Memories of Radio Luxembourg And also Elvis

"Is there anyone, ever stationed at Bremerhaven, who NEVER listened to Radio Luxembourg?"

These radios served the country in the Security Service, other branches of the military and also
the CIA and NSA for monitoring communications from behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War
years where the R-390A was classified TOP SECRET until the middle 1960's.

"...Coming your way direct from our studios here in the heart of Luxembourg".
(Remember spinning your 390 to 1440 kHz?)

Radio Luxembourg ceased transmission from the 208 transmitter on December 30, 1991.
(More than 59 years on the air.)

The station transmitted to all of Europe via the powerful transmitter site in Marnach, Luxembourg on 1439 kHz

(later 1440kHz), 208 metres in the medium wave band. The transmitter @ 1300 kW was Europe's most powerful. This 60 metre tower in the photo was built in 1955 for improving the transmission of the English-speaking programs. In April 1958 the famous English program "2-0-8" was broadcast in the evening and nighttime hours.

In 2005, the parent RTL company began a full time English service on Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). but has since been discontinued.

More History: When German forces invaded Luxembourg in 1940, the station was overtaken as a vehicle for propaganda. Lord Haw Haw broadcast from the station in English during this period. In 1945, the US took control of the station and briefly used it for propaganda purposes including mock broadcasts of a fabricated anti-Nazi German army unit in the Rhineland broadcasting to the German people against Hitler.

The station's first Director of English programming was Stephen Williams. His Radio Luxembourg archive was donated to the University of Sheffield in January 1999, and includes a script of the first British broadcast after WWII, including mocking impersonations of Adolph Hitler. It also contains books, tapes, schedules, photographs and scripts of English language broadcasting in the periods 1933-39 and also 1945-46.

Website Request: Many of us also had 'reel-to-reel' tape recorders in Bremerhaven.
If anyone has any Radio Luxembourg recordings converted to Mp3 files or .wav
please send them and I'll add them to this Website: Ron.Fandrick@verizon.net

Also in Germany, (1958-1960), was a very famous celebrity stationed with the Army: ELVIS PRESLEY.
(Click on his name to view an extensive Elvis collection)

Elvis arriving in Germany - Stationed in Friedberg
(Assigned to the Ray Kaserne barracks - Company , a scout platoon)

Promotion to Private First Class

Another Promotion - Now Sergeant Presley

In an exclusive BBC Radio interview (August 22, 2007), former US Secretary of State General Colin Powell talked about the military career of the King of Rock 'n Roll. General Powell, who met Elvis twice on active service, says he saw him primarily as Elvis the soldier, not Elvis the celebrity. He said: "Elvis served his country for two years, I saw him in the field, I ran across him in the woods while he was doing what every other GI does and he was thought of well enough by his commanders that he was promoted from private to sergeant. Elvis did the right thing when his draft papers came through and proved he was a true patriot. He stepped forward and was willing to give up a career without any objection."

March 27, 1959

Over the Hump Party - (Halfway mark of his army stint)

"Going Home!"

March 3, 1960

Press Conference - Ray Barracks

October 23, 1958 - Frankfort, Germany

Elvis attends Bill Haley performance - (backstage)