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AFN-BERLIN CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY.
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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.
��� 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.
��� 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.
��� 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.
��� 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.
��� 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.
��� 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.

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This article out of the August 1969 issue of 'Berlin Today'
was sent to me by Jay Daves, USA
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Note: It was the 25th anniversary of AFN. AFN-Berlin came a year later.
The final localtion of AFN-Berlin has been at 28 Saargemuender Strasse
in Berlin-Zehlendorf.
AFN-Berlin was shut down on July 15th, 1994 at 2pm.
Home ... AFN TV ... 88fm ... 1107am
Updated on July 16th, 1999
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