Special exhibition July - August - September 2012

In the period from about mid-July to about mid-September 2012, the Radio Museum hosted a special exhibition of devices from Hella and Karl's (see the mention of Hella and Karl under the menu item "Elmshorn") large collection. The exhibition focused on German radios from the "Third Reich" and radios from Germany on the other side of the "Iron Curtain".

Three models of the Volksempfänger have been exhibited, two models of East Germany's answer to the Volksempfänger, and the model we have called "Erich Honecker's Radio".
The interest in the exhibition was - by our standards - so great that we had to extend the exhibition by one month.

In the series of images you can see the devices mentioned and get a sense of the relatively simple structure from the diagrams shown.

The Volksempfänger VE 301, where 301 refers to the date of the Nazi seizure of power on January 30, 1933, is characterized by the absence of a swastika in the logo. It only comes as a requirement with a cut-off date of December 1, 1937, which then applies not only to the device, but also to the components used.
All models had to be manufactured in the same way by all electronics factories in Germany.

By the way, notice the small sign - Denke daran - which, on the orders of the Führer, warns against listening to foreign stations, which would be associated with the risk of being sent to a reformatory.
Late in the war, there are court transcripts showing that people were executed for this offense.

The Deutsche Kleinempfänger - also colloquially called "Göbbels Schnauze" - was a cheap version at about half the price. A production of 700,000 units was planned until the end of 1938.

Of the East German models, it is the design of "Erich Honecker's Radio" in particular that calls for attention.
The cabinet was designed at the "Hochschule für angewandte Kunst Berlin-Weißensee".
Pay particular attention to the back panel, which on a traditional radio is made of thick cardboard. On this radio, the back panel is made of varnished wood with sockets that enhance the overall impression.

Tommy Mikkelsen
September 2012

VE 301 with the small sign - "Denke daran"
"Denke daran" - a good example of how to keep a people in check with psychological terror
Diagram and description of VE 301
VE 301 Dyn with a changed appearance and with dynamic speaker

Diagram and description of VE 301 Dyn
Der Deutsche Kleinempfänger DKE 1938 - "Göbbels Schnauze"
Diagram and description of DKE 1938
The requirement for marking devices and components with a swastika
The East Germans' answer to the Volksempfänger - RFT type 1U11 and Stern Radio Sonnenberg Super 675/55 GWU
Diagram and description of RFT type 1U11
Diagram and description on Stern Radio Sonnenberg Super 675/55 GWU
"Erich Honeckers Radio" Undine II 8176 EL
The back of "Erich Honecker's Radio". Even the back is made of varnished wood - nothing was too good for the political elite
Description of "Erich Honecker's Radio"