WW2 radio reporting

[ppppenguin]

Caution: Some of the links in this post lead to material that is both powerful and distressing.


Last week I visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. It was an intensely moving experience.

http://www.yadvashem.org/

I was prompted to look out Richard Dimbleby's report of the liberation of Belsen. I first saw this report many years ago as a transcript, one of the most chlling documents I have ever read.

Here is a recording of the original broadcast. All the more effective because it is spoken very directly and without overt emotion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/holocaust/5115.shtml

The BBC initially refused to broadcast this report (it was felt to be too distressing) and it was only Dimbleby's seniority and reputation combined with a threat of resignation that got it on air. The process by which the report was recorded is interesting. It was possible to make recordings "in the field" by cutting directly on to a disc and this was commonly done. The other way, as in this case, was to call up London over whatever link was available. Usually short wave radio under war conditions. Then the reporter would ask to be connected to a recording channel (again on disc) and file his report. Since communication and recording channels were always in short supply it was only somebody with Dimbleby's authority who could demand immediate access to both.

While looking for Dimbleby's report I also found this diary note by another BBC reporter. I've read most of it and it's as harrowing as Dimbleby's report.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/holocaust/5...tml?page=1


Please feel free to use this thread for any thoughts about the content and technology of WW2 radio reporting.

[Murphyv310]

Thanks for sharing this Jeffrey.
I find that although distressing it's one part of history that should never be forgotten.