Gongs or Chimes (numbers station)
Broadcast area | MHz |
---|---|
Programming | |
Language(s) | German |
Format | Numbers station |
Ownership | |
Owner | National People's Army (speculated) Stasi (speculated) |
History | |
First air date | 1970s - 09 May 1990 |
The Gongs or Chimes was a German shortwave numbers station that transmitted from Zeesen in the Brandenburg region of East Germany,[1] between the early 1970s until 9 May 1990. The station would broadcast one or several coded messages daily during its operational life, with the messages being read out using an East German "Sprach-Morse Generator".
Schedule and format
The station, which took its nickname from its distinctive
In 1989, with the Peaceful Revolution leading to the eventual unification with West Germany in November 1990, the station's output became less consistent and scheduled, being heard only once a week on occasion.[1]
The station ceased to operate in May 1990, with its last broadcast taking place on 9 May. Curiously, the last message departs from the usual structure of the station, with a live male announcer introducing a song, and a group of possibly drunk males singing the German children's song "Alle meine Entchen " (All My Ducklings)[3]
Cultural impact
This station was frequently recorded by amateur radio enthusiasts, and a recording of this station was made available on The Conet Project, a compilation CD of numbers station recordings.
Footnotes
- ^ ISBN 0-936653-28-0. Archived from the originalon 27 May 2019.
- ^ "G03". Priyom.org.
- ^ a b Mason, Simon. "G3 Stasi". Archived from the original on 27 July 2018.