Retro Radio Dial: 1953 Free Europe Shortwave

Philips Radio Model 436-AN dial.
Philips Radio Model 436-AN dial. Photo: Boatanchor Pix

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Republic of Eire, France, West Germany [including West Berlin], Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, Saar, Spain, Switzerland, Trieste Free Territory [for Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden see Nordic Europe 1953].

Share your own memories of Free Europe Radio

Shortwave
kcStationCountryLocation
2500MSF National Physical LaboratoryGreat BritainRugby
3930RAI Radio ItalianaItalyRome III
3955BBCGreat BritainLondon
3975BBCGreat BritainLondon
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
3985HER22 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
5000MSF National Physical LaboratoryGreat BritainRugby
5080Blue Danube NetworkAustriaSalzburg
5470AFN American Forces NetworkWest GermanyBayreuth
5960Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
5968HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
5970Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
5975BBCGreat BritainLondon
5976Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
5980Radio AndorraAndorraAndorra le Vieja
 Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
 Nordwestdeutscher RundfunkWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
 Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandHuizen 2
5985Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
6000Landessender TirolAustriaInnsbruck
 ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
 ORU5 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
6005RIAS Radio in American SectorWest GermanyBerlin
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
6010GRB BBCGreat BritainLondon
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
6015VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceUSCGC Courier, Rhodes
6020Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
6025Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandLopik 4
6030Suddeutscher RundfunkWest GermanyMuhlacker
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
6035GWS BBCGreat BritainLondon
 3AM4 Radio Monte CarloMonacoMonte Carlo
6040GSY BBCGreat BritainLondon
 VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
6055HER2 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwizterlandSchwarzenburg
6060GSX BBCGreat BritainLondon
6070GRR BBCGreat BritainLondon
6085ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
6090GWM BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Radio LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg
6095Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
6105Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
6110GSL BBCGreat BritainLondon
6125GWA BBCGreat BritainLondon
6130Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
6150GRW BBCGreat BritainLondon
6154Radio RenascencaPortugalLisbon
6155Radio WienAustriaWien I
6160Bayerischer RundfunkWest GermanyMunich
6165GWK BBCGreat BritainLondon
 HER3 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
6170GSZ BBCGreat BritainLondon
6175Radio LiberationWest GermanyMunich
6177Radio AthensGreeceAthens
6180GRO BBCGreat BritainLondon
6190Hessischer RundfunkWest GermanyFrankfurt
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
6195GRN BBCGreat BritainLondon
6210RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
6240GreeceMytilini
 RAI Radio ItalianaItalyMilan III
6260RAI Radio ItalianaItalyPalermo II
6270Greek Armed Forces RadioGreeceTripolis
6320SudwestfunkWest GermanyBaden-Baden II
6330Central Radio Station of the Greek Armed ForcesGreeceAthens
6360Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
6374Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
6480Radio HerakleionGreeceCanea
6590Radio ChiosGreeceChios
6675HBQ United NationsSwitzerlandGeneva
6678National Broadcasting InstituteGreeceChania
6752Greek Armed Forces RadioGreeceLarissa
6960Radio AlertaSpainValencia
6990Radio Nacional de Espana NationalSpainMalaga
7006FET-1 Radio Falange de alladolidSpainValladolid
7030Greek Armed Forces RadioGreeceMakronissos
7037.2EAJ Radio MediterraneoSpainValencia
7105Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7110MCS BBCGreat BritainLondon
7120GRM BBCGreat BritainLondon
7125Greek Armed Forces Radio EpirosGreeceJannina
7130Radio LiberationWest GermanyMunich
7135GRS BBCGreat BritainLondon
7140Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7145Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7150GRT BBCGreat BritainLondon
7155Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7165Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7175Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7180Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7185GRK BBCGreat BritainLondon
7192Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7200GWZ BBCGreat BritainLondon
 VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceUSCGC Courier, Rhodes
7210GWL BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandLopik 4
 HEI3 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
7230GSW BBCGreat BritainLondon
7245Radio WienAustriaWien II
7250GWI BBCGreat BritainLondon
 HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
7260GSU BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
7270VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
7280GWN BBCGreat BritainLondon
 HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
7285Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
7290Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
7300Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio AthensGreeceAthens
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
7320GRJ BBCGreat BritainLondon
73493AM3 Radio Monte CarloMonacoMonte Carlo
7380La Voz de la FalangeSpainMadrid
7420Central Radio Station of the Greek Armed ForcesGreeceAthens
7580Greek Armed Forces RadioGreeceKavalla
7940Radio Falance de AlicanteSpainAlicante
7950Greek Armed Forces Radio MacedoniaGreeceKozani
9144ORU3 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
9370Radio Nacional de Espana NationalSpainMadrid I
 Radio Nacional de Espana Foreign ServiceSpainMadrid I
9410GRI BBCGreat BritainLondon
9420RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
9510GSB BBCGreat BritainLondon
9525GWJ BBCGreat BritainLondon
9530VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
9535HER4 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
9550GWB BBCGreat BritainLondon
 HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
9570GWX BBCGreat BritainLondon
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
9590Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandHuizen 1
9607Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio AthensGreeceAthens
9617Blue Danube NetworkAustriaSalzburg
9630RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
9646HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
9655Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9660HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
9665Radio WienAustriaWien II
 HEU3 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
9670Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
9675GWT BBCGreat BritainLondon
9685VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceUSCGC Courier, Rhodes
9690GRX BBCGreat BritainLondon
9695Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9700GWY BBCGreat BritainLondon
9706ORU5 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
9710RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
9712Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9717.5Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9725Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9735GWF BBCGreat BritainLondon
9740Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
9745ORU3 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
 Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandHuizen 3
9746Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
9750Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9760MCR BBCGreat BritainLondon
9767ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
9770MCN BBCGreat BritainLondon
9775Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
9780RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
9825GRH BBCGreat BritainLondon
9915GRU BBCGreat BritainLondon
10000MSF National Physical LaboratoryGreat BritainRugby
11680GRG BBCGreat BritainLondon
11685HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVG Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
11700GVW BBCGreat BritainLondon
11715HEI5 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
11718Radio AthensGreeceAthens
11725Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
11730GVV BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandLopik 4
11740HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
11745Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
11750GSD BBCGreat BritainLondon
11755Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
11770GVU BBCGreat BritainLondon
11785Radio WienAustriaWien
11790GWV BBCGreat BritainLondon
11795Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
11800GWH BBCGreat BritainLondon
11805VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceUSCGC Courier, Rhodes
11810RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
11820GSN BBCGreat BritainLondon
11836Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
11840GWQ BBCGreat BritainLondon
11845VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
11850ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
 ORU5 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
11855Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
11860GSE BBCGreat BritainLondon
11865HER5 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
11880GRE BBCGreat BritainLondon
 VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
11885Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
11890GWW BBCGreat BritainLondon
11900RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
11910MCO BBCGreat BritainLondon
11920Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
11924Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
11930GVX BBCGreat BritainLondon
11940Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
 HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
11945MCQ BBCGreat BritainLondon
11950Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandHuizen 3
11955GVY BBCGreat BritainLondon
11960MCT BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
11964Emissora Nacional de RadiodifusaoPortugalLisbon
11996Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
12040GRV BBCGreat BritainLondon
12095GRF BBCGreat BritainLondon
12865CSB Radio Clube de PortuguesPortugalParede
15030Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
15070GWC BBCGreat BritainLondon
15095HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
15100Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
15110GWG BBCGreat BritainLondon
15115Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
15120RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
 HED7 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
 HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
15125Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
15145Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
15150Emissora Nacional de RadiodifusaoPortugalLisbon
15185Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
15220Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandHuizen 1
15245Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandKootwijk
15275Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
15300GWR BBCGreat BritainLondon
15305HER6 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
15310GSF BBCGreat BritainLondon
15315VOA Voice of AmericaGreeceSalonika
15320RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
15335ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
15345Radio AthensGreeceAthens
15350Radio LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg
15365Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
 Radio Free EuropeWest GermanyBiblis
15375BBCGreat BritainLondon
15385HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
15400BBCGreat BritainLondon
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
15420BBCGreat BritainLondon
15435GWE BBCGreat BritainLondon
15450GRD BBCGreat BritainLondon
15635Radio Nacional de Espana NationalSpainMadrid II
 Radio Nacional de Espana Foreign ServiceSpainMadrid II
17740Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
17445HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
17735HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
17770GVP BBCGreat BritainLondon
17715GRA BBCGreat BritainLondon
17730GVQ BBCGreat BritainLondon
17740BBCGreat BritainLondon
 RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
17775Radio Nederland WereldomroepHollandLopik 4
17784HER7 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
17790GSG BBCGreat BritainLondon
17800RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
17810GSV BBCGreat BritainLondon
17815Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
17840HVP Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
17845Deutsche WelleWest GermanyNorden-Osterloog
17860ORU3 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
 BBCGreat BritainLondon
 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
17870GRP BBCGreat BritainLondon
17890GVO BBCGreat BritainLondon
18025GRQ BBCGreat BritainLondon
21470GSH BBCGreat BritainLondon
21490Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
21510ORU4 BNBS Overseas ServiceBelgiumWavre
21515HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVG Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
21520HER8 Swiss Shortwave ServiceSwitzerlandSchwarzenburg
21530GSJ BBCGreat BritainLondon
21550GST BBCGreat BritainLondon
21560RAI Radio RomaItalyRome
21640GRZ BBCGreat BritainLondon
21660Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
21675GVR BBCGreat BritainLondon
21710GVS BBCGreat BritainLondon
21740HVJ Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVM Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
 HVG Vatican RadioVatican CityVatican City
21750GSR BBCGreat BritainLondon
25660Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
25690Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas ServicePortugalLisbon
25720GSR BBCGreat BritainLondon
25740HVM Radio VaticanVatican CityVatican City
 HVG Radio VaticanVatican CityVatican City
25750GSQ BBCGreat BritainLondon
25780HVM Radio VaticanVatican CityVatican City
 HVG Radio VaticanVatican CityVatican City
25840GSS BBCGreat BritainLondon
26080GSK BBCGreat BritainLondon

Stations in bold were the most powerful [50kW or more] on the air at the time, and provided the best reception over a wider area for their music, news, information and entertainment programs. Several countries also used such higher powered transmitters to reach their colonies or religious followers in far parts of the world or provide domestic coverage within distant geographical parts of their European borders.

It Happened in 1953

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
North Sea Floods kill almost 2,500 people in Holland, Great Britain and in the Irish Sea
Large earthquake causes major damage to Greek Ionian Islands
EEC holds first meeting in Strasbourg
USA and USSR both announce they have the H-bomb
Josef Stalin dies
Dwight D Eisenhower becomes U.S. president
First James Bond novel ‘Casino Royale’ published in Great Britain
Arrivals:
 
Playboy magazine
Pat Benetar
Pierce Brosnan
Alex Van Halen
Cyndi Lauper
Kim Bassinger
 
Departures:
 
Hank Williams
Joseph Stalin
Alice Prin ‘Kiki de Montparnasse’
Django Reinhardt
Rene Fonck
Dylan Thomas
Population 1953:
 
50.958m West Germany
50.593m Great Britain
47.957m Italy
43.495m France
28.804m Spain
10.500m Holland
8.777m Belgium
8.579m Portugal
7.817m Greece
6.932m Austria
4.878m Switzerland
2.947m Republic of Eire
0.955m Saar
0.330m Trieste Free Territory
0.301m Luxembourg
0.018m Monaco
0.006m Andorra
 
Radio Receivers 1953:
 
10.873m West Germany
10.518m Great Britain
7.926m France
4.500m Italy
2.216m Holland
1.750m Belgium
1.596m Austria
1.135m Switzerland
0.605m Spain
0.394m Republic of Eire
0.354m Portugal
0.212m Saar
0.071m Luxembourg
0.061m Trieste Free Territory
0.003m Monaco

Favorite Movies of 1953: Your Personal Collection

From Here to Eternity

Roman Holiday

The War of the Worlds

Peter Pan

The Big Heat

Stalag 17

House of Wax

Little Fugitive

Julius Caesar

The Band Wagon

Top 20 Singles

  Artist Song
 
1 Percy Faith The Song from Moulin Rouge
2 Les Paul & Mary Ford Vaya Con Dios
3 Patti Page [How Much is] That Doggie in the Window
4 Eddie Fisher I’m Walking Behind You
5 Ames Brothers You, You, You
6 Teresa Brewer Till I Waltz Again with You
7 Les Baxter April in Portugal
8 Perry Como No Other Love
9 Perry Como Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes
10 Frankie Lane I Believe
11 Pee Wee Hunt Oh
12 Frank Chacksfield Ebb Tide
13 Nat King Cole Pretend
14 Richard Hayman Ruby
15 Stan Freberg St George and the Dragonet
16 The Hilltoppers PS I Love You
17 The Gaylords Tell Me You’re Mine
18 Julias La Rosa Eh Cumpari!
19 Tony Bennett Rags to Riches
20 Doris Day Anna

Top 5 Music Albums: Your Personal Collection

Classic Sinatra – His Great Performances 1953-1960

The Best Years of Our Lives 1953

Your Hit Parade: 1953

Blowing the Fuse: 29 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox 1953

Hits of 1953 – Coronation Party

Reflecting on Free Europe

Top 10 Recommended Reading available right now:

Cold War Radio: The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe, 1950–198

Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty: The CIA Years and Beyond

Radio Free Europe and the Pursuit of Democracy: My War Within the Cold War

London Calling: Britain, the BBC World Service and the Cold War

Discovering the Hidden Listener: An Empirical Assessment of Radio Liberty and Western Broadcasting to the USSR during the Cold War

Broadcasting Empire: The BBC and the British World, 1922-1970

Sparks of Liberty: An Insider’s Memoir of Radio Liberty

The Voice of America and the Domestic Propaganda Battles, 1945-1953 (Volume 1)

Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945

Trieste Crisis 1953: The First Cold War Confrontation in Europe

Share your own memories of Free Europe Radio

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