For historical reference only.
Link to Radio Heritage Foundation - radioheritage.net

The Co-operative Global Radio Memories Project


The main website of the Radio Heritage Foundation is now


https://www.radioheritage.com


Most content on this legacy website is no longer actively maintained and may no longer be accurate or up-to-date. It is preserved on-line purely for historical interest as part of the Radio Heritage Foundation’s digital collection.


Retro Radio Dial: 1953 Free Europe Shortwave


 
Share your own memories of Free Europe Radio

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].

 
Shortwave
 
kc Station Country Location
 
2500 MSF National Physical Laboratory Great Britain Rugby
3930 RAI Radio Italiana Italy Rome III
3955 BBC Great Britain London
3975 BBC Great Britain London
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
3985 HER22 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
5000 MSF National Physical Laboratory Great Britain Rugby
5080 Blue Danube Network Austria Salzburg
5470 AFN American Forces Network West Germany Bayreuth
5960 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
5968 HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
5970 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
5975 BBC Great Britain London
5976 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
5980 Radio Andorra Andorra Andorra le Vieja
  Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
  Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk West Germany Norden-Osterloog
  Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Huizen 2
5985 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
6000 Landessender Tirol Austria Innsbruck
  ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
  ORU5 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
6005 RIAS Radio in American Sector West Germany Berlin
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
6010 GRB BBC Great Britain London
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
6015 VOA Voice of America Greece USCGC Courier, Rhodes
6020 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
6025 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Lopik 4
6030 Suddeutscher Rundfunk West Germany Muhlacker
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
6035 GWS BBC Great Britain London
  3AM4 Radio Monte Carlo Monaco Monte Carlo
6040 GSY BBC Great Britain London
  VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
6055 HER2 Swiss Shortwave Service Swizterland Schwarzenburg
6060 GSX BBC Great Britain London
6070 GRR BBC Great Britain London
6085 ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
6090 GWM BBC Great Britain London
  Radio Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
6095 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
6105 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
6110 GSL BBC Great Britain London
6125 GWA BBC Great Britain London
6130 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
6150 GRW BBC Great Britain London
6154 Radio Renascenca Portugal Lisbon
6155 Radio Wien Austria Wien I
6160 Bayerischer Rundfunk West Germany Munich
6165 GWK BBC Great Britain London
  HER3 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
6170 GSZ BBC Great Britain London
6175 Radio Liberation West Germany Munich
6177 Radio Athens Greece Athens
6180 GRO BBC Great Britain London
6190 Hessischer Rundfunk West Germany Frankfurt
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
6195 GRN BBC Great Britain London
6210 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
6240 - Greece Mytilini
  RAI Radio Italiana Italy Milan III
6260 RAI Radio Italiana Italy Palermo II
6270 Greek Armed Forces Radio Greece Tripolis
6320 Sudwestfunk West Germany Baden-Baden II
6330 Central Radio Station of the Greek Armed Forces Greece Athens
6360 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
6374 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
6480 Radio Herakleion Greece Canea
6590 Radio Chios Greece Chios
6675 HBQ United Nations Switzerland Geneva
6678 National Broadcasting Institute Greece Chania
6752 Greek Armed Forces Radio Greece Larissa
6960 Radio Alerta Spain Valencia
6990 Radio Nacional de Espana National Spain Malaga
7006 FET-1 Radio Falange de alladolid Spain Valladolid
7030 Greek Armed Forces Radio Greece Makronissos
7037.2 EAJ Radio Mediterraneo Spain Valencia
7105 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7110 MCS BBC Great Britain London
7120 GRM BBC Great Britain London
7125 Greek Armed Forces Radio Epiros Greece Jannina
7130 Radio Liberation West Germany Munich
7135 GRS BBC Great Britain London
7140 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7145 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7150 GRT BBC Great Britain London
7155 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7165 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7175 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7180 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7185 GRK BBC Great Britain London
7192 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7200 GWZ BBC Great Britain London
  VOA Voice of America Greece USCGC Courier, Rhodes
7210 GWL BBC Great Britain London
  Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Lopik 4
  HEI3 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
7230 GSW BBC Great Britain London
7245 Radio Wien Austria Wien II
7250 GWI BBC Great Britain London
  HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
7260 GSU BBC Great Britain London
  Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
7270 VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
7280 GWN BBC Great Britain London
  HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
7285 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
7290 Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
7300 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Athens Greece Athens
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
7320 GRJ BBC Great Britain London
7349 3AM3 Radio Monte Carlo Monaco Monte Carlo
7380 La Voz de la Falange Spain Madrid
7420 Central Radio Station of the Greek Armed Forces Greece Athens
7580 Greek Armed Forces Radio Greece Kavalla
7940 Radio Falance de Alicante Spain Alicante
7950 Greek Armed Forces Radio Macedonia Greece Kozani
9144 ORU3 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
9370 Radio Nacional de Espana National Spain Madrid I
  Radio Nacional de Espana Foreign Service Spain Madrid I
9410 GRI BBC Great Britain London
9420 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
9510 GSB BBC Great Britain London
9525 GWJ BBC Great Britain London
9530 VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
9535 HER4 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
9550 GWB BBC Great Britain London
  HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
9570 GWX BBC Great Britain London
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
9590 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Huizen 1
9607 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Athens Greece Athens
9617 Blue Danube Network Austria Salzburg
9630 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
9646 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
9655 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9660 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
9665 Radio Wien Austria Wien II
  HEU3 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
9670 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
9675 GWT BBC Great Britain London
9685 VOA Voice of America Greece USCGC Courier, Rhodes
9690 GRX BBC Great Britain London
9695 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9700 GWY BBC Great Britain London
9706 ORU5 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
9710 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
9712 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9717.5 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9725 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9735 GWF BBC Great Britain London
9740 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
9745 ORU3 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
  Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Huizen 3
9746 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
9750 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9760 MCR BBC Great Britain London
9767 ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
9770 MCN BBC Great Britain London
9775 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
9780 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
9825 GRH BBC Great Britain London
9915 GRU BBC Great Britain London
10000 MSF National Physical Laboratory Great Britain Rugby
11680 GRG BBC Great Britain London
11685 HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVG Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
11700 GVW BBC Great Britain London
11715 HEI5 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
11718 Radio Athens Greece Athens
11725 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
11730 GVV BBC Great Britain London
  Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Lopik 4
11740 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
11745 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
11750 GSD BBC Great Britain London
11755 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
11770 GVU BBC Great Britain London
11785 Radio Wien Austria Wien
11790 GWV BBC Great Britain London
11795 Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
11800 GWH BBC Great Britain London
11805 VOA Voice of America Greece USCGC Courier, Rhodes
11810 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
11820 GSN BBC Great Britain London
11836 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
11840 GWQ BBC Great Britain London
11845 VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
11850 ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
  ORU5 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
11855 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
11860 GSE BBC Great Britain London
11865 HER5 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
11880 GRE BBC Great Britain London
  VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
11885 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
11890 GWW BBC Great Britain London
11900 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
11910 MCO BBC Great Britain London
11920 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
11924 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
11930 GVX BBC Great Britain London
11940 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
  HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
11945 MCQ BBC Great Britain London
11950 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Huizen 3
11955 GVY BBC Great Britain London
11960 MCT BBC Great Britain London
  Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
11964 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Portugal Lisbon
11996 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
12040 GRV BBC Great Britain London
12095 GRF BBC Great Britain London
12865 CSB Radio Clube de Portugues Portugal Parede
15030 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
15070 GWC BBC Great Britain London
15095 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
15100 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
15110 GWG BBC Great Britain London
15115 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
15120 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
  HED7 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
  HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
15125 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
15145 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
15150 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Portugal Lisbon
15185 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
15220 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Huizen 1
15245 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Kootwijk
15275 Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
15300 GWR BBC Great Britain London
15305 HER6 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
15310 GSF BBC Great Britain London
15315 VOA Voice of America Greece Salonika
15320 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
15335 ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
15345 Radio Athens Greece Athens
15350 Radio Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
15365 Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
  Radio Free Europe West Germany Biblis
15375 BBC Great Britain London
15385 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
15400 BBC Great Britain London
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
15420 BBC Great Britain London
15435 GWE BBC Great Britain London
15450 GRD BBC Great Britain London
15635 Radio Nacional de Espana National Spain Madrid II
  Radio Nacional de Espana Foreign Service Spain Madrid II
17740 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
17445 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
17735 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
17770 GVP BBC Great Britain London
17715 GRA BBC Great Britain London
17730 GVQ BBC Great Britain London
17740 BBC Great Britain London
  RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
17775 Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Holland Lopik 4
17784 HER7 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
17790 GSG BBC Great Britain London
17800 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
17810 GSV BBC Great Britain London
17815 Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
17840 HVP Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
17845 Deutsche Welle West Germany Norden-Osterloog
17860 ORU3 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
  BBC Great Britain London
  Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
17870 GRP BBC Great Britain London
17890 GVO BBC Great Britain London
18025 GRQ BBC Great Britain London
21470 GSH BBC Great Britain London
21490 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
21510 ORU4 BNBS Overseas Service Belgium Wavre
21515 HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVG Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
21520 HER8 Swiss Shortwave Service Switzerland Schwarzenburg
21530 GSJ BBC Great Britain London
21550 GST BBC Great Britain London
21560 RAI Radio Roma Italy Rome
21640 GRZ BBC Great Britain London
21660 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
21675 GVR BBC Great Britain London
21710 GVS BBC Great Britain London
21740 HVJ Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVM Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
  HVG Vatican Radio Vatican City Vatican City
21750 GSR BBC Great Britain London
25660 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
25690 Emissora Nacional de Radiodifusao Overseas Service Portugal Lisbon
25720 GSR BBC Great Britain London
25740 HVM Radio Vatican Vatican City Vatican City
  HVG Radio Vatican Vatican City Vatican City
25750 GSQ BBC Great Britain London
25780 HVM Radio Vatican Vatican City Vatican City
  HVG Radio Vatican Vatican City Vatican City
25840 GSS BBC Great Britain London
26080 GSK BBC Great Britain London

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 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

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

Reflecting on Free Europe

Top 10 Recommended Reading available right now:

Share your own memories with us

^Top


Radio Heritage Foundation projects and activities connect radio, popular culture, history and heritage.

The charitable trust has been giving a voice to those involved in radio via our website since 2004 and will continue to do so.

We are inclusive of all visitors, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or disability and aim to connect people of all ages and cultures who love radio

We welcome a sense of wonder from the joy of listening via radio, and from memories retold for the enjoyment of all generations.

We prefer to use environmentally sustainable goods and services where we can afford to, and we provide free community access worldwide to our collections, published research, preservation and promotion activities in a completely paper-free environment.

© Radio Heritage Foundation 2004 - 2025

Email us