Now the Allies have their say in occupied Germany - with four occupation zones, i.e. four different ideas of how to re-start radio broadcasting in post-war Germany.

Radio sets are in high demand. Due to lack of paper, newspapers can hardly be published. Official statements and notifications mainly come through the »air«. And, of course, modern music is now here to stay - taboo music forbidden during the Third Reich: Swing and Jazz -defamed by »radical conservative« Germans as »nigger music«- are »in«.

Radio sets are scarce. Many sets are damaged. Nazis have to hand in their radio sets which are in turn given to persecuted people, to social institutions, soldiers etc. Radio sets can only be bought with ration cards.

A radio dealer in Fürth has an idea how to beat these restrictions. He designs a radio set sold without tubes: The set is called »Heinzelmann« and is sold in large quantities - Max Grundig is to become a big name in the radio industry.

Many other companies appear on the market but disappear and go broke in no time at all. But not Metz, another company based in Fürth: In 1947, the »Postillion« is the first radio set produced by Metz.

The whole radio industry is on the move. Up until 1945, the centres of the radio industry were in Saxonia and in Berlin. But the radio producers are not happy with post-war property laws in these regions... And so they settle in the West.

1948 is a landmark for big changes in radio broadcasting in Germany. The currency reform brings about the new German mark (Deutschmark) and radio frequencies are newly distributed in Copenhagen. Germany having lost the war is not even invited and only gets very few and bad medium-wave frequencies.

What can be done? With courage, the right steps are taken: A completely new frequency range is installed - together with new transmitters and new receivers and/or new auxiliary equipment.