The Underground Radio Club That Defied East Germany
In the shadow of Communist rule, a daring group of radio enthusiasts in Limbach-Oberfrohna began a secret revolution in 1959 - using homemade equipment and coded messages to connect with the world. Now celebrating 65 years of resistance, the Limbach-Oberfrohna Radio Club reveals how they:
• Built illegal stations disguised as "sports equipment"
• Smuggled in Western radio tech via textile factory cover
• Used panzer tank radios to reach Brazil with just 10 watts
Cold War Spy Tech Uncovered
🕵️♂️ Secret Station DM4QN: Hidden in a backroom of the "Bruno Freitag" lingerie factory
📻 Revolutionary Gear:
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Soviet 10RT tank radios repurposed for amateur bands
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Hand-modified military surplus equipment
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Covert SSB contacts with West Germany
"We were 'sportsmen' by day, radio rebels by night," recalls founder Manfred Sonne (DL5MS)
The Forbidden Broadcast That Shocked the Stasi
In 1973, the club scored a propaganda coup when granted the rare DT4QN callsign - leading to:
• 24/7 surveillance by secret police
• Record-breaking pileups rivaling DXpeditions
• A legendary QSL card featuring local industry
From Underground to Open Air
Today's members keep the rebellious spirit alive:
📅 Monthly Meets: 2nd Wednesday at Hartmannsdorf sports club
🔥 Summer Grill Nights: Members' backyard gatherings
📡 Weekly Nets: Saturdays at 19:00 on 145.300 MHz
Living History
The club recently uncovered astonishing pre-war roots:
• 1930s photos of Kurt Bretschneider (DL4BLU) at his station
• QSL cards proving radio activity since 1932
• A direct link to Germany's interwar radio golden age
Want to meet these radio veterans? Tune to 145.300 MHz or visit their meetups - they'll show you real radios that outsmarted an authoritarian regime!
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