{"id":28390,"date":"2017-09-18T06:37:02","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T10:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=28390"},"modified":"2017-09-18T06:37:02","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T10:37:02","slug":"east-german-schoolboy-who-was-jailed-for-writing-the-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/east-german-schoolboy-who-was-jailed-for-writing-the-bbc\/","title":{"rendered":"East German schoolboy who was jailed for writing the BBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: BBC News<\/a> via\u00a0Namal Dolakumbura, 4S6NDO)<\/p>\n

The East German secret police went to extraordinary lengths to track down people who wrote letters to the BBC during the Cold War. One of those arrested and jailed was a teenager who longed to express himself freely – and paid a high price.<\/p>\n

It was the last day of the summer holidays. For 18-year-old Karl-Heinz Borchardt that should have meant an afternoon on a windswept Baltic beach with his girlfriend, or a few hours spent trying to catch the latest pop songs on his portable radio.
\nInstead his childhood came to a sudden end.<\/p>\n

His mother hurried into his room unusually early and told him to get dressed. Five uniformed agents were waiting downstairs.<\/p>\n

Borchardt bought himself time. “I needed time to think,” he says. “It could have been for any number of reasons.”<\/p>\n

Insisting he needed a wash, he started to fling sheets of incriminating texts out of the window. He couldn’t know that the secret police already had all the evidence they needed.
\nIt was two years earlier, in September 1968, that Borchardt had written his first letter.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t easy to keep anything hidden in the cramped two-room flat Borchardt shared with his family in Greifswald, a small town on Germany’s northern coastline.<\/p>\n

So as he sat down to write at the living room table he covered the sheet of paper with his homework whenever someone poked their head round the door.<\/p>\n

The radio sat to his left and Borchardt was glued to the crackly foreign broadcasts coming out of Prague, where Soviet guns and tanks had rolled in to crush an attempt to introduce liberal reforms.<\/p>\n

“To the staff of Radio London’s German service!” he wrote.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have only just started listening to your programme, ‘Letters without signatures’, but I like it a lot, since it airs opinions you don’t find in our media. I am 16 years old. I will write to you regularly, mainly about young people and their views on world affairs. In my view, the west did not intervene strongly enough in Czechoslovakia. Does a country which fought so hard for its freedom have to carry on marching to the tune of the Soviets?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warm regards from a schoolboy<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Continue reading on the BBC News website…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: BBC News via\u00a0Namal Dolakumbura, 4S6NDO) The East German secret police went to extraordinary lengths to track down people who wrote letters to the BBC during the Cold War. One of those arrested and jailed was a teenager who longed to express himself freely – and paid a high price. It was the last day […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,960,3,43],"tags":[6515,752,6512,6514,6513],"class_list":["post-28390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-briefe-ohne-unterschrift","tag-cold-war","tag-east-germany","tag-letters-without-signatures","tag-stasi"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7nU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40597,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/bbc-world-service-documentary-about-radio-berlin-international-service-to-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":0},"title":"BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Kris and Ed who both note a fascinating BBC World Service documentary. Ed writes: Hey Thomas, SWLing Post readers will surely enjoy this brilliant BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa. \"Comrade Africa\" offers a 53-minute fascinating blast from the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40496,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/bbc-program-london-calling-cold-war-letters\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":1},"title":"BBC Program: “London Calling: Cold War Letters”","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David (G4EDR), who writes: Looking forward to this documentary TV programme tonight. Looks like it will be about the BBC WS during the cold war. https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/m000b1h0 Thanks for the tip, David! Readers, my post is a bit late--David sent this two days ago. Still,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-09-at-06.44.21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-09-at-06.44.21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-09-at-06.44.21.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10920,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/wartime-radio-the-secret-listeners\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":2},"title":"Wartime radio: The secret listeners","author":"Thomas","date":"September 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"After publishing the post about\u00a0Geoff Hanley and the\u00a0Radio Security Service\u00a0last week, I discovered this brilliant 1979 documentary from the BBC which highlights\u00a0civilian involvement in radio-based intelligence during WWI and WWII. Here's a description from the East Anglian Film Archive: \"It was the tireless work of amateur radio enthusiasts during World\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RadioSecretService","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/RadioSecretService.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/RadioSecretService.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/RadioSecretService.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40319,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/gchq-hidden-past-in-the-press\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":3},"title":"GCHQ “hidden past” in the press","author":"Thomas","date":"October 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who writes: You recently posted about the on going GCHQ exhibition at the Science Museum here in London. I now offer you two more GCHQ items. Both radio related. First one from BBC Radio: How Scarborough saved the world The Secret History of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9317,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/numbers-stations-in-the-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":4},"title":"Numbers Stations in the news","author":"Thomas","date":"April 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"There have been a lot of numbers in the news lately. Earlier this week,\u00a0David Goren's numbers station radio documentary\u00a0was featured on the\u00a0ABC Radio National\u00a0show, Sounds Like Radio. Click here to listen. This morning, I also noticed this excellent\u00a0BBC News Magazine\u00a0piece on numbers stations, which includes an interview with\u00a0Akin Fernandez, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"towers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/grimetonbandw-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":40502,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/bbc-witness-history-britains-secret-propaganda-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":28390,"position":5},"title":"BBC Witness History: “Britain’s secret propaganda war”","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Check out this brilliant BBC Witness History piece regarding the British propaganda effort during WWII: How sex, jazz and 'fake news' were used to undermine the Nazis in World War Two. In 1941, the UK created a top secret propaganda department, the Political Warfare Executive to wage psychological warfare on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Dial.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Dial.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Dial.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28390\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}