View source for Radio stations in German South West Africa

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Location map many | Namibia
| width = 300
| float = right
| caption= Fixed radio stations in German South West Africa
| label = Lüderitzbucht
  | pos = top
  | marksize = 8
  | coordinates = {{coord|-26.64|15.15}}
| label2 = Swakopmund
  | pos2 = top
  | mark2size = 8
  | coordinates2 = {{coord|-22.68|14.52}}
| label3 = Windhoek
  | pos3 = bottom
  | coordinates3 = {{coord|-22.56|17.09}}
| label4 = Tsumeb
  | pos4 = bottom
  | mark4size = 8
  | mark4=Green pog.svg
  | coordinates4 = {{coord|-19.25|17.71}}
| label5 = Aus
  | pos5= bottom
  | mark5=Green pog.svg
  | coordinates5 = {{coord|-26.67|16.29}}
}}
[[File:Gedenkstein Funkenstation Farm Aar (2015).jpg|thumb|Memorial stone created by lieutenant ''Brock'' to remember the "Funkenstation" (radio station) on {{ill|Farm Aar|de}} near Aus]]
A series of '''radio stations in German South West Africa''' (today [[Namibia]]) enabled the Germans to communicate between their colony, [[German South West Africa]], and their motherland, the [[German Empire]]. They also used radio to communicate within the German South West Africa territory and with German boats at sea. The stations utilized [[spark-gap transmitter]]s.

The introduction of [[wireless telegraphy]] was a significant step for communication between German South West Africa and the German motherland in Europe. The news about the start of [[World War I]] reached German South West Africa on 2 August 1914 via radio telegraphy. The information was transmitted from the [[Nauen Transmitter Station|Nauen transmitter station]] via a relay station in [[Kamina Funkstation, Togo|Kamina]] and [[Lomé]] in [[Togo]] to the radio station in Windhoek.

== Fixed radio stations ==
The Germans installed three fixed radio stations: one in the capital [[Windhoek]], one in [[Swakopmund]] and one in [[Lüderitz]]bucht (now Lüderitz). During World War I, the radio station in Swakopmund was moved to [[Tsumeb]], and the station in Lüderitzbucht was moved to [[Aus, Namibia|Aus]].<ref name="Dissertation">{{cite thesis|url=https://sundoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/diss-online/04/05H118/prom.pdf|lang=de|first=Sebastian|last=Mantei|title=Von der "Sandbüchse" zum Kommunikationsnetzwerk Die Entwicklungsgeschichte des Post- und Telegraphenwesens in der Kolonie Deutsch-Südwestafrika (1884 – 1915)|type=PhD|publisher=[[Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg]]|date=December 2004}}</ref>

The radio stations were operated on a wave lengths ranging from 300 to 4500&nbsp;meters corresponding to [[medium wave]] and [[longwave]] frequencies. At that time, [[Shortwave radio|shortwave]]s—higher frequencies above 3&nbsp;MHz—could not yet be created. Therefore, the [[T-antenna|T-formed antennas]] of the radio stations were rather high; for instance, the towers in Windhoek were {{Convert|120|m|ft}} tall.

The British government was well aware of the installation of the new German radio system. On 24&nbsp;December 1913, the British consul in Lüderitzbucht reported to the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]] the following: 

{{blockquote|Sir, I have the honour to inform you that a wireless telegraphy station is in course of erection in Windhuk. The station is designed to establish direct communication with Nauen in Germany and it is expected that the new service will be in full working order by the 15th May 1914|author=British Consul in Lüderitzbucht<ref name="Dissertation" />}}

The radio station in Swakopmund was inaugurated on 4&nbsp;February 1912 but then was dismantled on 13&nbsp;August 1914 and moved to Tsumeb, where the station with its {{Convert|86|m|ft|adj=on}} towers was operational on 24&nbsp;November 1914.

The radio station in Lüderitzbucht went into operation on 3&nbsp;June 1912; it was dismantled on 8&nbsp;August 1914 and moved to the small city of Aus, where it became operational on 15&nbsp;September. By 19&nbsp;September, [[Union Defence Force (South Africa)|South African troops]] had occupied the city of Lüderitzbucht.
<gallery class="center">
File:Antennenbasis des Funkturmes in Windhoek.jpg|Base of radio tower in Windhoek<br />(2022 still visible)
File:Fundament eines Funkmastens in Windhoek.jpg|Foundation of radio tower in Windhoek<br />(2022 still visible)
File:Abspannpunkt eines Funkmastens in Windhoek.jpg|Anchor point of radiotower in Windhoek<br />(2022 still visible)
File:Ankerpunkt der oberen Abspannung des Funkmastens in Windhoek.jpg|Anchor point of radiotower in Windhoek<br />(2022 still visible)
</gallery>

== Mobile radio stations ==
In 1903/1904, the Germans already had three operational mobile radio stations in German South West Africa for their communication in the territory. They used radios from [[Siemens & Halske]] and from [[Telefunken]]. The radios were installed on [[ox-wagon]]s and were operated on two frequencies, on a wave length of 350&nbsp;m and 875&nbsp;m, respectively. The antennas were lifted by [[Gas balloon|hydrogen balloons]]; the hydrogen was produced in [[Bitterfeld]], Germany.<ref name="Dissertation" />

<gallery class="center" widths=210px heights=140px>
File:Zwei Ankerpunkte Sendemast Swakopmund.jpg|Two of three former anchor towers in Swakopmund
File:Bildschirmfoto 2019-04-14 um 09.45.16.png|Mobile radio station in German South West Africa, using a hydrogen balloon to lift the antenna
File:Funkturm Lüderitz um 1911.jpg|Radiotower in Lüderitz (1912)
</gallery>

== References ==
<references responsive />

{{Commonscat|Funkstationen in Deutsch-Südwestafrika}}

[[Category:German South West Africa]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1912]]
[[Category:Lüderitz]]
[[Category:History of radio]]
[[Category:Radio during World War I]]