'The Spirit Of Freedom:' 75 Years Of Radio Free Europe
From the front lines of the Cold War to the trenches of Ukraine, archival photos tell the story of Radio Free Europe, which began broadcasts on US Independence Day, 75 years ago.
1
A Hungarian presenter in a Radio Free Europe (RFE) office in Munich, Germany, in 1955.
The American radio had begun broadcasting five years earlier, on July 4, 1950.
The American radio had begun broadcasting five years earlier, on July 4, 1950.
2
RFE workers in the Munich headquarters sort through mail received from broadcast countries.
RFE was set up with the stated aim of “keeping alive the spirit of freedom in the hearts and minds of captive people” living under communism in Eastern Europe.
RFE was set up with the stated aim of “keeping alive the spirit of freedom in the hearts and minds of captive people” living under communism in Eastern Europe.
3
RFE was headquartered inside this complex alongside Munich’s English Garden park.
With RFE targeting communist European states, Radio Liberty (RL), a sister entity, was founded to transmit into the Soviet Union in 1953.
With RFE targeting communist European states, Radio Liberty (RL), a sister entity, was founded to transmit into the Soviet Union in 1953.
4
A brochure calling for donations to support the operation of RFE.
A portion of RFE’s funding came from donations but the bulk of the operation was secretly funded by the CIA. This subterfuge allowed for RFE to be ‘bare-fisted and hard-hitting,” unhindered by awkward diplomatic considerations of openly state-funded broadcasters.
A portion of RFE’s funding came from donations but the bulk of the operation was secretly funded by the CIA. This subterfuge allowed for RFE to be ‘bare-fisted and hard-hitting,” unhindered by awkward diplomatic considerations of openly state-funded broadcasters.
