At
noon August 4, 1945, a song which hadn't been heard for 12 long years in
Berlin hummed over the air waves and the American Forces Network -
Berlin,
was on the air.
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The song was George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". That was exactly one
month after the first American troops had entered the city and since that
day when AFN-Berlin's transmitters consisted of a wire strung between two
trees behind its studios, situated in a bombed out house in Dahlem, the
station has continued to bring the American servicemen in the Divided City
first class information, education and entertainment.
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Through the years AFN-Berlin, has provided a variety of programs as well
as a "touch of Home" for the U.S. Forces and their dependents who are
stationed
in the Divided City. The actual and complete world news summaries and the
splendid musical programs are appreciated greatly, not
only
by the American Community, but by listeners throughout Europe,
including
those behind the Iron Curtain.
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The first program day on AFN-Berlin was 20 hours long. The personnel first
slept on the floor of the studios because barracks were not available,
but the American-style radio stayed on the air.
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During the days of the blockade in 1949, the station stayed on the air
around the clock. Pilots landing at Tempelhof Central Airport, with the
supplies needed to keep the city alive, set their radio compasses on AFN-Berlin's
frequency to land their planes.
From
being one of the most bombed cities in Europe 24 years ago, Berlin
has
grown into a thriving metropolis. AFN-Berlin has also continued to grow.
Shortly after going on the air, the radio station moved to its present
home at 28 Podbielskiallee.
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After the erection of the infamous Wall of Shame, the station started broadcasting
around the clock as it had done during the blockade and still continues
to do.
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From its two-mile broadcasting radius in 1945, AFN-Berlin has grown to
an AM transmitter of 10,000 watts and an FM transmitter to 1,800 watts.
Through
the years AFN-Berlin's staff of military and civilian, announcers,
engineers
and Technicians-have constantly worked for and continue to
strive
for the finest possible programming to off its Berlin listeners.