When did Deutsche Welle start its first shortwave broadcast?
The first shortwave broadcast of Deutsche Welle took place on the 3rd of May 1953. This event was marked by an address from West German President Theodor Heuss.
Questions about Deutsche Welle
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is the headquarters of Deutsche Welle located now and where was it originally based?
Deutsche Welle originally operated from Cologne before moving its headquarters to Bonn after reunification. The station functions as an independent public body responsible for foreign affairs since a court ruling in 1960.
Why did Deutsche Welle end all shortwave broadcasting in December 2025?
DW ended all shortwave broadcasting on the 31st of December 2025 following a major reform implemented in July 2011 that reduced daily shortwave hours from 260 to 55. Television services expanded significantly while radio output shrank during this transition period.
Which countries banned or restricted Deutsche Welle operations between 2019 and 2025?
Russia ordered the closure of DW's bureau on the 4th of February 2022 and listed the organization as undesirable by November 2025. Turkey banned DW on the 30th of June 2022, Iran sanctioned DW Farsi in October 2022, and Venezuela halted its Spanish-language channel on the 10th of April 2019.
What controversies involving staff conduct occurred at Deutsche Welle in 2021 and 2022?
An external investigation led by Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger concluded on the 7th of February 2022 recommending action against eight employees for misconduct. Several journalists were fired including the former bureau chief in Beirut who advocated executing anyone connected to Israel.