Radio Moscow were two other famous Feindsender during that time.
Estimates of how many Reichsbürger
s listened to such Feindsenders vary.
Despite the punishments, even in Nazi Germany, there were several radio stations which were considered state-disobedient.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or the USA, or by radio-stations inside Germany broadcasting material against Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. The term has not been in general use since the downfall of the Third Reich.
With the beginning of the Second World War in 1939
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many new laws and prohibitions were established in Nazi Germany. This forced the population to decide whether to obey the Nazi regime, or to risk being declared "criminals". Whoever decided to fight against the new laws and prohibitions was observed by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
and could be sent to a concentration-camp
Nazi concentration camps
Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps throughout the territories it controlled. The first Nazi concentration camps set up in Germany were greatly expanded after the Reichstag fire of 1933, and were intended to hold political prisoners and opponents of the regime...
.
One of those new laws, introduced on the 1st of September 1939 concerned "extraordinary radio-measures" . This law prohibited listening to any radio-station other than the Nazi state-controlled radio-stations. If a German Reichsbürger
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
was found to have violated this rule, and listened to a British comedy broadcast, for instance, or to Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-music from America, they would normally receive a warning if it was the first time they were caught, and would be arrested if caught again. The recording or distribution of such broadcasts were punished with incarceration a concentration-camp or even with the death penalty during WW2.
Soon, the British Broadcasting Company BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
came to be regarded as the main Feindsender, and listening to the BBC radio-station was punished with imprisonment. Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
and Radio Moscow were two other famous Feindsender during that time.
Estimates of how many Reichsbürger
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
s listened to such Feindsenders vary.
Despite the punishments, even in Nazi Germany, there were several radio stations which were considered state-disobedient.
The term Feindsender in popular culture
- The Electro-Pop-band Welle: Erdball called themselves Feindsender 64.3.
- A famous and popular internet-radio-station is named Feindsender.
List of famous Feindsender
- BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Vatican RadioVatican RadioVatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
- Radio Moscow
- Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
- Soldatensender CalaisSoldatensender CalaisSoldatensender Calais was a British black propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War operated by the Political Warfare Executive. It pretended to be a station of the German military broadcasting network...
and Gustav Siegfried EinsGustav Siegfried EinsGustav Siegfried Eins was a British black propaganda radio station during World War II operated by the Political Warfare Executive . It was the brainchild of Sefton Delmer, a former BBC German service announcer recruited by PWE in 1940, and claimed to be an illegal radio station operating within...
- British black propagandaBlack propagandaBlack propaganda is false information and material that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy...
disguised as German armed forces stations